Arkansas State Parks Trip Ideas

Waymon Cox

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! On muddy days at the Crater, lots of people visit and leave with mud-caked shoes, tools, and kids. Visitors often don’t realize how muddy the search area becomes when it rains. Understanding how rain affects the diamond-bearing soil and how to navigate the muddy search area can be helpful when searching for diamonds.

mud puddle at Crater of Diamonds State Park

Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center

The Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center welcomes visitors to Petit Jean State Park. The newly constructed building, which provides space for camper registration, interpretive exhibits, meetings, special events, and staff offices, is named for the man whose vision for Petit Jean State Park brought about its creation as the cornerstone in the system of Arkansas State Parks.

Petit Jean State Park Dr. T.W. Hardison Visitor Center Statue

Tips for Finding Diamonds on the Surface

Waymon Cox

Greetings from Crater of Diamonds State Park! One of the easiest ways to find diamonds here is surface searching. Many of the large diamonds people hear about in the news are found on the surface of the plowed search area. As a result, people often have the misconception that most of our diamonds are found this way. While several diamonds are found on top of the ground...

Diamond on surface at Crater of Diamonds State Park

7 Staycations at Arkansas State Parks

Arkansas State Parks Staff

Imagine waking up to the sound of waves lapping at the shore, birds chirping from tall pine trees, maybe even a boat motor quietly starting its day to bring joy to families spending the weekend away from it all. That’s the kind of wake-up you’ll receive when you staycation at an Arkansas State Park. We’ve chosen seven better-than-a-hotel locales you’re guaranteed to fall...

Paddleboarding at DeGray Lake State Park

Babysitting a Beaver

Paul Butler

Your Arkansas State Parks are set aside, protected, and determined in their mission to provide you with outdoor experiences that can enhance the quality of your life.

Take a Journey to Another World

Seth Boone

While Cane Creek State Park boasts over 20 miles of trail, the park has another unique feature to its name. The park offers kayaking, for rent or guided.

It’s School Group Season!

Tara Gillanders

Most of our parks have programs specifically designed for school groups that are aligned with the Arkansas K-12 and can accommodate School Groups throughout the year.

Hidden Treasures

Arkansas State Parks Staff

Created in 1815, Davidsonville was Arkansas’s first planned town but by 1830, the town was no more. Today, nothing above ground remains of the town, but that doesn't mean there's nothing here...

Herbal Feasts and Sumptuous Suppers

Arkansas State Parks Staff

The very first Lavish Herbal Feast occurred on April 22, 1989, at the Ozark Folk Center State Park and you can still enjoy tasty treats and meals in Mountain View to this day.

Old-fashioned Community Energy