1. The Spa City
The thermal waters that Hot Springs has long been known for established the city as America’s first resort, but there’s more than just bathhouses there. Test your luck or just admire the horses at Oaklawn Racing & Gaming, go boating, fishing or swimming on one of three lakes, or look for treasures in the numerous antique stores, shops and art galleries.
One-Way Travel Time | 1 hour

2. Wine Country
About a half dozen wineries near where the Arkansas River meanders between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains offer tastings, tours and events. Wine-making actually began there in the 1880s, making Arkansas the South’s oldest wine producing state. Two European families started it all after noting the region’s similarities in climate and soil with that of Switzerland and Germany’s wine-making regions.
One-Way Travel Time | 2 hours

3. The Big Piney Creek
Whether you’re a novice paddler or an experienced whitewater rafter, this Ozark Mountain stream is a fitting destination, depending on the put-in point and season. The scenery’s hard to beat, and there are plenty of places to stop off and play. Starting near Dover, you’ll encounter a few rapids between long, calm stretches. The Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism can point you toward outfitters.
One-Way Travel Time | 1 hour, 30 minutes

4. The Toltec Mounds
One of the Mississippi River Valley’s largest and most impressive archaeological sites, these three American Indian mounds are the remains of a ceremonial and governmental complex inhabited between A.D. 600 and 1150. The National Historic Landmark has exhibits with artifacts from the site, a theater and park interpreters who are available for guided tours.  
One-Way Travel Time | 20 minutes

5. Petit Jean State Park
Located in Morrilton on Petit Jean Mountain, Petit Jean State Park has a long, rich history, evidenced in part by numerous Native American pictographs that can be seen on the back wall of the Rock House Cave. The park is also home to more than 20 miles of hiking trails, and Cedar Falls, a 95-foot waterfall that is considered one of the most spectacular in Arkansas.  
One-Way Travel Time | 1 hour, 22 minutes