It’s not surprising that Arkansas is referred to as ‘The Natural State’.
Blessed with a diverse landscape that ranges from the sheer majesty of the Ozarks to a plethora of gorgeous lakes, stunning rivers and picturesque woodlands, Arkansas’s outstanding beauty is best showcased within its state parks.
Overall there are 52 such parks within the state, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism.
If you live near Little Rock, most of these parks are easily accessible to you. Ranging in size from 1 acre to almost 11,750 acres, they provide excellent opportunities for outdoor recreational pursuits like swimming, hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and camping.
A great way to relax, keep fit or improve your mental clarity, it’s always good to immerse yourself in Arkansas’ great outdoors.
If you are looking for some ideas on where to go, this list of 7 state parks near Little Rock should provide you with plenty of inspiration.
Map of State Parks Near Little Rock AR
Here is a map of the state parks in Arkansas covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Little Rock
All of the 7 state parks near Little Rock showcased below are located within a 2 hour drive from the city. So they can easily be visited as a day trip.
However if you would like to stay at any of them for an extended period, they all have decent options for camping and other types of overnight accommodation too.
1. Pinnacle Mountain State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 12 miles northwest of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: Arboretum Connector, Arkansas
Pinnacle Mountain State Park is a 2,356-acre state park located in Pulaski County, Arkansas just outside of Little Rock.
Highlights associated with Pinnacle Mountain State Park include lake recreation, river access, and mountain scenery.
See our full Pinnacle Mountain State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 14 miles southeast of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, AR
Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park covers 100 acres in Lonoke County, Arkansas. Established 1980.
Highlights associated with Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Plum Bayou Mounds Archeological State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Woolly Hollow State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 37 miles north of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: Woolly Hollow Road, Arkansas 72058
Woolly Hollow State Park is a 370-acre (150 ha) Arkansas state park in Faulkner County, near Greenbrier, Arkansas in the United States.
Highlights associated with Woolly Hollow State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Woolly Hollow State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 40 miles south of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: Jenkins Ferry State Park, AR
Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park covers 40.15 acres in Grant County, Arkansas. Established 1961.
Highlights associated with Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Lake Catherine State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 42 miles southwest of Little Rock (straight-line).
Lake Catherine State Park is a 2,180-acre (880 ha) public recreation area located on the south shore of Lake Catherine, eight miles (13 km) southeast of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Highlights associated with Lake Catherine State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Lake Catherine State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Petit Jean State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 44 miles northwest of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: 1285 Petit Jean Mountain Rd, Morrilton, AR 72110
Petit Jean State Park is a 3,471-acre (1,405 ha) park in Conway County, Arkansas managed by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Highlights associated with Petit Jean State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Petit Jean State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Lake Dardanelle State Park
Distance from Little Rock: about 64 miles northwest of Little Rock (straight-line).
Location: 100 State Park Drive, Russellville, AR 72802
Split across two sites, either side of Lake Dardanelle, the state park of the same name is a wonderful place to engage in your favorite water based recreational activities.
The pier is an excellent place to take in gorgeous sunsets, whilst there is also a swimming beach, boarding walk, hiking trails and a visitor center that has five aquariums here too.
Over at the Dardanelle site, you’ll find plenty of picnic facilities, as well as boat ramps, pavilions and playgrounds. At both sites park interpreters provide a variety of programs and lake tours.
For those looking for overnight accommodation, there are 75 campsites available across both sites, which include Class AAA, Class AA, and Class B rated camping.
See our full Lake Dardanelle State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
