A Complete Travel Guide of Things to Do on A Weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas and offers a variety of vibrant nightlife, exciting entertainment, and amazing dining. We may be a little partial but we firmly believe that Little Rock is one of the South’s most charming and historical cities.
When Logan and I were in college we’d frequently spend the weekend in Little Rock for dates. It’s always held such a special place in our hearts and since we’ve moved back to Arkansas we’ve enjoyed getting the chance to revisit some of our old favorite places in Little Rock and some new spots too!
In this Little Rock travel guide, you’ll find everything you need to plan a trip to Little Rock including many of our favorite things to do in Little Rock, amazing places to eat in Little Rock, and other resources. Let’s get going!
When is The Best Time to Visit Little Rock?
Little Rock is the perfect weekend trip to visit at any time of the year! Although we typically recommend visiting in the spring or fall if you want the mildest temperatures. The summers can get quite hot but there are plenty of activities where you can cool off. In the winter, outdoor activities are limited but there are many museums, tours, and restaurants you can still enjoy.
How to Get to Little Rock
As I said earlier, Little Rock is the capital city of Arkansas. It is located in the central part of the state making it easily accessible by car for a weekend in Little Rock from other bordering states or by airplane from places further away.
Traveling to Little Rock by Car
Driving to Little Rock is an easy trip from many other large cities nearby! Here are just a few places that make an easy weekend trip to Little Rock.
- Memphis to Little Rock: 2 hours
- Fayetteville (NWA) to Little Rock: 3 hours
- Shreveport to Little Rock: 3 hours
- Tulsa to Little Rock: 4 hours
- Dallas to Little Rock: 5 hours 30 minutes
Traveling to Little Rock by Plane
If you decide to fly, you can easily get to Little Rock by flying to Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT). From there you can rent a car or hire a rideshare service to get you to your next destination. Although many of the things to do in Little Rock are in the same area and there are public transportation options downtown, you might want to look into renting a car in Little Rock if you plan to stay for an extended time. Unlike most larger cities, driving in Little Rock isn’t as busy as other places we’ve visited such as San Francisco.
Where to Stay in Little Rock
Little Rock has many different areas to stay in depending on what you’re looking for on your weekend in Little Rock. We have recommendations for Downtown Little Rock and West Little Rock which should cover all of your needs.
Where to Stay in Downtown Little Rock
The most common place to stay in Little Rock for first-time visitors is Downtown because you can easily access many of the top things to do in Little Rock and there are a number of walkable restaurants and activities nearby.
Luxury Downtown Little Rock Hotels
The Capital Hotel opened in 1870 and has since been a Downtown landmark close to many things to do in Little Rock. All of the rooms are furnished with lavish decor and bedding. In addition to the extraordinary rooms, there is also a stunning lobby, health club, spa, and renowned restaurant on site.
Mid-Range Downtown Little Rock Hotels
Hilton Garden Inn Little Rock Downtown is located in the River Market District. It has a number of unique amenities such as a heated pool, on-site restaurants, and a rooftop bar (which we’ve heard great things about!). They have a variety of accommodation options from standard rooms to suites that offer fabulous views of downtown.
Budget Downtown Little Rock Hotels
If you’re looking for the perfect budget-friendly hotel in Little Rock, the Comfort Inn & Suites Presidential is an excellent choice. They have a complimentary hot breakfast available to all guests, and spacious and comfortable rooms, and they even have a complimentary shuttle service for those without a car.
Where to Stay in West Little Rock
Aloft Little Rock West is a newer boutique hotel in a great location to many West Little Rock attractions such as Two Rivers Park and the Promenade at Chenal. All rooms come with a plush comfortable bed, spacious rainfall shower, and large flat-screen TV with many options. The lobby, bar, and outdoor space are perfect for hanging out with friends and you can go swimming in the pool with a lovely backdrop of the forest.
The Best Places to Eat in Little Rock
The Root Cafe
One of our favorite places for breakfast or brunch in Little Rock is The Root Cafe. The Root Cafe believes in building a community through local food. That’s why they make an effort to source their ingredients from local Arkansas farmers, ranchers, and businesses. They also offer a large variety of vegetarian and vegan options. I personally love the Shiitake Eggs Benedict while Logan enjoyed the Ham, Egg & Cheese Biscuit.
Location: 1500 Main St. // MAP
@ The Corner
Another of our favorite brunch restaurants in downtown Little Rock is @ The Corner. It is a family-owned modern diner that uses fresh, local ingredients from over 100 different local farms! One of my favorite things about @ The Corner is their ever-evolving menu that features seasonal specials.
I had the privilege of trying the Very Berry Pancakes that they had as a Thanksgiving brunch special and I’m STILL thinking about it. It was buttermilk pancakes with a creamy berry sauce, mixed berry compote, toasted almonds, sugared cranberries, and whipped cream. The sugared cranberries were the perfect balance of tart and sweet!
If you want to try something that is on the menu year-round, we’ve got you covered there too. Logan had the Chicken-N-Waffle which was a freshly prepared waffle topped with perfectly crisp fried chicken and berries. The sweet and savory combo here was divine and he said it was one of the best chicken and waffles he’s ever had.
Location: 201 E Markham St, Little Rock // MAP
Mylo Coffee Co.
If you’re looking for something casual, Mylo Coffee Co. is the perfect spot to get a crafted latte and a quick breakfast to enjoy at the shop or to-go.
I personally enjoyed their avocado toast with an egg that used fluffy Hokkaido milk bread, fresh avocado, mixed greens, some lemon, and a few other spices. Mylo Coffee Co. also has an assortment of delicious pastries. I suggest getting a mochi donut or one of their freshly baked bagels.
For coffee consider trying one of their signature drinks such as the Rosewater Cappucino or add a flavored syrup of your choice to a regular latte. I ordered the Cinnamon Roll Latte which really did taste like a cinnamon roll. It was creamy and delicious!
Location: 2715 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock // MAP
The Fold: Botanas & Bar
A MUST stop while in Little Rock is The Fold: Botanas & Bar. I could go on and on about this place. The setting, the decor, the music, the ambiance, the food… it’s all perfect. We tried a number of different botanas (snack plates), tacos, and even a brunch item – everything was phenomenal.
I highly recommend ordering the papaya and avocado salad as well as the seared yellowfin tuna. These were our two favorites.
If you happen to visit for brunch, Logan loved the chorizo hash. He seriously didn’t stop talking about it for the rest of the day. LOL!
As far as tacos go we tried a variety of tacos including the Cholula Pescado, diablo shrimp, pollo poblano, al pastor, and Tejas with flank steak. My personal favorite was the Cholula Pescado which had grilled sole.
For drinks Logan ordered a classic lime margarita and I ordered the spiced pear. If you enjoy margaritas don’t sleep on these. You can tell they use fresh ingredients to prepare each margarita and they were fabulous.
Tip: Make a reservation on OpenTable to ensure you snag a spot! It’s popular for a reason.
Location: 3501 Old Cantrell Rd, Little Rock // MAP
Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co.
We’ve been wanting to try Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co. for ages and it did not disappoint. Everything is made from scratch from their noodles, shui jiao (dumplings), steamed buns, and even their chips. Because of this, everything is extremely fresh and absolutely delicious. You can really tell that Three Fold puts a lot of care into the dishes they made!
Since neither of us could decide on what to order (because everything looked delicious) we got the half & half which is a half order of dumplings and a half order of noodles with your choice of pork, chicken, or tofu as protein.
Location: 611 S Main St, Little Rock // MAP
The Pantry
The Pantry serves up a number of German and Czech dishes alongside some American classics too. During our visit, our waitress recommended the Sauerkraut Panini with smoked turkey which we were skeptical about but it was delicious! The Goat Cheese Flatbread was also a perfect lunch item.
Location: 11401 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock // MAP
Ciao Baci
If you want to go somewhere for a nice dinner with great ambiance and food, Ciao Baci is your answer. They have a terrific patio, expansive wine list, and a rotating menu using the freshest flavors and ingredients.
For starters, we ordered the french onion dip and the jalapeno cheddar tots. The french onion dip was served warm with soft pita bread for dipping and tasted just like french onion soup! The jalapeno cheddar tots were served with a ranch dipping sauce and were seriously delicious, Logan and I may have counted to make sure we had equal shares! 😉
We also ordered a mixed greens salad which had a light vinegar-based dressing and the soup of the day which happened to be a potato soup topped with lump blue crab.
Since I had ordered the soup and salad as my meal Logan ordered the Tandoori chicken sandwich with a side of fries. He kept going on and on about it as he ate it so naturally I had to try it myself too and he had every reason to rave. It was EXCEPTIONAL. The chicken was perfectly cooked – tender on the inside, crispy on the outside, and the marinade they used flavored it perfectly. Also, it was a massive sandwich so it was perfect for sharing.
The menu is always changing so we can’t promise these recommendations will be there, but whatever you order will be fabulous.
Location: 605 Beechwood St #3846, Little Rock // MAP
Kemuri
Kemuri is a popular Japanese fusion restaurant in Little Rock that has a variety of menu items including sushi, seafood, and robata, a style of Japanese grilling.
To be honest, we didn’t do Kemuri justice when we went, we were both still decently full from lunch but knew we’d be hungry later so we ordered two items to share – the Kemuri Shrimp Tempura and the Dragon Roll. I think if we went back we’d probably order a selection of sushi and some of the robata items since we’ve heard so much about them.
Location: 2601 Kavanaugh Blvd, Little Rock // MAP
Lost Forty Brewing
Lost Forty Brewery has some of our favorite Arkansas beers so we stopped by their storefront to enjoy a flight on their patio. While we love the Blackberry Bramble, Easy Tiger, and Love Honey Bock, we decided to mix it up and order four beers we hadn’t tried of theirs yet.
The beers we tried this time were:
- Blueberry Brunch Muffin – A tart fruited ale that had hints of lemon, blueberries, and sour candy.
- Blueberry Milk Money – A milkshake-style IPA that was brewed with milk sugar and vanilla to balance out the hops.
- Rainbow Connection – A sherbet ale made with Loblolly’s pineapple-raspberry-lime sherbet to make this extra fruity. It really did taste like rainbow sherbet!
- S’morest Queen – A seasonal stout that is inspired by the flavors of s’mores including graham cracker, chocolate, and toasted marshmellow.
Out of the four of these, Logan and I both enjoyed the Blueberry Milk Money and S’morest Queen the best. Oh, and before you come at me about trying two blueberry beers, yes I know that I did that and they were completely different from one another.
While only been to Lost Forty for beer, they do serve a variety of menu items. Had I not eaten lunch recently I would have jumped on it on the wood-fired pizza that I saw at a nearby table. It looked (and smelled) amazing. We’ve also heard their beer brunch is pretty popular so we’re adding it to our to-do list.
Location: 501 Byrd St, Little Rock // MAP
Loblolly Creamery
Whatever you do, DO NOT leave Little Rock without stopping at Loblolly Creamery. Even if it’s -15 outside just go. TRUST ME. Loblolly Creamery creates small-batch handcrafted ice cream with fresh, seasonal ingredients without any preservatives or anything artificial.
Here’s the thing, I consider myself an ice cream connoisseur. I mean, I have tried over 50 flavors of ice cream in Japan. So I feel very confident when I say that I would easily put Loblolly Creamery on my mental list of the top five ice cream shops in the world. Because everything is fresh and often locally sourced, you can truly taste the difference.
They have so many fun flavors to choose from but on this run I got the Apple Pie which is a cinnamon apple ice cream with pecan oat streusel and local apples and the Sour Apple Sorbet, two of their fall flavors. Logan got a classic, Arkansas Mud which is a milk chocolate ice cream with house-made marshmallow fluff, brownie, and cookie pieces.
Although I could talk about their ice cream for hours, Loblolly Creamery also makes terrific macarons and I was lucky enough to snag some on this visit too!
Location: 1423 Main St Suite C, Little Rock // MAP
Community Bakery
Community Bakery has been serving Little Rock with made from scratch pastries since 1947. My favorite sweet treats from Community Bakery are the Petit Fours and the iced sugar cookies (this Razorback one was just too cute to pass up on). Logan also enjoyed the Peanut Butter Chocolate Bomb because he loved ALL things peanut butter.
Location: 1200 Main St, Little Rock // MAP
The Original Fried Pie Shop
Ending this on another sweet note because who doesn’t want to try a fried pie!? The Original Fried Pie Shop is a family-owned burger joint but what it’s known for is, of course, their fried pies. They are completely made from scratch and have a number of different fruit and cream fillings to choose from. Though this is located a little outside of Little Rock it’s just a short drive away.
Location: 1321 T P White Dr, Jacksonville // MAP
Things to Do on A Weekend in Little Rock
Peruse the ESSE Purse Museum
One place I more recently visited in Little Rock is the Esse Purse Museum and let me tell you, IT IS SO COOL. This is a rather rare gem in Little Rock. By that I mean, it is one of two purse museums in the entire world, the other being in Seoul, South Korea.
Esse features a fabulous permanent collection of purses and their contents from 1900-1999 while divulging into ever-changing societal norms, fashion, and status. Some purses are glamorous showy pieces while others are more simple and practical, but regardless of the bag, the contents of a purse give a rather intimate glimpse into a person’s life.
Logan and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about each decade of handbags and how they connected to other notable moments in history. For example, while the 1920s may have had dazzling glittery evening bags, the 1940s were a stark contrast as wartime changed the way of life. Bags became more functional and changed materials to accommodate for a lack of resources. This period is when the first L.L. Bean canvas bag came out!
I won’t spoil the rest for you, you’ll just have to go visit for yourself! But Esse is a museum to add to your travel bucket list.
P.S. I still have the very first purse I purchased. It was a coral Dooney & Bourke I saved up for so I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw one in the case for the ‘90s decade. ☺️
Location: 1510 Main St, Little Rock // MAP
Educate Yourself on the Events at Little Rock Central High School
Little Rock Central High School is the only operating high school in the nation that is also a designated National Historic Site, by far one of the most important in Little Rock and the state.
On the morning of September 4, 1957, nine Black students were blocked from entering Little Rock Central High School by the National Guard per the order of Governor Faubus despite the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling that school segregation was unconstitutional. Governor Faubus then removed the guard but the students were met with violent protests.
Due to the reaction received, President Eisenhower backed the Supreme Court’s authority and sent in the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division to safely escort the students into the school.
Little Rock Central High School Historic site commemorates the bravery of Jefferson Thomas, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Carlotta Walls, Melba Pattillo, Terrence Roberts, and Gloria Ray, who are often referred to as the “Little Rock Nine.” Despite facing extreme resistance, they pushed forward in their attempts to desegregate Little Rock Central High School.
This is such an important place to visit in Little Rock and it’s crucial to remember that while sometimes it seems as though many things have changed we still have so much work to do to ensure justice for ALL.
Location: 1500 S Park St & 2120 W Daisy L Gatson Bates Dr. // MAP
Visit the Arkansas State Capitol Building
If you’re interested in some of the historical things to do in Little Rock, the Arkansas State Capitol is an excellent stop to make. The architecture of the Arkansas State Capitol was designed by George R. Mann and took 16 years to complete from the years 1899 to 1915. At the time it cost $2.2 million, an equivalent of around $320 million today.
When walking into the Capitol building pay special attention to the luxurious details of the exterior and interior such as the heavy bronze doors at the entrance. These doors were purchased from Tiffany & Company in New York for $10,000. You might also notice the dome that is covered in fine 24-karat gold leaf.
While visiting, we recommend going on a guided tour or self-guided audio tour to learn more about those who have shaped Arkansas and the history behind this building.
Location: 500 Woodlane St. // MAP
Explore the Historical Clinton Presidential Library
The William J. Clinton Library & Museum is one of my favorite historical places to visit in Little Rock. Not only does it have a ton of history about the Clinton family, but also contains over 10,000 artifacts from Clinton’s political accomplishments. My favorite exhibits are Hillary’s dresses and the replica of the Oval Office.
After visiting the museum be sure to take some time to view the monuments and memorials outside of the museum. The first is the Anne Frank Tree, which is a small tree with a powerful message. The Clinton Library is one of 11 sites to receive one of the saplings saved from Anne’s tree. On the memorial plaque it says “As the saplings flourish, they will become living memorials to Anne’s desire for peace and acceptance.”
Next to the Anne Frank Tree, you’ll see large crystal monuments that have harrowing quotes about Arkansas’ history with forced assimilation of Native people, Japanese-American internment camps, racism and the desegregation of public schools, and many more. All of which hold extremely important messages.
Location: 1200 President Clinton Ave // MAP
Walk Around the River Market District
The River Market District is one place that you can’t miss when visiting for a weekend in Little Rock. The River Market is indoors and opens year-round with a number of small shops, food stalls, and tables selling local goods. This is a great place to get something for lunch and eat at a variety of locally-owned food stalls. Outside of the building, there is an area for live music, movie showings, and expos which are common to find nightly in the late spring-early fall.
If the weather is nice, I recommend walking along the Arkansas River Trail which is beautifully set by the Arkansas River and has many parks, bridges, art installments, and other scenic viewing spaces.
Location: 400 President Clinton Ave // MAP
Check out The Free Art at Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Park
If you are walking in the River Market District along the Arkansas River Trail you’re sure to stumble upon Vogel Schwartz Sculpture Park. Some of the sculptures are abstract, others easy to define but it makes for a unique scavenger hunt to find sculptures all along the riverside big and small!
Location: Arkansas River Trail // MAP
Visit Each of the Bridges in Little Rock
While Pittsburg might be known as the “City of Bridges,” Little Rock definitely can compete with its six infamous bridges along the Arkansas River that connect Little Rock to North Little Rock.
Even though I had visited Little Rock a number of times and seen the bridges, I didn’t pay attention to the history of these bridges until one of my latest visits. Because the bridges are all within a few miles of each other they are easy to visit in a day.
At night, most of the bridges light up with beautiful colors that change by seasonality and holidays so be sure to stop by and see them after sunset too!
Here are the bridges in Little Rock:
- Starting the furthest east is the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge which is located near the Clinton Library. It is a pedestrian (and cyclist) only bridge that is the start of the 16-mile loop of the Arkansas River Trail.
- Next is Highway 30 Bridge which connects Little Rock and North Little Rock by car.
- Junction Bridge is another pedestrian-only bridge that connects Riverfront Park in Little Rock to North Shore Riverwalk Park in North Little Rock. It has served as a backdrop for both cities for over 100 years! It was originally constructed as a railroad bridge in 1884 then was rebuilt in 1970 before being converted into a pedestrian bridge in 2008.
- Next is Broadway Bridge which is a vehicular and pedestrian bridge that was originally constructed in 1921 but was replaced in 2017 after considerable use.
- Perhaps the most well-known bridge in Little Rock is the Big Dam Bridge which as you might have guessed from the name, is located directly over the Arkansas River dam. It is the longest pedestrian/cycling bridge in America!
- The last is Two Rivers Bridge which is also a pedestrian and cyclist-only bridge. This trail takes you through Two Rivers Park to a stunning peninsula that is perfect for taking a quick photo or sitting down for a picnic. It’s quiet enough that you might even forget you’re still in the city!
Take A Distillery Tour at Rock Town Distillery
Rock Town Distillery was the first legal distillery in Arkansas since prohibition. The kicker? It started in 2010! They distill all of their own spirits including vodka, gin, and their most famous, whiskey.
They have won some major awards for their spirits during the short time they’ve been in business. They’ve even outranked some of the most established rye distilleries in Kentucky so yeah, they’re kind of a big deal.
While you can enjoy one of their cocktails at the bar, one of the best things to do in Little Rock is going on the Rock Town Distillery tour where you can taste eight different spirits they sell in their storefront and in other stores around the country.
During our tour, we started in the barrel warehouse where we learned more about bourbon. Did you know that bourbon is just a type of whiskey? In order to be considered a bourbon, you have to have three specific things.
- Be made from 51% corn
- Be aged in a newly charred oak barrel
- Be made in the United States
After we visited the barrel warehouse we moved to the still house and the bottling room. Where we saw how the spirits are distilled and bottled by hand and machine. From there we moved into a private tasting room where we were able to try eight of their signature spirits – the moment we were most looking forward to!
- Rock Town Vodka: I’m not normally a vodka person but this one was surprisingly sweet, smooth, and had little to no after-burn.
- Lemon Vodka: Logan and I both really enjoyed this one. Although we tried it at room temperature, we both agreed that sticking this in the freezer would make it the perfect addition to a summer cocktail.
- Rock Town Gin: I’m pretty picky about gin and this one was one of the best I’ve ever had. You could taste the notes of anise and juniper and like the Rock Town Vodka, it had little to no after-burn.
- Arkansas Bourbon Whiskey (Black Label): Maybe I’m old-fashioned (no pun intended) but this was my favorite bourbon we tried in the tasting. If you like Maker’s Mark you’ll love this one too.
- Four Grain Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey (Red Label): You can definitely taste the bite more in this one but it was still smooth.
- Arkansas Rye Whiskey (Green Label): This one was stronger tasting than the black or red label but still had a smooth finish.
- Coffee Liqueur: Logan isn’t a coffee drinker and loved this. I am a coffee drinker and I loved this too. This one could get dangerous because it is SO TASTY. Sure, you might not believe me because I’ve said about nearly all of these that “xyz was one of the best I’ve ever had” but Rock Town Distillery didn’t win all these awards for nothing!
- Bourbon Cream: We finished off our tasting and added a little of the bourbon cream to the little bit of coffee liqueur we had left. They tasted great together and individually it tasted similar to Baileys.
Location: 1201 Main St, Little Rock // MAP
Visit H.U. Lee International Gate & Garden
The H.U. Lee International Gate & Garden is a quick stop to make in downtown Little Rock but if it’s your first time visiting, we recommend it for the serene architecture and historical significance symbolizing the friendship between South Korea and the United States. It was a gift of appreciation and commemorates the martial arts.
The gate and garden were named after American Taekwondo Association Eternal Grand Master Haeng Ung Lee who dedicated his life to the advancement of martial arts. When visiting, make sure you read about the history, rest up at the fountain, and take in the tranquil scenery.
Location: 101 E Markham St. // MAP
Travel On One of Little Rock’s Amazing Bike Trails
Logan and I have really enjoyed biking lately and were thrilled to find out we could rent bikes from Rock Town River Outfitters to ride a few trails in Little Rock. We decided to go on a ride around Two Rivers Park and loved the view from Two Rivers Bridge at the start of our ride.
As a bonus, all of the bikes offered to rent at Rock Town River Outfitters are serviced before you ride them so you shouldn’t have to worry about any major hang-ups.
Our Favorite Bike Trails in Little Rock
- Arkansas River Trail
- 16-mile loop connected by the pedestrian and cyclist bridges in downtown Little Rock.
- Two Rivers ParkTrail
- This trail is a 6.8-mile loop that is accessible from Two Rivers Bridge which then connects to Two Rivers Park. This trail will take you through the park and to a peninsula where you can stop and take in the views.
Bike Rental Options from Rock Town River Outfitters
- Hybrid Bike Rentals
- 2 hours – $20.50, 4 hours – $32.50, Day Rental – $54.50
- Road Bike Rentals
- 2 hours – $38.50, 4 hours – $55.50, Day Rental – $65.50
- High-Performance Road Bike
- 2 hours – $49.50, 4 hours – $65.50, Day Rental – $75.50
- Mountain Bike Rentals
- 4 hours – $38.50, 6 hours – $58.50
- Junior Bike
- 2 hours – $18.50, 4 hours – $28.50, Day Rental – $38.50
- Tandem Bike
- 2 hours – $36.50, 4 hours – $49.50, Day Rental – $51.50
Bike Tours with Rock Town River Outfitters
If you are interested in learning more about the city while also riding a bike AND getting to eat at some of Little Rock’s best brunch spots then consider booking the Bike and Brunch tour with Rock Town River Outfitters.
Location: 4420 River Mountain Road, Little Rock // MAP
Take A Kayak Tour with Rock Town River Outfitters
I mentioned Rock Town River Outfitters above for renting bikes, but they also offer amazing kayak tours and kayak rentals. During our time in Little Rock, we went on the Little Maumelle tour between Two Rivers Park and River Mountain Park. It was extremely scenic and quiet, you’d never guess you’re just minutes away from downtown Little Rock.
If you want to have more of an urban feel Rock Town River Outfitters also offers an Arkansas River Tour that takes you under the scenic bridges next to downtown. This is what we’d love to do next time, especially to see the bridges all lit up!
Location: 4420 River Mountain Road, Little Rock // MAP
Hike in Pinnacle Mountain State Park
While Pinnacle Mountain State Park isn’t exactly in the city center of Little Rock, it’s close enough. It is one of Arkansas’ most popular and premier hiking spots. We suggest visiting on a weekday if possible because the weekends tend to get busy!
When visiting Pinnacle Mountain State Park you’ll notice there are a number of different trails to take but the two most popular are the East Summit Trail and the West Summit Trail which offer the same views but are different ways of getting to the top. We hiked the West Summit Trail because it is a little quicker than the East.
Although both of these trails are marked strenuous, I’d say that the West Summit Trail is more of a moderate trail. It does have several rocks you have to climb up, but if you have shoes with good grip (which I highly recommend) it isn’t too laboring! There are also many spots you can sit and rest as you make your way up the trail.
- East Summit Trail
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
- Time: 1 to 2 hours
- West Summit Trail
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Distance: 1.5 miles round trip
- Time: 1.5 hours
Location: 11901 Pinnacle Valley Rd, Roland // MAP
Explore the Museum of Discovery
The Museum of Discovery is Arkansas’ oldest museum dating back to 1927. Inside you’ll find over 90 hands-on, interactive exhibits that will excite people of all ages.
Each location in the Museum of Discovery allows visitors to discover the mysteries behind science and technology. Discovery Hall focuses on shapes, space, gravity, and patterns to help understand the way the world works. The Amazing You exhibit looks at how bodies function with models of skin, blood, bones, and more. Earth Journeys shows the uniqueness behind Arkansas’ landscape and microbiomes.
The Tesla Theater is where you can witness the Guinness World Record musical bipolar Tesla coil! The coil creates 200,000 volts of electricity at a frequency high enough that you can see it. During the show, museum staff can play well-known songs on the device.
One of our favorite places in the Museum of Discovery was the Tinkering Studio where they have different activities available each week. When we visited they had a workshop where you could deconstruct electronics including camera lenses, printers, keyboards, computers, and DVD players. Logan has always wanted to see the laser inside a DVD player since he was a kid so naturally, he had to spend about 30 minutes taking it apart.
Location: 500 President Clinton Ave, Little Rock // MAP
These top things to do on a weekend in Little Rock are just the start of what this city has to offer. Have you visited Little Rock? What would be the first on your list of these things to do in Little Rock?
Comments & Reviews
Courtney says
Now I’m craving a fried pie, sigh! Thanks for sharing ?
Kallsy Page says
Us too, Courtney! They’re are so many flavors. 😀
Flo says
That photo of Pinnacle Mountain is outrageous! I never knew there were so many wonderful things to do in Little Rock – I’m going to need to try that fried pie, ASAP.
Kallsy Page says
Still dreaming about the fried pie! Thank you for reading, Flo!
Kallsy Page says
You most definitely need to add Little Rock to your list of places to visit! 🙂