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!

It's really quite lovely! It's always very clean and definitely worth stopping in. The only bummer…read moreis now that they charge you to stop and park even if it's for 10 minutes

Friends trail Great trail! Easy path to follow, roots and…read morerocks make it unstable for any stroller or wheels. Clean area, the river is beautiful! The path also leads up to a cliff area. Must stop and walk when town. Our 2 year old followed us everywhere on the trail.

This places runs like a well oiled machine! The train line might seem daunting at first but with…read moretwo trains running the 20 minute track there's boarding every 10 minutes. The employees were wonderful at their jobs and very cheerful. The mini pony ride was perfect for our girls who are 2 and 3 years old. 10/10 recommend!

Brought our 3.5 & 1.5 year olds on the train ride & they both had a blast! Took roughly 20-30min so…read moredefinitely worth the very cheap price for a train ticket & we saw so many deer and animals along the ride! We love Loco Joe our conductor!

This is an amazing playground and park that has been retooled and refurbished. All of the play…read moreequipment is brand new and paved. Pathways have been added to get park goers from point to point without the need to trudge through muddy wet ground when it is rainy season. The playground surfaces are all weatherproof, which is a fantastic addition to the playground. This park has plenty of space for picnic and pavilions for parties. It has a train that operates seasonally through the park that features a tunnel and other exciting activities. There is a large city pool also included in the park that has a brand new structure, including a very nice competitive swim area stands, diving area, etc, along with changing rooms, showers, concessions, etc. There is also a putt putt course located within the park. Additionally, the park includes a tennis center and tennis lessons as well as organized tennis events and a tennis league.

Looks like several areas of the park are being renovated. Which is a good thing for the community…read more After checking out of our AirBnb were thought it would be a great idea to take our dog for a walk, There is a nice concrete sidewalk around the park and being early in the morning we did not come across very many walkers. Every city/community needs to have a park so everyone can use. This is a good example!

The state park itself is beautiful. The trails and lake are great. We stayed at the lodge for a…read moreweek. The staff are all friendly and welcoming. The restaurant and staff there were very good. Where it fell short for us was mostly the room. The room was very small, crowded, musty and in extreme need of updating. The bathtub has rust stains, the tile is old and grout is filthy. The carpet in the room is also filthy. There were spiders in the corners of the room. The air system was so loud! The door to the room had gaps so spacious that light from the hall poured in all night and everyone walking by sounded as if they were in the room with us. The chair in the room was stained. You get the point. The elevator safety certification in both elevators expired in 2024. Doesn't instill great confidence. My husband had never been here and I was so excited to share a place I had stayed at several times in my childhood. Unfortunately the experience was a bit of a letdown. There were no activities at all. The outdoor paved walking trail behind the lodge had maybe two of the lights working and the lanterns were filthy. I remember that path being lit so well at night that the frogs would be on the path catching insects that were drawn to the lights. There wasn't a frog to be seen or heard. With some TLC and renovations & perhaps an activities director, this could be a beautiful place to stay again.

Peaceful and relaxing nature. It has multiple entrances to visit from. Picnic areas available with…read moregrill stations.

Although the Cossatot is better known for white water boating, levels were too low and my company…read moretoo young to do so safely on our visit. Instead, we hiked - first along the river itself, making use of skills that felt more like light mountaineering to scale and descend the massive rocks jutting up out of the earth; then along a more traditional mountain path. The rocks were fun, and we wanted more of them, but alas, the path eventually forces you into the water if you want to continue, and we weren't equipped for that. Instead, we hit a mountain trail that, while fun, clearly doesn't see much traffic (the path was pretty overgrown in some places). All in all, it was a great experience that I would recommend to anyone with an appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors. Just one word of warning: the maps they provide at the visitor center are almost totally useless, so fooling with them is probably a waste of time. Fortunately, trails and camping areas are all clearly marked with signage, so you should be able to find your way around fairly easily.

The bathrooms look and smell like they have been cleaned in months!! Please, I would not let your…read morekids go in them! Totally disgusting!! Totally uncalled for!! If I could I'd give no star.

Part of the Beavers Bend State Resort Park. Beautiful view of the lake, clear water, kayak and…read morecanoe rental. I visited the park for the day and stayed at the Cypress campground. Campground spots had one leveled tent spot.