We drove through part of Lake Ouachita State Park in late July 2025…read more Entrance was free. The lake looked clean everywhere we went. I was impressed. Many boaters, some swimmers (with designated areas and beaches even), some fishermen, and hikers scattered this area of Arkansas just outside of Hot Springs. It was fairly hot when we went, but still good fun and beautiful scenery. If time had permitted, I would have liked to take my daughters to Three Sisters Springs and other places. We instead stayed at Echo Canyon which is not technically part of the state park, but exists on Lake Ouachita.

It was a beautiful morning, perfect for exploring trails along the state park. We drove :30, 2…read moremiles out of Hot Springs. We started in the visitor center with Wi-Fi, maps, and a small gift shop. We followed the trails down to the marina. We passed campsite's & pullouts. Kayaks, paddle boats, pontoon boats are all available. There was a small beach with two people sitting on chairs.

When we first moved to Hot Springs we both volunteered at the gardens. It was wonderful. Got to…read moremeet a lot of people and see so much beauty. The two lives in the spring are absolutely gorgeous. So many varieties. So many colors. Gorgeous! Christmas is a incredible time. The displays, the workmanship that goes into them. They're all made there on site. It's a wonderful time. I always loved working at Christmas. Lots of hot chocolate, Santa Clause The restaurant is amazing. They have such a great variety! The carts and the drivers are just awesome. You'll see so much of the park, especially if you're older, you'll enjoy the cart rides. Go and get to enjoy the beauty of Hot Springs!

Love being there. The staffs are friendly, the gardens and grounds are soothing and peaceful. I go…read morethere at least twice a week, maybe 3 times when I can escape from my hustle and bustle. Every time I was there, I feel a sense of peace and joy. Where else can you get that kind of relaxation in a city? It's just beautiful.

Great place for a swim. Nice and clean. Not crowded. Clear buoys for safety. Clearing water. Quiet.read more

Quiet resort town with plenty to see and do for the day. Several restaurants are within walking…read moredistance. Water sports include a float toy island for the kids, kayak rentals, jet ski rentals, and several different kinds of boat tours. Hot springs are in the area and are quite busy. Would recommend going off peak hours to make the most of it.

Crater of Diamonds State Park is one of my favorite places to visit. We've traveled from Florida…read moretwice just to come here, and even made a third stop on our way home from our vacation out west - and we've still never found a diamond. Yet I would come back again and again. There's something incredibly therapeutic about the thrill of the hunt and the possibility that the next scoop of dirt could contain something amazing. It's not really about what you find - it's about the experience, the hope, and the adventure. The people here are also some of the kindest you'll meet. Everyone is searching for their own treasure, but they're genuinely excited when someone else makes a discovery. It creates a welcoming atmosphere where people get along, share stories, and celebrate each other's successes. If this place were closer to home, I'd probably spend at least one day every weekend here - maybe all of them. It's a fabulous escape and a special place that keeps calling me back, whether I find a diamond or not.

This was one of the highlights of our Arkansas trip while visiting family from our Florida home…read morebase. For anyone unfamiliar, this is the only diamond mine in the world open to the public where you can actually keep what you find. Some surprisingly large diamonds have been discovered here over the years, so there's always that tiny bit of hope that keeps you searching. What surprised me most was the layout. For some reason I expected caves or mining tunnels, but it's actually a huge open field where visitors search, dig, sift, and surface hunt. We paid $45 total admission for 3 people and thankfully already had equipment provided by our rental house (checkout Punkin's place in Murfreesboro, Arkansas on Airbnb) because you can absolutely spend extra renting tools onsite if needed. We started with wet sifting before moving into dry and surface searching. There were a few muddy sections from recent rain, but overall the conditions were great during our May visit. Slightly overcast skies with an occasional drizzle made the weather perfect for being outside. I honestly can't imagine doing this in the middle of a blazing hot summer afternoon. I had read reviews from people saying they left exhausted, but we approached it a little differently due to some back and shoulder limitations. We worked smart, paced ourselves, and still had a fantastic time. We didn't find diamonds that day, but we did leave with some beautiful rocks and a really fun experience. We would absolutely do this again!

Fun urban walk with historical businesses and there is enough nature to walk and see from above I…read more The tower as well

As part of our quest to visit all 63 U.S. national parks, we set off on a six-week road trip. I…read morehave a personal rule: I only count a national park as "visited" if I actually spend time there, hike or walk through it, and experience it beyond simply driving by. Hot Springs National Park was one of the most unique parks on our journey because it is unlike any other national park we have visited. Rather than protecting vast wilderness, this park preserves the history and natural thermal springs that gave birth to the city of Hot Springs. For centuries, people believed the mineral-rich waters had healing properties, and during the late 1800s and early 1900s, the area became one of America's premier spa destinations. The beautifully preserved Bathhouse Row is a reminder of that era, with historic buildings that still define the character of the park today. The park itself blends seamlessly into the city, making it feel less like a traditional national park and more like a living historic district. Personally, I see it as being closer to a national monument than the expansive wilderness parks most people picture when they think of the National Park System. But that doesn't diminish its value, it is simply a very different experience. I spent quite a bit of time hiking the surrounding trails, which were peaceful, scenic, and offered beautiful views over the town and the Ouachita Mountains. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how much nature surrounds the historic district once you begin climbing into the hills. The town itself is charming, full of history, unique architecture, good restaurants, and an easy pace that invites you to slow down. Between exploring the bathhouses, learning about the fascinating history of hydrotherapy in America, and enjoying the trails, we found there was plenty to fill a full day. Overall, Hot Springs National Park is beautiful in its own way. It may not offer towering mountains or dramatic wilderness, but it preserves an important chapter of American history while still providing opportunities to enjoy nature. It is certainly worth visiting with an open mind and an appreciation for both history and the outdoors.

Great place to visit with family - caught fish, played at the park, enjoyed the beautiful grounds…read more Love it!

A very nice upkeep park. Great for family. There is a pond near the entrance that people were…read morefishing. Plenty of seatings throughout the park, shaded and not shaded. Being a solo traveling person, I totally feel safe at this park. Many different trails to take. The trails leading to the water was my favorite. I end up just watching people riding their boat and water skiing. Great place to have a picnic also. The fishing pier is my favorite spot to get some sun in and there is a bench there that you can just sit and look out. If you really look, you will find a spot you can actually go down to swim. Not sure if it's safe and permit. Take a look at my picture I posted to see if you can find the spot. BTW, getting to the park is easy breezy but when it's time to get out the park, use caution. Cars coming all different directions with the slopes!

Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located on Rich Mountain, Arkansas' second highest peak. We stayed…read morenearby in an Air BnB and came up to hike one day and another time to watch the sunset. Both activities did not disappoint. There are 41 campsites along with picnic areas and 4 hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. The trails are: Lover's Leap Trail, Reservoir Trail, Spring Trail and the Quachita National Hiking Trail (National Recreation Trail). There is an old train engine to look at. I wonder how in the heck did they get that up there? There is a playground and small train tracks that appears to be for fun kiddie train rides in the summer months. Several lookout areas in the park. The Lover's Leap lookout area near the lodge has two viewing scopes (bring two quarters to use). Be careful, the one on the right has a stain near the eyepiece and you can't see out of it. Of course I only had two quarters and unfortunately put it into that viewer. This area is so beautiful with scenic views anywhere you look.

This is one of the smaller parks in AR. It is also a bit random. There is a train engine on…read moredisplay and there is a putt putt course. There is also a large lodge and RV spots. We were touring around the state of AR and wanted to come here because it is the second highest park in the state. We talked to a nice park ranger that explained to us in detail why no state park in AR charges and entry fee. The first day we were there it was a bit overcast so the views were not that great. The second day it cleared and we were able to see for a long distance. We didn't go into the lodge because of COVID and mostly we did the short trails at this park. I also love the unique signs each state park has at their entrances. It wasn't our favorite we visited but still a nice stop. I am sure once COVID is over the putt putt will reopen.

Just finished a week stay at Degray Lake, and am beyond delighted that it was chosen for my first…read morevacation spot. From the moment you turn onto state park road, you can feel the calming and rejuvenating atmosphere. The views of the lake and surrounding areas were breathtaking, as well as all of the wildlife. Every member of the staff were extremely friendly and helpful, it felt as if I was at a good friends house for a week. I'd like to take the time to shout out the restaurant staff, in particular; Gina, Lauren, Shannon Rick and David. Every time we found ourselves in the restaurant we were welcomed with great energy and open smiles that could be felt and seen through the masks, regardless of time of day. It was as if we were regulars at our favorite spot. Would absolutely recommend for anybody trying to take some time to disconnect from daily life and get back in touch with the simpler sides of life.

Came here with some friends while we were out boating and had a great lunch! The food was not…read moreoverpriced by any means, and it was actually pretty good! My fiancé and I both got salads (one Cobb and one chef) and our friends got the gyro and the quesadilla. Neither of us had any complaints, it all came out relatively quickly, and tasted great. Our waitress was slammed (someone called in) but she was very attentive to our needs and brought us refills before we were even finished! Overall we were impressed and glad we decided to stop in instead of bringing sandwiches.

HIGHLY recommend! I went with my 10 yr old grandson. We stayed in the bunkhouse and it was perfect…read more If you need a no frills place to sleep, microwave and small frig it's perfect! (The other cabins looked great too. ) Owners are so sweet and helpful! We had planned to go into Hot Springs a few days, but the river was so pretty, fishing was great, swings were super cool, and kayaking was a blast so we never left the campground. Thanks Amanda, Casey, and Nolan!!! See you again sometime!Melissa Wright

Awesome people, kid friendly, and great fishing on a beautiful river. We really enjoyed our canoe…read moretrip and will be back!

Beautiful! Secluded! The water was so clean and the campsites were clean. Our family of 6 enjoyed…read moreit.

Our campsite was on the lake. We had power power and water. Bathrooms were clean with hot showers…read more Phone service was good. The water level is down but people were out on kayaks fishing. We walked around and at night enjoyed a campfire. Wood is sold in the office.