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Summer’s official start is nearly here, which means the travel season is well underway.
Arkansans who want to save money don’t need to stay home. The Natural State offers a wealth of free or cheap areas and attractions to see and do year-round, with many outside the metropolitan areas that dominate Central and Northwest Arkansas.
Many of Arkansas’ richest experiences can be found outdoors, said Dalaney Thomas, director of tourism at the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.
“We are the Natural State, and with that comes an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities, the majority of which are either free or a low cost of entry,” Thomas said.
All 52 of Arkansas’ state parks, including Mount Magazine, are free to enter. Many can be seen on day trips, but those wanting to stay overnight may find that camping or staying at a lodge can be cheaper than staying at a hotel outside the state, according to Thomas.
Visitors should pick up a free “passport” from any state park visitor center and get them stamped at each one they encounter. Arkansas offers prizes for visitors who receive five, 25 or 52 stamps.
Arkansas’ official tourism website also offers a slew of free guides, including ones on how to find many of the state’s waterfalls, motorcycle routes and embark on outdoor adventures.
The next couple of months provide a great opportunity for anyone looking to visit Arkansas’ state parks, according to Thomas.
“I think the summer is a great time for Arkansans to perhaps either revisit a park they haven’t been to in years or decades even, or to maybe check off some new state parks that they haven’t been to before,” Thomas said.
RIVER VALLEY
Within a space of a mere 20 miles in the Arkansas River Valley, one can visit a Benedictine monastery, climb to Arkansas’ highest point and pose for a photo beside the famous Eiffel Tower — of Paris, Ark., naturally.
Subiaco Abbey, founded in 1878, is home to 39 Benedictine monks and is one of the state’s most visited tourist spots, according to its website. A Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery of the Swiss-American Congregation, the abbey is also home to the college preparatory school Subiaco Academy and a retreat center.
Visitors to the abbey can take a free self-guided tour or attend one of its five daily gatherings for communal prayers and chants. Groups of 10 or more may schedule a guided tour, which is available once per week by appointment. More information about abbey tours and the retreat center may be found here.
Just remember: Subiaco Abbey is a “working monastery,” which means some areas may be off limits to the general public.
About 18 miles away is Mount Magazine State Park. Nestled in the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, the park is also home to the highest point in the state: Signal Hill. Budget-minded travelers should check out the sizeable visitor center and peek into the Skycrest Restaurant, but don’t be afraid to pack your own lunch and eat it while enjoying one of the state’s most breathtaking views. As a state park, it also offers numerous trails of varying lengths and difficulties. Find out more about Mount Magazine here.
About 18 miles from Mount Magazine is Paris, home to Eiffel Tower Park. Established in 2014, the tower stands 25 feet tall and was painted with the same brand and color as its much larger cousin in France. According to the state’s tourism website, the paint was donated by the manufacturer that creates the paint for the actual Eiffel Tower. While you’re at it, bring a lock to place on the park’s Love Lock Fence.
EAST ARKANSAS
In east Arkansas, the Delta Heritage Trail State Park features 40 miles of hiking and cycling near Helena. An additional 55 miles of trail and 15 miles of paved levee are available in south Desha County, according to Arkansas State Parks.
From there, learn more about blues and gospel history at the Delta Cultural Center in Helena-West Helena. If you happen to be there between 12:15 p.m.and 12:45 p.m. you can experience the King Biscuit Time Radio Show, which the city’s tourism website bills as “the longest-running daily blues radio show.” Admission is free.
Those who want more music can head north to Jonesboro, which “is really becoming a great spot for live music,” according to Craig Rickert, spokesman for that city. Many shows are free or have a limited cover charge he said.
Rickert said Jonesboro has added several venues in recent years, adding that talented local and even regional bands can often be found playing there. The new venues, such as Lebowski’s Brewing Co. and The Lounge at Huntington Square, have helped satisfy a need felt by an increasing portion of the region’s population, according to Rickert.
“I think people of Jonesboro and northeast Arkansas are really craving those intimate and purely local venues that feature local craft brews, local artists and a chance to create community with people you know and people you want to get to know,” he said.
Just 25 miles away from Helena-West Helena is the site of the state’s first James Beard award winner: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna. Despite having won one of the world’s most notable culinary honors and being considered one of — if not the — oldest Black-owned restaurants in the South, Jones remains an affordable stop for Arkansas travelers.
SOUTH ARKANSAS
The Gov. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center in Pine Bluff bridges the east Arkansas Delta and the timberlands of south Arkansas.
Resting between Lake Langhofer and Lake Saracen, the center is home to a variety of native fish that can be seen in a 22,000-gallon aquarium, according to the center’s website. The center also offers a variety of interactive exhibits, a 3-D archery range and hiking trails that provide ample views of area wildlife. Admission to the nature center is free.
While Hot Springs offers a variety of ways to spend money, shrewd travelers can visit the city and adjacent national park without emptying their wallets.
Visitors can park for free just off Bathhouse Row at the Exchange Street parking garage. From there, people can take in the area’s rich history while window shopping along Central Avenue, or cross the street into Hot Springs National Park. Trails abound, and the thermal water from which the city and park get their name is safe to drink. Numerous thermal and cold spring fountains can be used to fill jugs free of charge.
Staying overnight at the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa may seem an expensive prospect for many travelers, but people can still enter and take in its vast, elegant lobby. Those willing to splurge can also order food and drinks from the Lobby Bar without having to pay for a room.
In El Dorado, the Murphy Arts District may well take center stage. The entertainment district features a restaurant, cabaret stage and a 2,000-person music hall, according to Arkansas’ tourism website. There’s also an outdoor amphitheater, farmer’s market and a “two-acre, free-admission ‘destination playscape’ for kids,” the site states.
While most shows charge standard ticket prices, the arts district offers a unique opportunity to see live entertainment in a city that, according to El Dorado Festivals & Events, aims to become the “Festival City of the South.” Travelers should also check out the rest of downtown El Dorado, which CNN hailed in 2013 as one of “America’s Best Small Town Comebacks.”
TIPS
Arkansans ready to set out on their own wallet-friendly adventures should consider these tips:
* Consider planning several months ahead of your trip. Prices in certain areas can vary widely depending on the time of year. If traveling quite a distance, use flight and gas trackers to find the cheapest options.
* Don’t fear the off-season. Visitors often aren’t missing out on much by traveling during less popular times of year — except crowds and inflated prices.
* Pack a picnic when making day trips, and bring enough snacks for the road to quell the urge to stop at a restaurant during the journey.
* If staying at a short-term rental with a kitchen, use it. Find the nearest grocery store to the rental and purchase needed food there.
* Consider staying at a hostel. While not as common in Arkansas as elsewhere, hostels can offer affordable options for even extended stays.
* If visiting a big city, know what alternative travel methods are available. Taking advantage of places that are easily walkable, offer public transit or rental scooters and bikes can cut down on paying for car rentals or rideshares.
* Consider riding a train or taking a bus instead of flying.
A view from the overlook at Mount Nebo State Park shows the Arkansas River Valley on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, near Dardanelle, Ar. The park is known for its scenic vistas and outdoor recreation. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)A bird soars above the cliffs at an overlook in Mount Magazine State Park on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, near Paris, Ar. The park is Arkansas’ highest point and a popular spot for birdwatching and outdoor recreation. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)Dennis Wiederkehr, president of Wiederkehr Wine Cellars, stands at the entrance of the historic Wine Cellar on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in Wiederkehr Village, Ar. Founded in 1880, the family-run vineyard is one of the oldest in the state. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)The Eiffel Tower statue stands at Eiffel Tower Park in Paris, Arkansas, on Tuesday, June 10, 2024. The park opened in 2014. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)A colorful mosaic decorates the grounds of Subiaco Abbey on Tuesday, June 10, 2024. Founded in 1878, Subiaco Abbey is a Benedictine monastery known for its historic architecture and community outreach. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)A peaceful walkway winds through the prayer garden at Subiaco Abbey on Tuesday, June 10, 2024. The garden provides a serene space for reflection and meditation for visitors and monks alike. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Anna Griffin)
