Welcome to the holiday season, Arkansans. The halls are decked, the lights are bright, and the light displays are – well, they really are stunning. The Christmas lights in Arkansas are so mesmerizing, it’s only right we put some of the best in one road trip, right? This road trip is a compilation of the greatest hits of Arkansas’s coolest light displays that you absolutely need to see this season. You’re going to start at Garvan Woodland Gardens and end at Fayetteville’s Lights of the Ozarks, but those two are just the bookends on a whole stack of holiday awesome. So grab your keys and get your kids and your grandma and your neighbors and pile in the car, because no one should miss these holiday lights in Arkansas.

This trip will take you about five hours, and you can find your itinerary on Google Maps.

Google Maps
1. Garvan Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs)
Flickr/farmboyted
Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, Hot Springs, AR 71913, USA
Flickr/musicanys
How about we start with 4.5 million lights spread across 17 acres in the most impressive botanical garden in the Natural State? Garvan Woodland Gardens offers just that. These Christmas lights in Arkansas are nothing short of spectacular and usually run through the end of December. They’re closed on Christmas Day, however, so try to avoid visiting then!
2. Hot Springs National Park
Flickr/Kyle N.
Hot Springs National Park, AR, USA
Flickr/Michael Leza
Since we’re already in Hot Springs, we’re going to head on down to Bathhouse Row to see the incredible Christmas lights at Hot Springs National Park. Don’t forget to stop by the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa to see their enormous gingerbread house and tree. You’ll definitely be able to find the rest of the lights from there. This one is free to see. Thanks, Hot Springs.
3. Arkansas State Capitol Building
Flickr/Bob Simmons

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State Capitol building, Little Rock, AR 72201, USA
Flickr/Clayton Wells
Immediately following the Big Jingle Jubilee Holiday Parade in Arkansas is the holiday fireworks show. Check out the enormous tree under the rotunda while you're there, too. But even if you can't make it for the parade and fireworks, you want to drive by anyway, because seeing our capitol building glowing with Christmas cheer is something Arkansans shouldn’t miss. Get all the details about this Christmas light display in Arkansas on the event website.
4. Downtown Paris, Arkansas
Flickr/AR Nature Gal
Paris, AR 72855, USA
Flickr/AR Nature Gal
Hey, you should think about staying the night in Paris. More specifically, you should think about staying at the Lodge on Mount Magazine. What you don’t want to miss in Paris is the adorable downtown district and the absolutely stunning display at the Logan County Courthouse. This place is on the Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights, and for good reason. To find out more information about this holiday festival in Arkansas, visit the official city website.
5. Stewart Family Christmas Display (Fayetteville)
Facebook/Stewart Family Christmas Display
4423 E Wyman Rd, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Facebook/Stewart Family Christmas Display
Congratulations on making it all the way into the Ozarks! You’ve made it to the penultimate stop on our spectacular Christmas adventure. You’ll find 375,000 lights and more than 250 inflatables at the Stewart Family Christmas Display. This display has been going for well over a decade now, and it just keeps getting better and better. This family home has become a must-see destination for winter wonderland enthusiasts.
6. Lights of the Ozarks (Fayetteville)
Flickr/MRHSFan
Fayetteville, AR, USA
Flickr/MRHSFan
We’re ending on a high note, friends. The Lights of the Ozarks is hands down one of the best holiday light extravaganzas in the Natural State. Lights of the Ozarks takes place at Fayetteville Square, and you’re going to love the nearly half a million lights there. The lights stay on until 1 a.m., so you’ve got plenty of time to head on over there after you visit the Stewarts’ place. Walking through the magical wonderland of lights is free, but you may want to bring some cash for the camel rides, reindeer viewing, carriage ride, and pony rides. That’s right, Lights of the Ozarks is a whole lot more than holiday lights in AR. The festival runs until December 31st.

Have you ever been to see these Christmas lights in Arkansas? Which would you say is your favorite? Make sure to let us know in the comments section! Or, if you want to find out where you can include some more incredible light displays into your itinerary, check out this Arkansas Trail of Holiday Lights!

Also, we have a few other holiday attractions that you can incorporate into your Christmas in Arkansas plans. You’ll find a holiday train ride you’ll want to take here. Or, if the Lights of the Ozarks really was of interest, then you can make a whole trip out of visiting rather than just one road trip stop!

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What are the best drive-thru light shows in Arkansas?

Sometimes you want to explore the best holiday lights in Arkansas but it’s too cold to be walking around. In this case, how about checking out the best drive-thru light shows?! You don't have to leave the comfort of your car when you explore these seven drive-thru Christmas light displays in Arkansas. Enjoy the Enchanted Forest Trail of Lights in Sherwood to the Lights of the Delta in Blytheville. Christmas in Arkansas just got a whole lot warmer.

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Outside of the holiday lights, what are other ways we can celebrate Christmas in Arkansas? How about exploring some of the best Christmas towns! There are quite a few small towns in Arkansas that really know how to celebrate the holidays. For instance, Fayetteville has Lights of the Ozarks, which is truly magical. Meanwhile, Bentonville has a downtown area that is absolutely adorable. Also, you can’t beat one of the most quintessentially Christmas spots in Arkansas, Little Rock. Not only will you have an entire calendar filled with holiday activities, but the entire city comes to life with lights and decorations. 

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