Arkansas

Discover a world of natural beauty and diversity as you travel the scenic drives and byways in Arkansas. Explore The Natural State from the ancient Ouachita and Ozark mountains to the Delta flatlands, next to the beautiful Mississippi River.  

Arkansas really hits the mark when it comes to road trips as it’s accessible from many locations, including Memphis and St Louis. You don’t have to go out of your way to experience the beauty along Arkansas’s scenic byways, plus you’ll discover authentic and charming experiences along the way. 

Check out our list of stops along the scenic drives and byways of Arkansas: 

Great River Road National Scenic Byway 

In Arkansas’ Delta, the Great River Road runs through 10 states along the Mississippi River. Arkansas’ section of the route crosses the east side of the state from north to south. Travellers will enjoy both the scenic river and shaping landscapes along the way. This family-friendly trip immerses visitors in art, culture, history, food, and more. From Marianna to Helena, the route encounters the woodlands of the St. Francis National Forest on Crowley’s Ridge, and provides a wide range of activities for travellers.  

The Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home

The Historic Dyess Colony: Johnny Cash Boyhood Home is a stop along the Sunken Lands Cultural Roadway, and is an official loop off the 10-state Great River Road National Scenic Byway. Now owned by Arkansas State University, the house has been restored. If you’ve ever seen the movie Walk the Line, you’ll recognise the road leading to Johnny Cash’s home and a building in the Colony Circle as settings for the film.  

Ozark Mountain Region 

The Ozark Mountain Region covers a large section of northern Arkansas and most of the southern half of Missouri. It extends from Interstate 40 in central Arkansas to Interstate 70 in central Missouri. Four regions make up the Ozark Mountain area in Arkansas: Norfork Lake, White River, Bull Shoals Lake, and Buffalo River. 

Norfork Lake is a hidden gem. It is only a 15-minute drive from Mountain Home in north-central Arkansas, and is the only Ozark Mountain lake with white sandy beaches! White River in north-western Arkansas is recognised for its premier trout and fly-fishing. Buffalo National River is America’s first National River and the perfect setting for your Ozarks adventure. All spots across the four regions are family-friendly and provide a good dose of outdoor adventure and tranquillity. 

Queen Wilhelmina State Park 

Located on top of Rich Mountain in Southwestern Arkansas, Queen Wilhelmina provides some of the most spectacular views in the state. Travel the Talimena National Scenic Byway to this park, which is incredibly scenic as it is historic. The original lodge was built in the late 1800s as a Victorian resort named Wilhelmina Inn, in recognition of the young Queen of the Netherlands. One of the latest lodges to be built – Park Lodge – is the main attraction at the State Park. At this 40-room property, you can enjoy first-class hospitality and southern cuisine in the Queen’s Restaurant. The State Park has 41 campsites, picnic areas, and many trails for those that love the outdoors. 

The Lakeport Plantation 

Next up: onto the Lower Delta. Built-in 1859 and the last remaining Arkansas plantation home on the Mississippi River, The Lakeport Plantation is known as the Jewel of the Delta. It acts as Arkansas’s southern anchor for the ten-state Great River Road National Scenic Byway. Here you will see award-winning exhibits that tell stories of the people who lived and worked on the plantation, including the restoration team that brought the house back to life!

Arkansas High Country Route

Arkansas High Country Route has three interlocking loops that link Little Rock with the Northwest Arkansas corridor around Fayetteville and Bentonville. This offers a perfect cycling route through the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, highlighting northern and western Arkansas’s beautiful scenery and towns.  

Sylamore Scenic Byway

The Sylamore Scenic Byway passes through the Ozark National Forest. On this beautiful route, you’ll find views of stunning cliffs and mountains, and in the south, Blanchard Springs Caverns is a living cave that is constantly transforming. Three guided tours are led by Forest Service Guides, showcasing an underground river, water-carved passages, and the world’s largest flowstone. Experience crafts and music at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. 

Known as The Natural State for its stunning scenery and abundance of outdoor adventures, harmony meets nature in Arkansas. Cities like Little Rock, Bentonville, and Hot Springs offer a cosmopolitan feel, while a visit to Eureka Springs will reinvigorate you. The Delta region is where the blues was born, and many musicians, including Johnny Cash, made their mark. Here are our top five things you can’t miss during a visit to Arkansas: 

Take a Soak in the Hot Springs National Park  

47 thermal springs flow from Hot Springs Mountain to create the ultimate spa in Hot Springs National Park. This park is the nation’s oldest unit in the national park system and features more than 30 miles of hiking trails through the picturesque Ouachita Mountains, along with many scenic drives and picnic spots. Pop into the bathhouse for a soak or just enjoy the rising vapours. Visit Superior Bathhouse Brewery, where you can try a beer that utilises the thermal spring water of the area as its main ingredient. This is a world-first!    

Step Back in Time in Arkansas 

Arkansas has a wealth of history which spans across its vast landscape, with heritage trails documenting land and water routes along the Trail of Tears, Butterfield Trail, Southwest Trail and Civil War Trails. Join any of the heritage trails in Little Rock, where you can visit the Clinton Presidential Center, the Old State House Museum, which was once Arkansas’s first capitol building, and the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, which is the site where nine black students gained worldwide-attention for attempting to enter the previously all-white school. 

Visit the Gangster Museum of America in Hot Springs to learn about the likes of the Power Brokers from the late 1800s and Al Capone, who was a regular in Hot Springs from the 1920s onwards. Head to the Sultana Disaster Museum in Marion, Arkansas, where you’ll hear about ‘The Titanic of the Mississippi’ and one of the greatest forgotten events in American history.  

Arts in Arkansas 

Check out the world’s largest collection of American artwork at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. This Moshe Safdie-designed museum is set in Arkansas’s pastoral wilderness. Amenities include a Museum Store designed by architect Marlon Blackwell, a restaurant on a glass-enclosed bridge overlooking the ponds, and an impressive library. Sculpture and walking trails link the Museum’s 120-acre park to downtown Bentonville, Arkansas.  

Explore the Great Outdoors in Arkansas   

The Arkansas Ozark  Mountain Region offers exciting and inspiring year-round outdoor adventures for anyone that loves getting outside and is suitable for travellers of all ages. The Ozarks provide a look into the state’s rich history and offer a stunning backdrop for a range of outdoor activities such as trout and lake fishing, waterboarding and skiing, hiking, horseback riding, cycling, canoeing on America’s First National River, zip-lining, and golfing.  There are many charming mountain towns where you’ll find antique shops to impromptu folk music gatherings.  

Search for Diamonds 

You might not know that Arkansas is home to some of the world’s largest volcanic craters. At the Crater of Diamonds State Park, a unique experience allows visitors to search a 37-acre ploughed field and volcanic crater for a variety of rocks, gemstones and minerals.  You can then have your diamond certified at the park’s Diamond Discovery Centre.