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State Parks in Arkansas. Which is the Best One? 35 Amazing Parks Explored.
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Hunting for the Best State Parks in Arkansas has been quite the task. There are 52 State Parks in Arkansas and we have visited 35 of them in almost 10 months.
Our initial goal was to visit all 52 in a year. The summer heat (and a long mid-summer road trip to Maine) temporarily sidetracked us from our mission.
But we are back at it! Here are the rankings for the top 35 Best State Parks in Arkansas…
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Table of Contents
Arkansas State Parks
Full checklist of all 52 parks!
For my previous article on the top 18 (with more individual info on State Parks in Arkansas, click HERE)
Disclaimer: I’m not a “sit and relax” person, I’m a “go and do” type person. The more fun things a park has for me to do, the higher I ranked the State Parks in Arkansas. If there’s a river, waterfall, or overlook…I’m sold!
Top 10 State Parks in Arkansas:
Best State Parks in Arkansas #1: Petit Jean State Park
Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas’s first of 52 State Parks, is the best State Park in Arkansas. It has an unbeatable combination of adventurous hiking, spectacular overlooks, amazing waterfalls (including Arkansas’s most photographed waterfall), rivers, lakes, camping, and cool rock formations to explore.
Everything amazing is thrown into one Arkansas State Park.
2. Mount Nebo State Park
Arkansas’s second state park and my #2, is Mount Nebo for the views and activity options (hiking, biking). Check out Sunrise Point and Sunset Point for ahhhh-mazing views!
3. Cossatot River State Park
Cossatot River State Park ranks high because of the gorgeous scenery at Cossatot Falls. Tucked way back in the mountains is a river cascading over huge boulders scattered everywhere.
It’s an unbeatable experience. And we were lucky enough to have the entire river to ourselves on our visit!
4. Devil’s Den State Park
Devil’s Den State Park has great hiking with some really incredible overlooks (Yellow Rock!).
Admittedly, I haven’t explored as many of the hiking trails as I would like to (yet), but it still ranks pretty high. Luckily this is one of the closer parks to me so I can easily explore more later!
MORE ON DEVIL’S DEN STATE PARK
5. Mt. Magazine State Park
Mount Magazine is another Arkansas State Park that has amazing views. This Arkansas State Park has the highest point in the state at 2,753 Feet.
The best part of these views is that you can drive right up to the overlooks.
6. Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Pinnacle Mountain was a surprise favorite of ours. The hiking was great, and led to some really pretty overlooks that we didn’t expect.
My favorite part of our hike was standing on a bluff overlooking a lake full of swans.
7. Bull Shoals-White River State Park
With a combination of a lake, a dam, and a pond, Bull Shoals-White River Arkansas State Park ranks in the top 10 because of its diverse activities.
Take advantage of the more than 100 camping sites along the White River for some scenic relaxation!
8. Delta Heritage Trail State Park
The Delta Heritage Trail State Park had assistance to help its ranking. The park itself is known for the walking and biking trails which are currently expanding.
Although not a spectacular park, the nearby Old Town Lake is what sold us.
A day of kayaking through the cypress trees and watching the multiple owls flying around was amazing.
MORE ON DELTA HERITAGE TRAIL STATE PARK
9. Mississippi River State Park
The Mississippi River State Park has an amazing visitor’s center that seems to sit in the middle of nowhere. The campsites are a bit scattered (with one being a 30-minute drive from the visitor’s center).
We loved this park for the kayaking experience (Horner’s Neck Lake and cypress trees).
10. Woolly Hollow State Park
Woolly Hollow State Park was a favorite of ours for the quiet camping in well-kept campgrounds.
We were lucky enough to have a night of heavy rains that left us with amazing waterfalls and flooded areas to explore.
State Parks in Arkansas #11-25
11. Cane Creek State Park
We didn’t get to fully explore Cane Creek State Park because Mother Nature forced us to head home sooner than planned to avoid being stranded in a snowstorm.
We camped in the park and had a partial day of exploring before heading home that evening.
I plan to visit again (in warm weather) to kayak the lake through the lily pads.
12. Queen Wilhelmina State Park
Queen Wilhelmina State Park just barely misses the top 10, but not because of the lack of scenery! The drive to the top of Rich Mountain is incredible, giving you panoramic overlooks as you drive a ridge to the top of the mountain!
Rich Mountain has the state’s 2nd highest peak at 2,681 Feet (72ft behind the Mount Magazine peak).
MORE ON QUEEN WILHELMINA STATE PARK
13. Hobbs State Park
Hobbs State Park is another park with plenty of diversity. Similar to Devil’s Den, Hobbs State Park is close to will need further exploring.
And being the largest Arkansas State Park (at 12,054 acres) there is plenty more to explore!
14. Lake Ouachita State Park
The thing I remember the most vividly about Lake Ouachita State Park is the drive into the park. The pine trees that lined the road were an impressive sight. The entire place is so beautiful.
Unfortunately, the brutally cold wind chill kept us from exploring the park as fully as we wanted to. This park warrants a second trip!
15. Crater of Diamonds State Park
A huge field of dirt and the potential to find a diamond is all we needed to have a great time at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
Read my article about our trip for details on this park and tips!
MORE ON CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK
16. Mammoth Spring State Park
Mammoth Spring State Park is a small one, but well worth the stop. The park is very clean and set up well to take a stroll around a pond and see the springs that pump out up to 9 million gallons of water per hour.
17. Louisiana Purchase State Park State Park
Louisiana Purchase State Park is another small, but surprising Arkansas State Park. It’s very secluded, but the boardwalk stroll through the swamp lands is super cool!
MORE ON LOUISIANA PURCHASE STATE PARK
18. Village Creek State Park
Village Creek State Park was a bit of a surprise to me. The camping area was in a beautiful location (despite not being near the water), and was full of people playing instruments (banjo, etc) and having fun.
The kayaking at either nearby lake is peaceful (especially at sunset!), with some decent fishing opportunities.
19. Lake Charles State Park
The campsites sitting right on this gorgeous lake made Lake Charles State Park one of our favorites.
With a 100+ degree heat index, this is one of the few parks we chose to relax (more than DO).
Recommended activity: take a stroll in the middle of the night, under a full moon, to the pier… There is nothing more peaceful!
20. Crowley’s Ridge State Park
Crowley’s Ridge State Park has some potential but wasn’t a spectacular visit for us. Between the heat and the mosquitoes, we didn’t get to explore the land like we wanted, and we weren’t able to relax outside of the camper van.
Mosquitoes are a typical Arkansas summer issue, especially near areas of water. But geeeeez, this place was crazy with them.
21. Hampson Archeological Museum State Park
The Hampson Archeological Museum State Park is a very small, but interesting museum. The selling point of this stop is definitely the city that the museum sets in.
Wilson, Arkansas is a place you will want to experience. This perfectly manicured and well-kept town, full of beautiful flowers, feels like a dream.
22. Powhatan State Park
We love historic architecture! Powhatan Historic State Park has a cool courthouse, with some interesting history. It’s one of our favorite historic sights, because of our “ghost story” experience…
Our Ghost Story: After the park ranger told us the story of an inmate’s death, we walked into one of the courthouse rooms where Robert immediately received a text from me saying “Hi.” We compared our phones and couldn’t figure out how he received a text from me saying “Hi.” After staring at each other and our phones for a few minutes, we decided at least they are friendly and polite ghosts and continued on our tour.
23. Withrow Springs State Park
Withrow Springs State Park was a quick and unexpected stop for us that will require another visit to fully explore what the park has to offer.
24. Parkin Archeological State Park
Parkin Archeological State Park is a fun little museum with a nice walk outside around the grounds and to an old schoolhouse.
25. Lake Fort Smith State Park
Lake Fort Smith State Park is just a small lake that we enjoyed for a few hours. It has pretty scenery, but not much for us to do on a cold day.
State Parks in Arkansas: Bottom 10
26. Jacksonport State Park
Jacksonport State Park sits on the White River. Ideally, this should be an amazing park but seems to lack.
The campsites are decent but don’t seem well cared for as far as landscaping or river accessibility.
MORE ON JACKSONPORT STATE PARK
27. Lake Frierson State Park
Lake Frierson State Park is just a little something of a park, with a pretty lake (and a cool “doggy obstacle course”).
28. Lake Dardanelle State Park
To a fisherman, this lake might seem like a dream. If you don’t fish, it’s just a pretty lake with a pretty view.
29. Ozark Folk Center State Park
The Ozark Folk Center was probably my biggest disappointment in Arkansas State Parks for the simple fact that you have to pay $15 per adult to enter the “Craft Village.”
This is the only Arkansas State Park we have come across that you have to pay to see the basics of what the park has to offer.
30. Daisy State Park
Daisy State Park is another cute little park centered around a lake. It’s pretty to look at and explore for a short while.
31. Lake Poinsett State Park
We spent some time kayaking and fishing at Lake Poinsett State Park, but neither activity turned out how we wanted.
The kayaking conditions weren’t the best since it was very open and windy on the lake. And with multiple artificial fish habitats in the water, fishing was difficult because we kept snagging the lures in the habitats.
32. Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park
The Plantation Agriculture Museum is a neat little stop setting in the middle of nowhere. Definitely worth a quick stop on your way through.
33. Plum Bayou (Toltec Mounds) State Park
With a small museum and an outdoor walk around a couple of mounds, the Plum Bayou was one of my least favorite visits.
The small bridge on the backside of the mounds was its only saving grace (for me).
(Although to be fair, I was hot and hangry during this visit.)
34. Davidsonville State Park
Although the 2 “ghost structures” at Davisonville State Park were interesting to see, the visitor’s center was cute, and the history is decent enough, this park didn’t have enough activities to warrant a second visit any time soon.
35. Herman Davis State Park
Rounding out the State Parks in Arkansas is Herman Davis State Park. The history is cool, and the statue is pretty.
But, it is the smallest Arkansas State Park with no activities. We enjoyed seeing the site, but will not be making a return trip.
How many State Parks in Arkansas have you visited?
Arkansas State Parks List with 35 parks ranked
Which State Parks in Arkansas are your favorites?
What are your top 2 State Parks in Arkansas?
Leave a comment or contact us…
Stay tuned for the final rankings after we visit all 52 State Parks in Arkansas! (by the end of 2023)
-Best State Parks in Arkansas (35 spots for FUN)-
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Arkansas State Parks all really have amazing views, will be an unforgettable experience. Thank you for sharing the wonderful view.
We love Arkansas! It’s right by Texas so we love to travel to the state parks in Arkansas. Your guides are amazing and I can’t wait to use them to plan our next trip.