Dubbed ‘The Natural State’, often-overlooked Arkansas brims with spectacular landscapes and opportunities for adventure. Accommodation options include heritage B&Bs in historic spa towns, striking lakeside hotels and secluded collections of yurts, fit for a whole host of tastes and budgets. Whether you’re dreaming of hiking through the Ozark or Ouachita Mountains, navigating the Mississippi Delta or taking the waters in the Hot Springs National Park, the best places to stay in Arkansas promise the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful region.
History and culture buffs should head to Little Rock, the state capital, for excellent museums, key Civil Rights Trail landmarks, and a cosmopolitan feel. The Arkansas River and surrounding mountains provide outdoorsy activities aplenty. Other cultural hubs include Bentonville, home of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, and the university town of Fayetteville.
For a charming spa town, nab a room in Hot Springs. Historic Bathhouse Row is home to beautiful buildings which continue to offer a selection of classic spa treatments, using the area’s natural geothermal waters, whilst the Hot Springs National Park is a brilliant place to explore. Eureka Springs, another Victorian-era resort town, has emerged as a liberal, artsy centre, with a quirky, New Age feel. Perched on the side of a steep valley, this is also a favourite with nature lovers, hikers and mountain bikers.
Venture into the Ozark or Ouachita Mountains, kayak and fish on Arkansas’ rivers, and go horse riding, cycling and walking through the expansive Arkansas River Valley and the Arkansas Delta. Many of the best places to stay in Arkansas are intimate and appealingly remote: this is a fantastic chance to swap the bustle of everyday life for the tranquility of craggy mountains and verdant forests.
