Arkansas Road Trip Ideas: 11 Best Road Trips + Itinerary
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Melanie Johnson
Author
It’s that time of year again – road trip season is back! And if you’ve been thinking about Arkansas road trip ideas then you’re in luck. Your next adventure should be filled with fun activities and explore all that the Natural State has to offer. From the scenic byways to the breathtaking overlooks to the gorgeous waterfalls, rivers, and lakes, you’ll want to see it all. Luckily, OIYS has done the legwork and has put together the most exciting road trips through Arkansas. Gas up the car and let’s begin the journey to explore the vast landscapes and activities in the Natural State.
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So, be sure to stop in to take advantage of the fun activities that await. In these cities, you’ll find lots of attractions that include live music, mountain biking, as well as riverfront festivities.
Want some road trip planning and packing tips? Check out OnlyInYourState's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can't forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.
Want some road trip planning and packing tips? Check out OnlyInYourState's Ultimate Road Trip Packing List. Whether you're leaving for a single day or a week-long road trip, you can't forget the snacks: here are 50 on-the-go snack ideas perfect for traveling.
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1-Day Road Trip In Arkansas
- Route: Hawksbill Crag/Whitaker Point >Catalpa Cafe and General Store > Lake Dardanelle State Park
- Distance: 87 miles
- Trip Time: 2 hours driving time
Have you ever witnessed the breathtaking sunrises or sunsets in the Natural State? If not, this one-day road trip in Arkansas will provide a front row seat to the luminous show. Start the morning at Hawksbill Crag at Whitaker Point and watch the sunrise over the Arkansas River valley below. Once you’ve basked in the gorgeous vistas, grab a bite to eat and then head to Lake Dardanelle to watch the sun go down. At only 87 miles and 2 hours of drive time, you’ll have ample time to explore each area. You'll also appreciate the scenic drive along the way.
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3-Day Weekend Road Trip In Arkansas
- Route: Mount Magazine State Park>Petit Jean State Park>DeGray Lake Resort State Park
- Distance: 150 miles
- Trip Time: 3 hours driving time
With 52 state parks in Arkansas, chances are, you haven’t seen all of them. And while all the parks are worth seeing, there are a few that you must add to your list. Fortunately, this 3-day weekend road trip in Arkansas will explore 3 of the most incredible parks. At 150 miles and only 3 hours of driving time, you’ll have lots of time to explore these bucket-list worthy parks. At Mount Magazine State Park, you’ll be able to hike to the highest point in Arkansas. Petit Jean features one of the most spectacular cascades in the state as well as some mind-blowing rock formations. You can’t go wrong with a stay at DeGray Lake State Park, where you can bask in lots of relaxation as well as fun outdoor activities. Bonus, this road trip is also family-friendly, so do take the kids along for the ride.
Ozarks Waterfalls Road Trip
- Route: Spainhour Falls>Glory Hole Falls>Magnolia Falls>Big Creek Cave Falls Kings Bluff Falls>Long Pool Falls>Highway 123 Falls>Haw Creek Falls>Car Wash Falls
- Distance: 183 miles
- Trip Time: 5 hours driving time
If you haven’t heard, the Ozark National Forest is one of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in Arkansas. By far, it features the most spectacular cascades in the state. While it would be nice to marvel at them all, your schedule might not allow it. But have no fear, OIYS has compiled an Ozarks waterfall road trip that loops around Haw Creek Falls Recreation Area and highlights the most breathtaking falls that you can imagine. You’ll need time to hike to witness these cascades, so be sure to plan this 180 miles, 5-hour journey with that in mind. This waterfall road trip is perfect for the nature lover and outdoor enthusiast.
Ultimate Pie Road Trip
- Route: PattiCakes Bakery>Daisy's Lunchbox Cafe and Bakery>Ms. Lena's Pie Shop>Charlotte's Eats and Sweets>Morrison's Fried Pies
- Distance: 221 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
One of the best parts about a road trip is that you can make it into your own unique adventure. And if you’re a foodie, chances are, you’ve been on a trip to eat delicious grub. So, we thought it would be great to include this ultimate pie road trip through Arkansas to soothe your foodie soul. Of course, everybody loves pies and there are so many pie shops between the Arkansas River Valley and Hot Springs that are a must-visit. At 220 miles, the driving time for this road trip is about 4 hours, which means you can easily visit all the bakeries in one day. Be sure to take some pie home for later.
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Best Arkansas Road Trip For Spring
- Route: Cherokee Prairie Natural Area>H.E. Flanagan Prairie Natural Area>Baker Prairie Natural Area>Middle Fork Barrens Natural Area>Allsopp Park Trail>Downs Prairie Natural Area>Byrd Lake Natural Area>Terre Noire Natural Area>Rick Evans Grandview Prairie
- Distance: 587 miles
- Trip Time: 11 hours driving time
After the Winter freeze, you’ll want to cure cabin fever in the most magical way. Since Spring is the start of road trip season, the best Spring road trip in Arkansas would be to witness the blooming wildflowers. The vibrant blooms are in the prairies, natural areas, nature trails, and the lovely flowers extend as far as the eye can see. With the gorgeous weather, you can spend lots of time basking in all the natural beauty. This 11-hour road trip will cover approximately 600 miles, and you’ll get to see 9 wildflower fields. We recommend making this into a week-long adventure, so you’ll get to marvel at all that these colorful fields have to offer.
Best Summer Road Trip In Arkansas
- Route: AGFC Forrest L. Wood Crowley's Ridge Nature Center>Jacksonport State Park>Holland Bottom Farm LLC>Riverfront Park>Arkansas Railroad Museum>Cane Creek State Park
- Distance: 215 miles
- Trip Time: 4 hours driving time
Kick off the Summer by taking the family on a road trip that features lots of fun activities. Whether it’s spending time camping, kayaking, visiting a museum, or exploring a nature center, this Summer road trip in Arkansas will be epic. And best of all, the road trip will be inexpensive, so you won’t have to break the bank to do it. And there’s even some sweet treats along the way, which means you’ll for sure gain some bonus points with the kids. Just under 4 hours driving and 215 miles, you can make this into an overnight or a 2-day adventure.
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Best Arkansas Road Trip For Fall
- Route: Hot Springs>Mount Magazine>Artist Point>Jasper>Mountain View
- Distance: 339 miles
- Trip Time: 7 hours driving time
Vibrant hues await during the Fall season in Arkansas. And luckily, the Natural State is abundant with scenic byways, overlooks, and state parks, where you can witness the colorful foliage. This 7-hour Fall foliage road trip in Arkansas will explore a few of the gorgeous parks like Hot Springs National Park, and it’s packed with fun adventure. Truly, you’ll get to see the best of what Fall has to offer. With over 300 miles to cover, you’ll want to spread this trip out over 7 days, so that you’ll have time to fully enjoy the beauty of the season.
Best Winter Road Trip In Arkansas
- Route: Hot Springs>Mount Magazine>Artist Point>Jasper>Mountain View
- Distance: 292 miles
- Trip Time: 5 hours driving time
During the Winter, it’s natural to want to stay indoors to escape the cold. And while sitting inside drinking hot cocoa sounds divine, it’s best to venture out to see the enchanting places in Arkansas that celebrate the holiday season in the most magical way. If you love everything about Christmas, then this 5-hour Winter road trip in Arkansas is for you. The kids will enjoy all the light shows as well as the fun entertainment. Be sure to plan this trip accordingly as the evenings are better to delight in all the twinkling holiday light displays.
Family Friendly Arkansas Road Trip
- Route: Eureka Springs Music Park>Scott Family Amazeum>Botanical Garden of the Ozarks>Briar Rose Bakery and Deli>Terra Studios>Short Grotto Falls>All Aboard Restaurant and Grill
- Distance: 270 miles
- Trip Time: 6 hours driving time
When it comes to family-friendly adventures in Arkansas, the possibilities are endless. From fairytale bakeries to botanical gardens to waterfalls, art museums, and more. It’s guaranteed that you’ll find lots of activities that the entire family will love. And on this family-friendly Arkansas road trip, you’ll get to experience it all. The little ones will have a chance to learn, play, and explore the best kid-friendly places in the state. Expect to drive just under 6 hours for this road trip, and you’ll cover about 270 fun-filled miles along the way.
Road Trip to Arkansas Landmarks & Natural Wonders
- Route: Blanchard Springs Caverns>Mirror Lake>Buffalo National River>Richland Creek Wilderness Area>Pedestal Rock Scenic Area>White Rock Mountain>Cove Lake>Mount Magazine>Lake Ouachita>Hot Springs National Park
- Distance: 445 miles
- Trip Time: 11 hours driving time
Are you ready to explore some of the most incredible places that you can imagine? Well, you’re in luck because natural wonders and landmarks are abundant in Arkansas. From natural hot springs to breathtaking waterfalls to underground adventures, and more, there is so much to see in the Natural State. And this natural wonder road trip will take you to spectacular gems like the Buffalo National River in Ponca and the Blanchard Springs Caverns. With 10 sites to visit, 445 miles to cover as well as 11 hours of drive time, this will be a multi-day trip. You’ll want to plan accordingly to make the best of each spectacular location.
Road Trip to Best Small Towns in Arkansas
- Route:Hardy>Mirror Lake>Mountain View>Jasper>Eureka Springs>Oark>Altus>Paris>Subiaco>Mount Ida
- Distance: 436 miles
- Trip Time: 9 hours driving time
Small towns are the heart and soul of Arkansas. Whether you’re searching for the best mom-and-pop restaurants, antique shops, historic sites, or Victorian mansions, look no further than these charming towns in the state. This small towns road trip in Arkansas will start in the delightful town of Hardy, you’ll travel through Eureka Springs, and it will end in Mount Ida, where you can dig for hidden gems. It will cover 430 miles with just over 9 hours of driving, so we recommend you make this a week-long road trip.
Well, which one of these fun road trips through Arkansas are you most likely to take? Tell us about it in the comments below. And don’t forget to check out this previous article about the best scenic hiking trails in Arkansas.
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BEST ARKANSAS ROAD TRIPS & RELATED INFO
What are the most popular landmarks to visit in Arkansas?
Here are the 12 most popular landmarks to visit in Arkansas:
- Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro
- Buffalo National River, Ponca
- Christ of the Ozarks, Eureka Springs
- Hot Springs National Park, Hot Springs
- Louisiana Purchase State Park, Blackton
- Thorncrown Chapel, Eureka Springs
- Blanchard Springs Caverns, Fifty-Six,
- Bathhouse Row Historic District, Hot Springs
- Mount Magazine State Park, Paris
- Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Little Rock
- Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Roland
- Arkansas State Capitol, Little Rock
To read more about some of these landmarks, check out this previous article about the best iconic landmarks in Arkansas.
What are the most popular state parks to visit in Arkansas?
There are 52 state parks in the Natural State, and here are 10 of the most popular state parks to visit in Arkansas:
- Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton
- DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Bismarck
- Mount Magazine State Park, Paris
- Lake Ouachita State Park, Mountain Pine
- Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area, Rogers
- Mount Nebo State Park, Dardanelle
- Lake Catherine State Park, Hot Springs
- Village Creek State Park, Wynne
- Devil's Den State Park, Winslow
- Lake Dardanelle State Park, Lake Dardanelle
Here’s a previous article detailing more information about the most popular state parks to visit in Arkansas.
What are the major highways in Arkansas?
The are 4 major highways in Arkansas and they are:
- Interstate 30
- Interstate 40
- Interstate 49
- Interstate 55
Other highways include Interstate 440, Interstate 530, Interstate 540, and Interstate 555. Interstate 40 features a scenic drive through some gorgeous towns in Arkansas.
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Arkansas, USA