Head out on an Arkansas Ozarks road trip to discover the beauty of these large, rugged mountains. Sitting near the border of Missouri, this spectacular landscape has stunning state parks, roaring waterfalls, fantastic hikes, and plenty of things to do!
We had two days in the Ozarks and I didn’t know what to expect, but we were blown away! Of the 46 states I have visited, Arkansas is by far the most underrated. Craggy mountain tops jut out amongst the thick forest floors.
I cannot wait to go back to see even more of this wonderful landscape. 🙌🏻
If you only have a weekend to explore then I’ve got you covered. It can be overwhelming with a great number of parks throughout the area that are a considerable distance apart. This guide includes what you should see in two days, where to stay, and how to get to the Ozarks. So, get ready for the most incredible trip!
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Table of Contents
The Perfect Arkansas Ozarks Road Trip
Day One in the Arkansas Ozarks:
If you only have two days in the Arkansas Ozarks, you’ll want to get an early start to see as much as you can. We were there in the late fall, so we had to take advantage of all the daylight hours we could. This is a very active itinerary so that you can see some of the most beautiful points in the area!
Sam’s Throne
If you want to climb up to Sam’s Throne, you’ll need to find the trailhead in the middle of the campground. 🪧 There is a little pile of rocks that marks the start of the trail next to a public camping site. This trail leads to some stunning panoramas of the area!
My husband and I got a little turned around, so I recommend downloading the trail on AllTrails! But, we still made our way along rocky crags to gorgeous landscapes of the mountains.
Sam’s Throne Hike Details:
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation: ~400 feet
Type: Loop
Length: 1-2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Lost Valley
If you’re Drive an hour and find yourself taking one of the most unique and remarkable hikes that I have ever been on. This hike starts like any ordinary trail, winding its way through the woods and along a river.
About three quarters of a mile in, you’ll see rocky cliffs and a natural bridge. Many people stop here, but trust me you should keep going up the hill and into the cave.
Make sure to pack a flashlight or headlamp for the cave! 🔦
Once you enter the cave, you’ll crawl on your hands and knees through the dark. This can be a bit frightening and challenging, but it’s doable if you bring a headlamp and you aren’t claustrophobic. At the very end of the cave you’ll be rewarded by seeing a waterfall that seems to magically bust out of the cave’s walls. It’s incredible and I highly recommend this hike!
Lost Cave Trail
Distance: 2.3 miles
Elevation: 250 feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 45 mins-1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (you should avoid if claustrophobic)
Hawksbill Crag and Whitaker Point
From Lost Valley, drive half an hour away to the most famous spot in the Arkansas Ozarks. In order to get to the trail, you’ll have to drive six miles up the mountain over rocky unpaved roads. This drive is pretty frightening if you don’t have a four wheel drive vehicle. Dylan and I were holding our breath and hoping our van would make it up the road.
Arrive early or get there late to get a parking spot that isn’t half a mile away from the trailhead. We were lucky enough to leave when a few people were leaving, so we snagged a spot right near the start.
The trail starts through the forest and goes down the mountain for about a mile. Once you get to the end you’ll see the famous Whitaker Point. Here, you’ll find stunning panoramic views over the Ozarks and plenty of people lining up for a picture. Sit on the rocks nearby and take in the views while you wait for a turn at the point. This is a great spot to watch the sun go down and end the day.
Hawksbill Crag Hike Details
Distance: 2.3 miles
Elevation: 250 feet
Type: Out and Back
Length: 45 mins-1.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (you should avoid if claustrophobic)
Day 2 in the Ozarks
On your second day in the area, you can rest a bit more and slow down on your Arkansas Ozarks road trip. Instead, you’ll visit a number of stunning state parks in the area!
Lake Dardanelle State Park
We actually ended here on night one, because we were driving by and we felt compelled to stop there. We ended up paying to stay at the campground, because we wanted to watch the sunrise over the lake. 🌅
If you don’t stay the night, make sure to stop in the morning. It’s a gorgeous lake that seems to go on for miles. You can fish, swim, or kayak through the serene lake waters. Stop and spend a few hours on the lake shores, soaking in the sun and taking in the views.
Mount Nebo State Park
After you’ve got your fill of relaxing by the lake, you can drive half an hour further south. Mount Nebo sits at the top of a mountain overlooking the Ozarks.
I loved staring out the windows as the road made its way up the winding road.
At the top, go for a hike around the Rim trail which goes all the way around the mountain. There are plenty of areas to stop and enjoy the scenery that unfolds below. If you’re tired, you can shorten this hike by just doing a little of it or stopping at the sunset or sunrise points at either end of the mountain for a photo op. 📸
Planning Your Arkansas Ozarks Trip
Get ready for an amazing Arkansas Ozarks road trip with these tips for planning your trip! Find everything you need to know below.
How to Get to the Ozarks
One of the reasons the Arkansas Ozarks are so quiet is because they’re a little difficult to visit with airports that are farther away.
If you plan on flying into the area you have a couple of options for airports ✈️:
- Little Rock Airport– About two hours from the mountains with a large number of flights
- Fort Smith Regional Airport– 45 minutes from the Ozarks with few flights
Best Time to Visit the Arkansas Ozarks
The Ozarks are truly a stunning destination year round. So, choosing when to go depends on what you want to see!
Both the Fall and Spring are magical times to visit these mountains. In the autumn you’ll see vibrant oranges and reds 🍂 on the mountains. While in the spring, you’ll get to see lovely wildflowers. Temperatures are also wonderful.
Summer is the busiest time of year with cooler temperatures in the mountains than in surrounding areas. People come from all over the state to enjoy the warmth and the outdoors.
Winter is the quietest time of year, but you may be able to see these mountains blanketed in snow. Just know that some of these trails will be closed! 🚫
Where to Stay in the Ozarks
You’ll find that when you visit the Arkansas Ozarks it’s a very quiet area. The closest towns to access the mountains are Jasper or Ponca. They do not have large hotel chains, but you can find great mountain homes on VRBO or booking.com.
Many visitors choose to stay in campsites nearby instead of sleeping in a hotel. So, you can see free campsites here or check out state park campsites here. You can camp at: Lake Dardanelle, Mount Nebo, Petit Jean, and Mount Magazine state parks.
Where to see with more time
You could spend weeks or months exploring the Arkanasas Ozarks and still have things to see! Below are my suggestions on where to add with more time:
Final Tips for Your Arkansas Ozarks Road Trip!
Two days have come to an end, but there is so much more to see in Arkansas. Before you go, make sure to download maps and plan where you want to visit ahead of time. There’s so many beautiful places that it’s hard to fit it all in. You’ll just want to come back on another trip!
Let me know in the comments if you found this guide helpful!
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Oooh hiking in the Ozarks for a couple of days looks great fun! I LOVE places like Sam’s throne or Whittaker point when you are up high on cool rock formations looking down at the gorgeous scenery!! I also really like the idea of going for a soak in Hot Springs National Park afterwards!!
Soaking in the hot springs was the perfect way to end our weekend full of hiking. The views around the Ozarks were so beautiful!
I’ve been to Arkansas, but I didn’t get to go to the Ozarks! I really want to go to Mount Nebo, it looks like it has amazing views.
Mount Nebo had incredible views! We really enjoyed the rim trail so much more than we thought we would!
Arkansas seems like such an underrated location! I’m hoping to visit sometime next year on a road trip. Thanks so much for sharing these excellent spots I need to check out while I’m there! The views at Mount Nebo State Park look amazing.
We loved Mount Nebo State Park! We just took our time taking in the views as we meandered along the trail.
What a beautiful location. I didn’t know much about this area, but looking at your itinerary and photos I really want to visit. Especially want to complete the Lost Valley hike, it looks and sounds really cool! Thanks for sharing.
It was so unique! I had never done anything like it. My fiance was a little spooked in the cave, so I had to go first haha.
oh wow, those high points like Sam’s Throne are beautiful, love those endless views. We just drove through Arkansas on our road trip, but it’s definitely worth more time.
yes we had the best time visiting Arkansas!