
Highest-rated free things to do in Arkansas by visitors
Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.
Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.
That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.
It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Arkansas.
From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.
To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Arkansas using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.
Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

#30. Arkansas Grand Canyon
- Rating: 4.5/5 (222 reviews)
- City: Jasper
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#29. Riverfront Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (630 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#28. Big Dam Bridge
- Rating: 4.6/5 (824 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
- Rating: 4.8/5 (319 reviews)
- City: Bella Vista
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#26. Buffalo National River Park
- Rating: 4.8/5 (299 reviews)
- City: Harrison
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. Blanchard Springs Recreation Area
- Rating: 4.8/5 (333 reviews)
- City: Mountain View
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Devil's Den State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (367 reviews)
- City: West Fork
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. River Market District
- Rating: 4.2/5 (666 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. The Old Mill
- Rating: 4.7/5 (573 reviews)
- City: North Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#21. Grand Promenade
- Rating: 4.6/5 (476 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#20. St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church
- Rating: 4.7/5 (692 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Mount Magazine State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (413 reviews)
- City: Paris
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Museum of Native American History
- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,024 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Lake Ouachita
- Rating: 4.8/5 (535 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#16. Oaklawn Hot Springs, Arkansas
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,075 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. Eureka Springs Historical Downtown
- Rating: 4.4/5 (862 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. The Walmart Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,840 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Pinnacle Mountain State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (504 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Beaver Lake
- Rating: 4.7/5 (711 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#11. Southland Casino Hotel
- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,199 reviews)
- City: West Memphis
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Christ of the Ozarks
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,669 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Petit Jean State Park
- Rating: 4.7/5 (760 reviews)
- City: Morrilton
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Lake Catherine State Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (513 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,272 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#6. Anthony Chapel
- Rating: 4.9/5 (618 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Bathhouse Row
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,389 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Hot Springs National Park
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,098 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#3. Fordyce Bathhouse
- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,207 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Thorncrown Chapel
- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,705 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#1. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,641 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.