Since I’m a curious backpacker often looking to visit the most underrated places in the world. So, once I searched on the internet “What are the Most Underrated Places in the United States” my eyes directly caught “Little Rock, Arkansas”.
Once I start exploring Little Rock and its natural beauty, historic sites, museums, restaurants and state parks really tempting me. The experience at Little Rock is really epic. Along with these attractions, I did some interesting things.
So, today I recommend some of the best things to do in Little Rock to make your trip more memorable and interesting, no matter whether you’re coming with family, couples, solo or completely newbies to Little Rock.
Best Things to Do in Little Rock, Arkansas
1. First Visit William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park
Once I landed at Little Rock, I decided to start my day in order to visit the most obvious place, so I chose this place. William J. Clinton Presidential Centre and Park isn’t just a museum, moreover it’s a 30 acres of working campus.
Opened its doors to the general public on a rainy day in 2004, it is one of the thirteen presidential libraries in the country. Immediately after entering its gate I personally love its campus. Once you enter its massive campus, Clinton foundation’s Little Rock office and University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service are eagerly waiting to welcome you.
Maybe there’re large collections of presidential artifacts of library systems, centers full scale replicas of Oval office and Cabinet Room are the most highly recommended things you need to explore once you enter inside.
Don’t expect any fancy restaurant near William J. Clinton Presidential Centre and Park, there’s no restaurant available within your walking distances except its inside “Forty Two” restaurant. If you’re a big fan of casual lunch and it is ok to eat locally sourced foods, maybe it could be a good choice for you.
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday- 9 AM to 5 PM, Sunday- 1 PM to 5 PM. Don’t make your plan to visit during New Year, Thanksgiving or Christmas season.
Keep in Mind:
- The building itself has very few benches for a space this large. You have 2 options: either you can walk amidst its vast 50 acres of Riverfront Park or simply sit in its garden, if you are tired too early.
- You need not to pay any amount for parking. However, don’t fall into the trap of “skip-the-line” tickets, you don’t actually need them.
2. Enjoy Your Time at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
One thing you have to remember at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site is “you cannot just show up and walk into the school” that’s what most visitors are unaware of.
You are visiting one of the active public high schools with roughly 2,500 student capacity schools where you have an option to be part of live interactive exhibitions, artifacts displaying, campus and outdoor campus tours.
But I personally recommended everyone to the National Park Service visitor center, located across the street of W. Daisy L Gatson Bates drive. This is the most popular and highlighted point in the entire building. Try to be part of its ranger led programs which held at 1:00 PM often guide you about historic desegregation and civil rights.
Actually the visitor’s center is free of cost and open to visitors daily. You can go with your family members to get clear insights about the 1957 Desegregation Crisis. It goes like this- When 9 black students are escorted by the federal troops under President Eisenhower’s order. You know visitors centres even allow photographers to get perfect pictures of artefacts, don’t miss to take them with your family.
After going through the depths and numbers of things inside of this massive campus, you can simply sit at Elizabeth Eckford Commemorative Bench. It is exclusively known for quiet, lonely or tranquil lovers.
Keep in Mind:
- Choose your trip to school on Weekday morning, weekend hours are limited. If tours are held while school is running you may see the exterior design of buildings.
3. Feel the Beauty of Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Most visitors, including me, misunderstood the actual name of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art, still visitors call the Arkansas Arts Center, a name that hasn’t been accurate since 2023.
But an interesting thing has happened here, a $170.8 million renovation amount funded by the 2% hotel tax Little Rock voters and one of the largest capital campaigns. So, it positively affected the overall prosperity of the Museum, later reopened as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Art (AMFA) in April 2023.
Today it stands as the state’s most beautiful redesigned Museum by the Chicago film Studio with area coverage of 11 acres.
When I talk about its features from a traveler’s perspective, the museum opened in 1937, from then it contained 9 galleries, an art theater and a research library available to you. However, Wingate Art School is my personally favourite place and I recommend everyone to spend most of your time.
You can freely enter the museum without paying a single penny, but don’t expect classes, or special events. Some events need entry tickets and it must be obtained prior booking for highly guaranteed entry, rather than showing up and hoping.
Don’t make your plan to visit AMFA on Monday, instead visit Sunday afternoon which is open till 5 PM. Or between Tuesday to Saturday 10 AM to 8 PM.
Finally I won’t leave you without explaining the most unique place called “Park Grill”. Indoor restaurant where you can try first Contemporary American cuisines with family. Surely your $30-$40 cost is really worth it not just to eat even for enjoy views into the folded plate roofline, often recognised as a building signature.
Keep in Mind:
- To watch exclusively for galleries go on weekdays. The gallery is the most prominent and underrated one which displays pre 2019 information, and some renovation stories.
4. Indulge in the Beauty of Pinnacle Mountain State Park
If you’re truly a big fan of nature, take a short drive west on Highway 10, in Roland, just outside city limits.
Pinnacle Mountain State Park situated 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River filled with lush forests, mountains, trails and beautiful rivers.
Personally, I like its 2 distinct summit trails. No matter which kind of hiker you’re either you can choose easy and straightforward walking trails or little challenging hands on scrambling over boulders. Choose wisely if you’re traveling with kids, choose your side when you arrive, not after reaching its trail.
However, Park’s paved Arkansas Trail is the most interesting element in the entire Little Rock journey. Visitors like me are already tempted by its trail, which helps me to walk along Arkansas Arboretum, shows some educational signage and audio panels, plus pavilions, river launch ramps for kayaking and offers a large playground to play with kids.
For leisure and tranquil experience I recommend you to go biking, hiking, and do some picnic with your family.
Keep in Mind:
- Even today locals treat Pinnacale Mountain State Park as the best option for a half day retreat destination rather than full day.
- Do not treat the summit as your half day trip, treat it as the finale, not the whole trip.
5. See Big Dame Bridge and Walk at Arkansas River Trail
I think most visitors aren’t aware about this massive bridge and river trail and most non-local guides even undersell it too. Personally it has some qualities to add to this list of best things to do in Little Rock.
The Big Dam Bridge is a massive 4,226 feet where North Americans easily (both cyclists and pedestrians) pass on its longest section. Interestingly, exclusively built these kinds of peoples in 2006 where even Murray Lock and Dam are easily watched out.
If you bring your camera then add “Arkansas River Trail” to your travel itinerary. Such an epic 14 foot corridor connecting a 14 mile loop helps you to click the camera button to take Big Dam Bridge, Emerald Park cliffs, Junction Bridge and Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Garden.
If you are ready to walk or cycle 24 miles then the bridge then it is a great connecting point between Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Keep in Mind:
- Try to walk its walking section during evening time, the light over the river and dam look so much more dramatic than midday even to capture some mind blowing photos.
- The bridge has 8 large observation decks, particularly for people who like slow and leisure walking. Walk with your kids and show the sunset instead of dodging the peloton.
6. Spot Native Animals at Little Rock Zoo
Little Rock Zoo is most visitors’ pick, so, when I started to explore its vast collections of animals I was really amazed by its diverse collections of elephants, penguins, big cats and 500 other animals.
Besides that, 2 genuinely unusual attractions (you can call it as underrated) which most guides skip entirely, The Arkansas Diamond Express, a historic zoo train (roughly around 100 year old) fully restored antique carousel called “Over the Jumps”. Maybe to you this train is going to be an ideal choice to see vast numbers of animals, birds and even endangered flora and faunas.
Be aware about Parks entry fee, here most of the visitors get trapped. Outside the park, a lot of local guides ask money from you as entry fee, so don’t fall into those traps. Visit its ticket counter, buy ticket price like this; $12 to $ 18 range with parking around $ 50to $8 on top, if you budget conscious choose $ 30 or $ 60 per person (it includes food).
Occasionally park runs periodic “community days” when steeply discounted $2 offers available as an admission cost for Little Rock residents, try to use this offer. Remember it only runs when zoos even calendar those visiting families locally.
Keep in Mind:
- Don’t listen to locals opinions about his parks, it genuinely splits. Some residents call it worth a detour and others say it skippable outside of special events like the winter light show.
- Going with kids or time is tight, previous visitors are recommended that entry be cut first.
7. Visit River Market District
Maybe the River Market District is a great choice if you’re looking to do one of your best things to do in Little Rock, especially its downtown.
This downtown beauty will really beat every backpacker’s heart, walkable stretch along President Clinton Avenue adhered by the Museum of Discovery, breweries, indoor market hall and music venues. I think maybe for this reason every previous visitor called River Market District is an “unofficial cultural center” of the city.
Ottenheimer Market Hall is the most eye- catching indoor food market displaying a variety of food options. Try to make a quick sample of local/international cuisine time with your partner or kids between 10 am to 2 pm from Monday to Saturday.
Murals Tour give different experiences that urge everyone to watch its street arts collections and give a simple way to visit Schwartz Sculpture Garden.
But once you visit its vital point, there are bonus travel benefits you can get, Clinton Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and Old State House Museum are located within walking distances.
Keep in Mind:
- Actually a lot of visitors think of the River Market as a shopping point, but its real value is as a base, to stay or park your vehicle and knock out the rest of major Little Rock Attractions on foot.
- Farmers Market operates every Saturday 7 AM to 3 PM, only from May to early September.
8. Take Inside Tour at Historic Arkansas Museum
Tucked into downtown near River Market, Historic Arkansas Museum is a great option to you if you’re curious to know more about the history of Arkansas.
Actually speaking this museum is a state run museum primarily focused on Arkansas frontier and territory history explaining through restored 19th century buildings and rooms. When you go inside it gives a feeling like quitters, less hyped counterpart of the Clinton Center, don’t miss to explore, it is free and won’t take more than an hour to discover.
Historic City Block is the oldest building structure in the entire historic Arkansas Museum you will see. But the interesting thing is that the block contains the majority of museums, art galleries, and authentic Farmstead from the 1850s.
Keep in Mind:
- Since it is close to major Little Rock attractions, you may feel overshadowed and it’s rarely crowded. So, always pack your backpack on rainy days or fill an odd 45 minute gap in your schedule between timed reservations elsewhere.
9. Learn Local History in Old State House Museum
If you have a clear intention to visit Little Rock to go deeper into its historic background, you shouldn’t miss the Old State House Museum. Once I went through which is the best place to learn the region’s rich history and found this epic museum.
Old State House Museum is Arkansas’s original state capital building, now a free museum covering state political history, and sits right along a river near the Clinton Center. From 1833 to 1836, museums may exist for different reasons, but today it exclusively welcomes visitors like us to see pressed artifacts, stories and memories.
As a backpacker I wish everyone to be part of its permanent exhibitions/traveling exhibitions, when the museum features themes such as politics, history, cultures, women’s rights and some government/Arkansas civil rights initiatives.
Bonus point is, it is easy and enters without any prior reservation add on to a River Market day and gives insightful context before or after the Central High School site.
Keep in Mind:
- The Old State House Museum opens to the general public everyday from 9 AM to 5 PM (from Tuesday to Saturday), but during Sunday it operates only between 1 PM to 5 PM.
10. Get Idea About STEAM at Museum of Discovery
A perfect science and math museum tries to teach kids and families to get a brief idea about the basic concept of STEAM. Go with your kids for better understanding through its brilliant concept of interactive sessions, and live demonstrations of technology, arts and engineering along with Maths and Science.
If you’re the kind of person still seeking to learn new things or different skills despite your age maybe this 1927 old museum will be a better option to you (you can also learn along with your kids).
Still time left and looking for a practical answer to “what do we do with kids after Clinton Library“, this place is also a great choice to you, since its five minute’s walk from several other downtown stops rather than a separate trip.
Keep in Mind:
- Museums expect an entrance fee of $10 and it only welcomes you between 9 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Saturday, 1 PM to 5 PM on Sunday or other public holidays.
What Most Visitors Misunderstand About Little Rock, Arkansas
- Still today most visitors thought the Arkansas Arts Center existed, which is true, but its name changed as a AMFA “Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts” in 2023.
- Central High Tours need prior reservations, not walk up access. It is not true, you can freely enter and operate daily.
- Zoo pricing guides online are often outdated or vague.
- Visitors usually undersell that River Market lets us do several car free attractions in a single day.
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