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Arkansas

Forming the mountainous joint between the Midwest and the Deep South, Arkansas (ar-kan-saw) is an often-overlooked treasure of swift rushing rivers, dark leafy hollows, crenelated granite outcrops and the rugged spine of the Ozark and the Ouachita (wash-ee-tah) mountains. The entire state is blessed with exceptionally well-presented state parks and tiny, empty roads crisscrossing dense forests that let out onto breathtaking vistas and gentle pastures dotted with grazing horses. Mountain towns juke between Christian fundamentalism, hippie communes and biker bars, yet all of these divergent cultures share a love of their home state's stunning natural beauty.

Best Places to Visit

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Anthony Chapel
Arkansas
Located just across from the Garvan Woodland Gardens, the Anthony Chapel is an architectural masterpiece. This soaring, wood-and-glass complex, built in…
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Ozark Mountains
This enormous art museum, sprawling across a series of creek ponds fed by mountain streams, is an unexpected find, to say the least. The curved pavilions…
William J Clinton Presidential Center
Arkansas
This library houses the largest archival collection in presidential history, including 80 million pages of documents and two million photographs (although…
Historic Loop
Ozark Mountains
This 3.5-mile walking tour winds through downtown Eureka Springs and neighboring residential areas. The route is dotted with more than 300 Victorian homes…
Petit Jean State Park
Arkansas
The excellently maintained trails of this state park, the oldest in Arkansas, wind past a lush 95ft waterfall, romantic grottoes, expansive vistas and…
Mt Magazine State Park
Arkansas
This stellar state park features some 14 miles of trails that wind around Arkansas' highest point. The surrounding vistas are spectacular, taking in all…
Terra Studios
Fayetteville
Terra Studios is hard to pin down. It's...a big piece of public art? Sure, with plenty of sculptures, a kid-friendly area, a labyrinth, and reminders of…
Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas
On Bathhouse Row in the 1915 Fordyce bathhouse, the NPS visitor center and museum has exhibits about the park's history, first as a Native American free…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

The best things to do in Arkansas from outdoor adventures to experiencing history

Curated by Adam Karlin

Petit Jean State Park
Arkansas
The excellently maintained trails of this state park, the oldest in Arkansas, wind past a lush 95ft waterfall, romantic grottoes, expansive vistas and…
Little Rock Central High School
Arkansas
Little Rock's most riveting historic attraction is the site of the 1957 desegregation crisis that changed the country forever. This was where a group of…
William J Clinton Presidential Center
Arkansas
This library houses the largest archival collection in presidential history, including 80 million pages of documents and two million photographs (although…
Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas
On Bathhouse Row in the 1915 Fordyce bathhouse, the NPS visitor center and museum has exhibits about the park's history, first as a Native American free…

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Best Road Trips

From delightful towns and beautiful villages to hairpin bends and breathtaking views across the Ozarks. Here are the five best road trips in Arkansas.

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