I know we’ve all been waiting for the perfect addition to our Arkansas bucket lists, and friends, this is it. After all, everybody loves a good road trip. Luckily, Arkansas is the perfect place for road trips; we’ve got natural beauty everywhere, awesome attractions, charming towns and cities, and absolutely delicious food. Below you’ll find all that and so much more because these are the most unforgettable Arkansas road trips we’ve offered you. These 11 road trips are absolute dream adventures, and you’re going to want to put each one on your cumulative Arkansas bucket list. Check out our road trip essentials packing list to prep for your adventure!

To find more information on these trips, click on their titles. For directions to all the locations, click on the link below each map.

1. The Road Trip on One Tank of Gas
Flickr/David Hudson
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Looking for one of the best things to do in Arkansas? This road trip will ease you right into your list of road trip adventures by being easy on the wallet. This trip begins with a leisurely stroll through Eureka Springs, takes you to two incredibly scenic lakes, shows you the best of our capital city, and ends in Hot Springs, where you can find rest and relaxation. Coming in at five and a half hours of drive time, all of this can be done on a single tank of gas and leads to some of the best attractions in Arkansas.
2. The Natural Wonders Road Trip
Flickr/Mike Norton
Google Maps
As soon as the cold breaks and spring begins in earnest, you’re going to want to spend as much time as possible in Arkansas’s natural spaces. You can do just that on this incredible road trip, which takes you through ten of Arkansas’s most spectacular natural wonders. This trip will take you about eleven hours, but you’ll see so much natural beauty you’ll be excited about the driving time too. I’m not saying you have to do it on spring break, but it would be the perfect trip for spring break if you're looking for things to do in Arkansas at that time.
3. Epic Three Day Foodie Road Trip
Facebook/Rolando’s Nuevo Latino Restaurante
Google Maps
You’re going to drive about fourteen hours in three days, and friends, you need to bring your eating pants. On this three day foodie spectacular, you’re going to eat three square meals a day at some of Arkansas’s best eateries. This trip will take you all over the Natural State, and you won’t want to miss a single meal.
4. The Ultimate Waterfall Road Trip
Flickr/David Nichols
Google Maps
You’ll drive eleven hours on this trip, and it’s totally worth it. You’ll see some of Arkansas’s most beautiful waterfalls along the way, and that drive isn’t too shabby either. Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls, the tallest waterfall between Appalachia and the Rockies, is just one of the spectacular falls you’ll see along the way. This is one of the most beautiful day trips in Arkansas.
5. Road Trip Through Arkansas’s Most Picturesque Small Towns
Flickr/Ana Emerson
Google Maps
If you’re a fan of small town Arkansas, this is an adventure you definitely have to have. You’ll visit nine of the Natural State’s most charming small towns, all in about nine and a half hours of drive time. From Hardy to Mount Ida, you’re going to love every single one of these little gems on one of the most unforgettable road trips in Arkansas.
6. Road Trip to Arkansas’s Most Abandoned Places
Flickr/Mandee Carter
Google Maps
Coming in at about seven hours, this road trip is going to wind around the Arkansas countryside and take you through Arkansas’s most abandoned places. There are six stops on the trip, and each one is more eerie and full of history than the last.
7. The Road to Nowhere
Flickr/Clinton Steeds
Google Maps
I highly recommend this one for any time during the coming year when you feel extremely stressed. This one isn’t a road trip so much as a one hour decompression mission. Old Highway 71, part of the Boston Mountains Scenic Loop, is the perfect place to drive your stress away. The scenic vistas there are truly incomparable on what may be one of the most incredible day trips in Arkansas.
8. The Unforgettable Weekend Road Trip
Wikimedia/Brandonrush
Google Maps
This weekend road trip shows off all the Natural State has to offer. From a truly unique hotel to a secluded cabin in the woods, ranging from mountain lakes to the finest food in Arkansas’s wine country, this trip is a true delight that should be saved for whichever fair weather weekend seems to be most in need of magic. You'll see some of the most fascinating attractions in Arkansas.
9. Haunted Arkansas Road Trip
Flickr/Farther Along
Google Maps
When October rolls around, you’re going to want as much frightful fun as you can possibly have. The perfect way to do that is to take a road trip through Arkansas’s most haunted places. Though, honestly, there's no wrong time for paranormal enthusiasts to get their scare on. These nine places range from a haunted house in Monticello all the way to Eureka Springs, the location of the most haunted hotel in America. This road trip will take you about eight hours of drive time.
10. Fall Foliage Road Trip
Flickr/dbarronoss
Google Maps
There are so many things to see driving through Arkansas -- and the views only get more incredible during fall. By the time the temperature cools and the leaves start to turn, you’ll want to go on a lovely fall foliage road trip. From the Ouachitas to the Ozarks, this seven-and-a-half-hour trip is going to take you through the exquisite beauty of Arkansas’s mountains at the peak of fall color. Go ahead and pencil this one in for mid-November, because it is definitely a must.
11. Road Trip Through Our Most Charming Christmas Towns
Facebook/Main Street Searcy
Google Maps
Before you know it, it will be the holiday season again. This Christmas towns road trip would be best to pencil in for a weekend in early to mid-December when all the holiday lights are bright and you’re still looking for the perfect gifts for your loved ones. These eight Christmas towns are totally charming, and they’ll meet all your holiday needs. You will absolutely love this trip as it's one of the most festive road trips in Arkansas.

Are you ready to head out on one of the most unforgettable Arkansas road trips? For more fun things to do in Arkansas, check out this Arkansas bucket list. You’re also going to love this burger bucket list and this barbecue bucket list.

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Arkansas Road Trips

Melissa M. | August 08, 2021

What are some of the best day trips in Arkansas?

The best day trips in Arkansas are:

  • Murfreesboro
  • Jonesboro
  • Paris
  • Eureka Springs

 

Take a day trip to the tiny town of Jasper which is home to the Grand Canyon of Arkansas. With gorgeous views of the Ozarks, incredible hiking trails, and Buffalo National Wilderness Area for some of the best stargazing around, a trip to Jasper is one-of-a-kind. Lake Leatherwood in Eureka Springs is another fantastic place for a day trip. Enjoy plenty of outdoor activities and marvel at the largest hand-cut limestone dam in the country here. 

What are some of the best attractions in Arkansas?

The best attractions in Arkansas are:

  • Hot Springs National Park
  • Garvan Woodlands Gardens
  • Crater of Diamonds State Park

 

If you are in search of some of the best attractions in the state, you must check out our Definitive Guide To Uncovering Arkansas’ Best Attractions. From parks to a flea market, a train ride, the most unique museum, and more, we’ve covered it all in this guide. 

What are the most unique things to do in Arkansas?

The most unique things to do in Arkansas are:

  • Beckham Creek Cave Lodge
  • Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
  • Diamond John's Riverside Retreat

 

Arkansas is quite a unique state and with that comes some very unique things to do. A visit to Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs is a must when visiting the Natural State. This lovely chapel has floor-to-ceiling windows allowing plenty of natural light in and views of the surrounding landscape. If you want to attempt to find a diamond, head to the Crater of Diamonds State Park to dig for a precious gem, and if you end up finding one, you get to keep it!

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