ARKANSAS
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What's New in Arkansas?

For more information contact:
Jana Greenbaum, Communications Manager
Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
Jana.greenbaum@arkansas.gov
(501) 682-7606

Arkansas (pronounced AR-kan-saw), home state of U.S. President Bill Clinton, is where the Deep South meets the Pioneer West to create a unique blend that makes the state special. Along its eastern border lie the great Mississippi River and the Delta country. The lush green forests, ancient rivers, and sleepy, mysterious bayous of south Arkansas provide tranquility and a distinct contrast to the northern mountain region. Arkansas offers 13 mammoth lakes and scores of smaller ones, 52 state parks, 6 national park sites, numerous underground caverns, wilderness trails, and over 9,700 miles of streams overflowing with trout, bass, and catfish. The state is also famous for world-class duck hunting on the Grand Prairie. Historic restorations and museums capture the sense of an earlier day, and festivals and fairs celebrate native crops and local crafts artisans. Horseback riding is found at several dude ranches and trails throughout the state. Urban centers offer theaters, galleries, symphony orchestras and more, all complemented by a myriad of dining options.

History

Arkansas was explored by Hernando de Soto in 1541 and in 1686 Arkansas Post became the first European settlement on the lower Mississippi River. The area was part of the Louisiana Purchase territories, which added vast tracts of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains to the United States in 1803. The state was admitted to the United States in 1836 and was the site of several American Civil War battles. (Arkansas’s Louisiana Purchase State Park preserves the initial point from which all surveys of the property began and makes for a lovely stretch break during trips.)

Significant Attractions

• The Ozark Mountains and the Ouachita Mountains
  
• Outdoor adventure including hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and hunting
  
• Unique natural wonders like Blanchard Springs Caverns (Ozark National Forest)
  
• Buffalo National River, featuring world-famous canoeing (Harrison)
  
• Crater of Diamonds State Park, the only public diamond mine in the world where you keep what you find! (Murfreesboro)
  
• Hot Springs, the only town in the United States that is a national park (Hot Springs)
  
• Ozark Folk Center (Mountain View)
  
• Eureka Springs galleries and shops (Eureka Springs)
  
• Great Passion Play (Eureka Springs)
  
• Delta Cultural Center (Helena)
  
• Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum & Education Center (Piggott)
  
• Crowley's Ridge (Paragould)
  
• Mount Magazine State Park & Lodge (Paris, Danville)
  
• Great River Road National Scenic Byways (Eastern Arkansas)
  
• The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library & Park (Little Rock)
  
• Little Rock Central High National Historic Site (Little Rock)

Climate

Arkansas enjoys a temperate climate and four distinct seasons, with summer highs up to 90° Fahrenheit (32° Celsius) and winter lows down to 30° Fahrenheit (-1° Celsius).

How to Get There

While there are no non-stop international flights into Arkansas, nearby international airports include Memphis, Tennessee; St. Louis, Missouri; and Dallas, Texas. Domestic airports include: Little Rock National Airport, “Adams Field,” in Little Rock and Northwest Regional near Fayetteville. Greyhound and Trailways bus lines and AMTRAK rail line offer stops throughout Arkansas.

Distances and Times

• Arkansas is in the Central Time Zone
  
• The South observes Daylight Savings Time from late April through October
  
• Little Rock is 552 miles (894 kilometers and 9 hours by car) from Atlanta, Georgia
  
• 135 miles (219 kilometers and 2 1/2 hours by car) from Memphis, Tennessee
  
• 320 miles (518 kilometers and 5 1/2 hours by car) from Dallas, Texas
  
• 400 miles (648 kilometers and 6 1/2 hours by car) from St. Louis, Missouri
  

For additional travel information, call 1-800-NATURAL (while in the United States) or 1-501-682-7777 (outside the United States), fax 1-501-682-2523. E-mail and Internet sites: info@arkansas.com and www.arkansas.com/