The Fairytale Road Trip That’ll Lead You To Some Of Arkansas’ Most Magical Places
From cerulean waterfalls to delicate fairy gardens, this road trip will take you to some of Arkansas’ most magical places. Dedicate a couple of days to explore this storybook journey filled with enchanting scenes and a bit of whimsy. It doesn’t matter if you traverse the whole loop or choose-your-own-adventure, you’ll love it all!
No matter the time of day, Rogers' War Eagle Mill is an enchanting scene. The state's last working grist mill churns out flour and cornmeal in addition to providing a perfect setting for a fable. There are even rumors of a few ghosts wandering around the premise. Fill up on a hearty bowl of beans and cornbread at the Mill's Bean Palace before heading south to our next location.
War Eagle Mill, 11045 War Eagle Rd, Rogers, AR 72756, USA
At first glance, Devil's Den is simply a gorgeous state park filled with trails, waterfalls, and recreational opportunities. However, add a bit of imagination and you'll find that it’s filled with dragon caves, troll bridges, enchanted forests, and other fairy tale inspiration. Just stay long enough to hike behind a waterfall or make a full camping trip out of it!
Devil's Den State Park, 11333 West Arkansas Hwy. 74, Winslow, AR 72774, USA
The entirety of Garvan Woodland Gardens can be classified as a fairy tale dream, but for the sake of this article we're focused on one of the stops in the botanical garden. The hand-carved fairy village has an extraordinary attention to detail that will delight any visitor. Come for the fairy village but stay for the rest of the magic blooming at Garvan Woodland Gardens.
Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Officially known as T.R. Pugh Memorial Park and Pugh's Mill, this place looks like it came straight from a fairy tale. The Old Mill is most famous for its appearance in the opening scenes of Gone With The Wind and still incites a feeling of romance. Although the mill has been well preserved, the mill's waterfall was recently returned to working order for an even more magical experience.
The Old Mill, 3800 Lakeshore Dr, North Little Rock, AR 72116, USA
If any mystical creatures made their home here in Arkansas, we'd like to think they're at Mirror Lake. In addition to the enchanting caverns below the surface, Blanchard Springs is also home to these colorful waters. The lake and its waterfall are incredibly photogenic.
Blanchard Springs Caverns, 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR 72533, USA
We're nearly done with our fairy tale road trip, so let's take a quick snack break. Serenity Farm Bread looks (and smells) like it came straight out of a storybook. The aroma of baked breads will lure you in and the delectable pastries will have you munching for a while! Serenity Farm Bread has been making some of the best bread in Arkansas for over 30 years. Visit their website to learn more, and maybe even order a little extra bread to enjoy once you return from your trip.
Serenity Farm Bread, 805 US-65, Leslie, AR 72645, USA
Lost Valley Trail will lead you to Eden, literally! Eden Falls is a dazzling waterfall in Ponca that may be one of the most beautiful falls in the entire state. Not only does Lost Valley feature this waterfall, it also has one underground as well!
So we've hiked, camped, photographed, eaten, and fallen in love with so many different magical places around the state - it's time for a rest! The Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits offers a collection of fairy tale lodgings fit for Arkansas royalty. Sleeping in a castle certainly ends your magical road trip in style.
Eureka Springs Treehouses, Caves, Castles & Hobbits, 3018 E Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR 72632, USA
Have you completed this magical quest? Which stop was your favorite? Share your experience in the comments below! And of course, if you have other magical places in Arkansas you would recommend, please share those in the comments as well. We would love to hear from you!
While this particular road trip has quite a few well-known attractions, any Arkansan knows magic can also be found in the simplest of places.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Places To See In Arkansas
November 18, 2022
Katie Feldkamp
What is the best road trip to take in Arkansas?
The Natural State is ideal to travel throughout, so it is hard to narrow down to the best road trip in Arkansas. But break it up by category, and here are several of the best road trips to take in Arkansas:
There are hidden gems in Arkansas all throughout the state! Here are a few lists of hidden gems to get you going, but know that there are plenty more where these came from:
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
