# Arkansas crystals and diamonds

> 3-day road trip of about 243 km (151 mi) with 7 stops, from Little Rock to Crater of Diamonds State Park. About 2 h 42 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b9-arkansas-crystals/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 243 km (151 mi) with 7 stops, from Little Rock to Crater of Diamonds State Park. About 2 h 42 min of driving in total. Hot Springs’ bathhouses, clear Ouachita lakes, quartz-crystal digging near Mount Ida and a diamond field where you keep what you find.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 243 km (151 mi) |
| Driving | 2 h 42 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 7 |
| Route | Little Rock → Crater of Diamonds State Park |
| States | AR |
| Updated | May 14, 2026 |

## Route description

From Little Rock, I-30 and US-70 lead to Hot Springs in about an hour. South of town, Garvan Woodland Gardens is worth a morning stroll, especially in spring; in town, Bathhouse Row is the centerpiece of Hot Springs National Park, and you can still take a thermal bath.

US-270 heads west into the Ouachita Mountains past Lake Ouachita, the largest lake entirely within Arkansas, with clear water and a state park campground. Mount Ida calls itself the quartz crystal capital of the world; several mines let you dig for a fee, and the Forest Service has a free public dig site for personal collecting.

From Mount Ida, AR-27 runs south through hills and small towns to Murfreesboro and Crater of Diamonds State Park. Here you can search a plowed field over an ancient volcanic pipe and keep any diamond you find; bring a bucket and a sieve or rent them at the park.

Wear old clothes: the field is muddy after rain, which is when stones are easiest to spot. Summer is hot in the open field, so spring and fall are the most pleasant times to dig.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Little Rock** (AR)
2. **Garvan Woodland Gardens** (Hot Springs, AR): A woodland botanical garden on a peninsula in Lake Hamilton, with a striking wood-and-glass chapel. Spring azaleas and the winter holiday lights are the busiest times.
3. **Hot Springs** (AR)
4. **Bathhouse Row** (Hot Springs, AR): A row of grand early-1900s bathhouses at the heart of Hot Springs National Park. Fill a bottle at a thermal fountain and walk the Grand Promenade behind them.
5. **Lake Ouachita State Park** (Mountain Pine, AR): Campsites and swimming on the largest lake entirely within Arkansas, known for very clear water. A calm base between Hot Springs and the crystal country.
6. **Mount Ida** (AR)
7. **Crater of Diamonds State Park** (Murfreesboro, AR): A plowed field on an old volcanic pipe where anyone can dig for diamonds and keep what they find. Go after a rain, when stones are easier to spot on the surface; rent or bring a sieve.

## FAQs

**How long is Arkansas crystals and diamonds?**
3-day road trip of about 243 km (151 mi) with 7 stops, from Little Rock to Crater of Diamonds State Park. About 2 h 42 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Arkansas crystals and diamonds?**
We suggest 3 days: about 2 h 42 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Arkansas crystals and diamonds start and end?**
It starts in Little Rock and ends in Crater of Diamonds State Park.

**Which states does Arkansas crystals and diamonds pass through?**
Arkansas.