10 Out Of This World Summer Day Trips To Take In Arkansas
Summertime comes with its own challenges, doesn’t it? It’s hot outside, the days seem endless, and you’re always looking for ways to entertain yourself and your kids during those extended daylight hours. Luckily, I’ve compiled a list of ten of the best day trips in Arkansas that you need to add to your bucket list this summer.
Below the information about these stunning day trips, you’ll find links to articles that will tell you all about these ten delightful Natural State destinations.
1. Kick back with some barbecue, gambling, and bathhouses in Hot Springs.
Does that kind of adventure sound pretty great to you? Hot Springs has been recognized as the one of the best barbecue cities in the U.S., and they’ve got lots of incredible activities, too. From playing the ponies at Oaklawn to spending your day strolling the national park, you’ll find tons to do in Hot Springs, which makes it just about perfect for a day trip.
To find more on what you should do in Hot Springs, click here.
Arkansas’s natural lazy river is an ideal place to float your troubles away on a tube, canoe, or kayak. The scenery is just beautiful and you don’t have to work hard to enjoy it. The most popular float is from Oden to the Rocky Shoals Campground, and that ten mile adventure is sure to float your boat.
There are so many things to do in Little Rock that you might just decide to extend your day trip into a weekend. Tons of attractions, some of the best food in the Natural State, and a gorgeously developed riverfront await you in Little Rock, as well as beautiful historic buildings and a whole bunch of hidden wonders.
You might want to check out this article about hidden gems in Little Rock.
4. Explore the beauty and clarity of Lake Ouachita.
Lake Ouachita is one of the clearest lakes in North America, and one of the largest lakes in Arkansas. If you need some other information that will make you want to go, you should also know that depending on the lake level, there are hundreds of islands in Lake Ouachita. If that doesn’t entice you to spend a day exploring the lake, I don’t know what will.
Altus is the heart of Arkansas’s wine country. Smooth whites and deep reds await you at the many wineries there, and those wineries are all nestled in an incredibly scenic valley. If you’re looking for a way to spend the day trying local wine, eating delicious food, and enjoying gorgeous countryside, a trip to Altus is absolutely perfect for you.
You can learn all about Arkansas’s wine trail by
clicking here.
6. Enjoy all the unique wonders up in Eureka Springs.
Eureka Springs is one of Arkansas’s finest tourist towns, boasting attractions like Thorncrown Chapel and hotels like the 1886 Crescent Hotel. More than just a quaint little Victorian village with lots of things to do, Eureka Springs is famed for its unique spirit and lively downtown.
For things to do on your adventure to Eureka Springs, click here.
Lake Greeson is a vastly underrated lake located near Murfreesboro. The lake can tend to be a little busy on the weekends, especially during the summer, so you may want to plan this day trip in the middle of the week. In Lake Greeson you can swim, boat, kayak, or simply enjoy the view. The camping there is also excellent, if you decide to prolong your day trip.
Located on the downright incredible White River, Cotter has been the home of great fishing for decades upon decades. There’s no reason you can’t spend your whole day casting out into the water in search of some truly epic trout, but there are about a million ways to enjoy the charming little town of Cotter and its portion of the White River.
Cove Lake sits in the shadow of Mount Magazine, Arkansas’s highest point, meaning there’s no reason you can’t spend the day swimming and then drive a few minutes to see the breathtaking views at the scenic overlooks just up the road. On top of its recreational appeal and proximity to stunning views, Cove Lake is a peaceful and beautiful lake to spend your time exploring.
More information on Cove Lake can be found
at this link.
Fort Smith has invested a lot of time and energy in their Unexpected project. The Unexpected is a festival of murals that has added a number of new faces and shapes to the buildings in Fort Smith’s historic downtown. While you’re in town you should also check out the good eats, great shopping, and intense history of Garrison Avenue.
To find out why Fort Smith is our most underrated city and see a few of the things you should do there, click here.
Address: Ouachita River Reservoir, Arkansas 71730, USA
Address: Little Rock, AR, USA
Address: Lake Ouachita, Arkansas, USA
Address: Fort Smith, AR, USA
Address: Cotter, AR, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Day Trips in Arkansas
June 08, 2022
Melanie J.
What are some unique things to do around Arkansas?
Arkansas is filled with a plethora of incredible attractions. From hiking to fishing to horseback riding, and more, there is always plenty to do. But there are also some unique things that you will only find in the Natural State. For instance, Arkansas is the only state to have a working diamond mine. And you can spend the day at Crater of Diamonds State Park located in Murfreesboro, digging for rare and precious stones. Once you’re done digging for diamonds, you can cool off at the aquatic playground that is at the park. Another unique thing to do in Arkansas is to spend the night in a living cave. The Beckham Creek Cave Lodge located near Jasper, offers its guests a 5,800-square-foot one-of-a-kind luxury experience. Arkansas also has one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in the U.S. that is open to the public. You can spend the night at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge and listen to the lions caroling from your room. Here are a few more unique attractions around Arkansas.
What are the best day trips in Arkansas?
Arkansas has many charming towns that are filled with lots to do. Fort Smith located near the Arkansas River, is a favorite town for a day trip. You can take a self-guided tour through historic downtown, take a historic ride on a train trolley, catch a concert at Riverfront Park, visit one of the many museums, and more. Bentonville has fast become one of the most visited towns for a day trip in Arkansas. You can spend the day mountain biking through the parks, or visiting the one-of-a-kind museums, or you’ll love the Bentonville Square that has some of the best dining in the Ozarks. Eureka Springs is perhaps the quirkiest town in Arkansas, which makes it a perfect location for a day trip. Enjoy a day of shopping in the unique boutiques, take a cave tour, spend the night in a treehouse or hobbit cave, visit a castle, and more. Here are more ideas for epic day trips in Arkansas.
Address: Altus, AR, USA
Address: Lake Greeson, Arkansas, USA
Address: Cove Lake, Arkansas 72855, USA
Address: Hot Springs, AR, USA
Address: Eureka Springs, AR, USA
Address: Ouachita River Reservoir, Arkansas 71730, USA
Address: Little Rock, AR, USA
Address: Lake Ouachita, Arkansas, USA
Address: Fort Smith, AR, USA
Address: Cotter, AR, USA
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J.B. Weisenfels has lived in rural Arkansas for three decades. She is a writer, a mom, and a graduate student. She is also an avid collector of tacky fish whatnots, slightly chipped teapots, and other old things. In her spare time she enjoys driving to the nearest creek to sit a while. If you were to visit her, she'd try to feed you cornbread.
