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 the most magical places in Arkansas. 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!

Here's a look at the itinerary for this magical journey to some of the most fairy tale places in Arkansas:

You can use this ​​interactive map to follow along on the route to all the magical places to visit in Arkansas on this road trip.

1. War Eagle Mill - Rogers

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 premises. Fill up on a hearty bowl of beans and cornbread at the Mill's Bean Palace before heading south to our next location.

2. Devil's Den State Park - Winslow

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!

3. Garvan Woodland Gardens - Hot Springs

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.

4. The Old Mill - North Little Rock

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.

5. Mirror Lake - Fifty-Six

Next up on our list of fairy tale places in Arkansas is Mirror Lake. If any mystical creatures made their home in Arkansas, we'd like to think they're found here. 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.

6. Serenity Farm Bread - Leslie

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 the​​ Serenity Farm Bread website to learn more, and maybe even order a little extra to enjoy once you return from your trip.

7. Eden Falls - Ponca

The 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!

8. Eureka Springs Treehouses - Eureka Springs

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.

If you were to do a search for "magical places near me," one of these would most certainly pop up at the top of the list!

Have you completed this magical quest? If so, which stop was your favorite? Would you agree that they are among the most magical places in Arkansas? 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.

If you’re still in the mood for more Arkansas adventures, take a look at this video for a statewide tour: