Have you ever thought about road tripping to Arkansas? I didn’t realize how much the state had to offer, but now that I’ve been, I can see why they call it The Natural State! I recently had the opportunity to do a 3-day weekend getaway to Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas, and I wanted to share with y’all my itinerary from the trip, as well as my top picks for things to do, where to stay, and where to eat in each locale. So buckle up folks, and let’s go for a road trip!

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with Arkansas Tourism. All opinions are my own.

Day 1: Little Rock

How We Spent Our Day in Little Rock

Since we only had 24 hours in Little Rock, we decided to really jam-pack our itinerary from the moment we landed! Our first stop was brunch at @ the Corner, where I had the chicken strips and some delicious little cube fries. Next up, we walked over to the Old State House Museum for a quick visit. Then, we decided to make the drive out to Pinnacle Mountain State Park to see the fall foliage. If you have more time, I recommend trying the hike up to the top for amazing views!

For an early dinner, we came back to Little Rock and hit up Haybird Chicken Co., where we tried their Birdwich chicken sandwich on a steamed bun, and it was to die for. One of the best things I ate on the whole trip! For dessert, we hit up Loblolly Creamery, where I tried their ice cream flight of 8 different flavors, including ones like Arkansas Mud, Peanut Butter, and Pumpkin Spiced Latte. We also had time the next morning to eat breakfast in Little Rock before we drove to Hot Springs, so we stopped by The Root Café, which had come highly recommended by several locals we talked to.

See below for my recommendations of where to eat, what to do, and where to stay in Little Rock to build your own itinerary!

Where to Eat in Little Rock

The Root Café

This café option is a great choice for breakfast, or stop by for sandwiches, burgers, and more. What makes this spot so great is their dedication to sourcing their ingredients locally!

Haybird Chicken Co.

Haybird Chicken Co. is new to Little Rock, and they’ve got their own delicious spin on fried chicken! Make sure to try their Birdwich, which is fried chicken on a steamed bun, and it is divine.

@ The Corner

If you’re looking for a local diner, try @ The Corner for their made-from-scratch breakfast or lunch options. I had the chicken strips and fries, and for something so simple, they were very, very good. Especially the fries, that were really more like small fried potato cubes!

Loblolly Creamery

Loblolly Creamery is the best ice cream in Little Rock, and that’s probably because it’s made with local ingredients. One of the best things they offer here is their ice cream flight, which allows you to try mini scoops of 8 different flavors!

Things to Do in Little Rock

Explore Pinnacle Mountain State Park

Just a short drive outside of Little Rock, Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a great place to escape to for the afternoon and see why Arkansas is called The Natural State. There are several hiking trails to explore, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can take the West Summit Trail or East Summit trail up to the top of Pinnacle Mountain. With the views from up there, it’s easy to see why they are some of the most trafficked trails in Arkansas!

Visit the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum

Like other presidential libraries, the focus of this one is the president it was named after, President Bill Clinton. The museum is $10.00 admission for adults, which will grant you access to permanent exhibits like a replica of The Cabinet Room of the White House, one about the Little Rock Nine who led integrating Little Rock Central High School in 1957, and the Presidential Limousine, just to name a few.

Shop at the River Market District

The River Market District is the centerpiece of Little Rock’s downtown and entertainment scene. Here, you’ll find lots of restaurant options, bars and nightlife, museums, local shops, and more, all bordering the Riverfront Park. If you’re looking to get outdoors, grab a bike and explore areas like Junction Bridge and the Arkansas River Trail.

Check out the Old State House Museum

Formerly known as the Arkansas State House, the Old State House Museum is actually the oldest capitol building still standing west of the Mississippi. Nowadays, you can visit it for its Greek Revival architecture and to see the various exhibits inside, including permanent exhibits about Arkansas’ political history and more.

Still looking for more things to do in Little Rock, Arkansas? There are several great museums to explore, like the Esse Purse Museum, the Arkansas Arts Center (which is currently being renovated, so make sure you check back on that one!), the Historic Arkansas Museum, and the Museum of Discovery, just to name a few options. You can also visit the Arkansas State Capitol building, take the Metro Streetcar (formerly known as the River Rail Streetcar) around to explore downtown Little Rock, or take a tour of Arkansas’ first legal distillery since the Prohibition era, Rock Town Distillery!

Where to Stay in Little Rock

The Empress of Little Rock

The Empress of Little Rock is a small luxury boutique bed and breakfast inside of a Victorian mansion. A stay here will make you feel like you’re living in Downton Abbey! Book your own stay here.

Capital Hotel

President Grant stayed at the Capital Hotel as a guest in 1876, and it has been a beacon – the “Grand Dame” – of downtown life in Little Rock ever since, as they say. If you’re looking for modern luxury in a beautiful historic building, this property is perfect for you. You can book and find out more about the Capital Hotel on their website.

Days 2 & 3: Hot Springs

How We Spent Our Days in Hot Springs

After making the drive from Little Rock after breakfast, we first checked into The Waters Hotel, and then crossed the street to try the locally brewed beer at Superior Bathhouse Brewery (I had the root beer, also made by them). We had heard amazing things about the pizza in Hot Springs (since it’s all made with the hot springs water), so we hit up Deluca’s Pizzeria for lunch, which is possibly the most famous of the local pizza joints. Then, we went to Quapaw Baths & Spa on Bathhouse Row (which is easily walkable from the hotel) to go soak for a few hours in the hot springs water, before having dinner at the restaurant at our hotel, The Avenue.

On day three of our trip, we started off the day with breakfast at The Pancake Shop, a local favorite breakfast spot, before heading off on a short hike through Hot Springs National Park. We did the Goat Rock Trail on the North Mountain, which was a relatively easy hike just over a mile that includes a great overlook of Goat Rock with plenty of fall foliage along the way (if you’re there in November like we were). While we were inside the park, we also went up the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. You do have to pay for entry, but it’s the best way to see sweeping views over both the national park and the town of Hot Springs from way up high. We had lunch that day at SQZBX, another delicious local pizza eatery (we had a real priority of trying all the pizza we could!), before one last stop on our trip – a visit to Garvan Woodland Gardens. When we were there, they had just turned on their holiday lights, meaning you could come at night and see the trail of lights through the gardens. Whatever time of year you’re in Hot Springs, do not miss out on going to Garvan Woodland Gardens and seeing Anthony Chapel, a beautiful wood and glass chapel in the gardens. Honestly, the chapel was one of the most stunning pieces of architecture I’ve seen in all of my travels! After finishing up at the gardens, we drove back to Little Rock for the night to fly out the next morning.

Where to Eat in Hot Springs

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

This brewery uses thermal spring water to brew its unique craft beers, and is located inside the historic Superior Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. Fun fact: they were the first brewery inside of a U.S. National Park, and they’re the ONLY brewery in the world to use thermal spring water to brew their beer. Talk about unique! They use the same hot springs water to also make their own root beer, so don’t miss out on their root beer float.

Deluca’s Pizzeria

One of the best pizza spots in town, Deluca’s Pizzeria makes hand-tossed 18-inch brick oven pizzas that you’ll want to share with your friends. And what makes all the local pizza so good? Well, using the thermal water sure helps! The pizzas are “artfully charred”, to quote the restaurant, and cooked in a 725-degree brick oven. We had The Sarah Meadows during our visit, a twist on a classic cheese pizza with added ingredients like garlic, basil, and chili flakes.

The Avenue

Located inside The Waters Hotel, The Avenue serves up southern-artisan cuisine with a focus on sharable dishes. The restaurant is a bit more on the upscale side, while still leaning towards casual (their website specifically calls it “sophisticated food in a casual atmosphere”), and was especially convenient since we were staying at The Waters Hotel. Definitely don’t miss out on dinner here during your stay!

SQZBX Brewery & Pizza Joint

We were recommended SQZBX by at least three locals from Arkansas (some who emphatically told us it was definitely the best Hot Springs had to offer), so we had to take the time to check it out. And let me tell you, they were right! This was definitely some of the best quality pizza I’ve ever had. While I didn’t get to try every pizza shop in town to compare, if I’m ever back in Hot Springs, I think this would be my first stop!

The Pancake Shop

It was absolutely packed during our visit to The Pancake Shop, and it’s easy to see why! This classic diner serves up some of the tastiest pancakes I’ve ever had. No wonder it has managed to stick around since 1940! These pancakes are worth getting up early for.

Things to Do in Hot Springs

Hot Springs National Park

The biggest attraction in Hot Springs is of course, the national park, which includes part of the town as well. Fun fact: the Hot Springs Reservation became the first federal reservation in 1832 by President Andrew Jackson, making it what is considered to be America’s first national park (and predates Yellowstone by 40 years!). In town, you’ll find the famous Bathhouse Row (more about that below), and the national park’s visitor center is located inside of what was once Fordyce Bathhouse. Don’t miss out on visiting the Fordyce, as you can tour the building for free and see what the bathhouse was really like for visitors back in the day. Make sure to go to every floor, as some of the more interesting rooms, like the gymnasium, are a bit tucked away!

Around the national park, you’ll find lots of trail options for hiking and biking, and scenic viewpoints you can drive to. If you’re looking for the best viewpoint in Hot Springs National Park though, you’ll want to go up the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, where at the top you can see out over the city of Hot Springs and the Ouachita Mountains. It’s especially magical in autumn when the trees are at peak fall foliage!

Bathhouse Row

As mentioned above, Bathhouse Row is one of the biggest attractions in Hot Springs, and beyond its historical value, you won’t want to miss out on the experience of bathing in one of the bathhouses. Two of the working bathhouses include Quapaw and Buckstaff, where you can visit for a nice, relaxing spa day. At Fordyce, you can tour the museum for free to see antique bathtubs, medical equipment, locker rooms, bathing areas, and more. At one end is Superior Bathhouse Brewery, where you can stop for a beer inside of what was once Superior Bathhouse. Another fun thing to do on Bathhouse Row is to use the free taps to sample the hot springs water that drew in so many visitors in the 1800s, and still does to this day. Bring jugs and fill them up for free with hot thermal water!

Visit Garvan Woodland Gardens

Located along Lake Hamilton, these 210 acres of gardens are the perfect getaway for a nature walk, and during the holidays, they do a holiday trail of lights at night (5 million lights over 18 acres!) that is a great night out for families and brings in thousands of visitors. The highlight of the gardens though, in my opinion, is the beautiful Anthony Chapel, a glass and wood chapel that makes you feel like you’re outdoors while indoors. If you’re getting married anytime soon, you might want to consider this gorgeous chapel as your future wedding venue!

Where to Stay in Hot Springs

The Waters Hotel

Located conveniently on Bathhouse Row, this recently-renovated boutique Hot Springs hotel serves up modern luxury and amenities in a historic building. This spot is a great choice for accessibility alone, just for how much is within walking distance of the hotel. Book your own stay here.

For even more travel ideas and inspiration to plan a trip to Arkansas, be sure to visit Arkansas.com.

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