Explore Little Rock

In the heart of Arkansas on the banks of the Arkansas River, Little Rock is big on culture, heavy on history, and wild about the outdoors. This city rolls out Southern hospitality in genuine Arkansas fashion. It’s Arkansas’ capital and biggest city at nearly 200,000 residents strong

Start in the River Market District

Dive into Little Rock's bustling epicenter, where the River Market District pulses with energy day and night. Restaurants, bars and live music venues line the streets of this dynamic waterfront. Food trucks cluster near the Riverfront Park amphitheater.

The Central Arkansas Library anchors a block, while the Clinton Presidential Center rises just beyond, its glass walls reflecting both skyline and river. A stroll through the Clinton Presidential Park Wetlands—complete with boardwalks and wild birds—feels miles from city life, even though you’re right in the middle of it. Within walking distance are Heifer International’s global headquarters, the Central Arkansas Nature Center and the Museum of Discovery. Got kids in tow? The museum’s indoor playground makes sure they’ll burn energy while learning something unexpected.

Hop on the METRO Streetcar to roll through downtown and across the Arkansas River to North Little Rock, to see the city reflected on the water.

Culture and character, all in one

Don’t miss the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, showcasing world-class traveling exhibitions alongside an exceptional permanent collection of works on paper. Or the ESSE Purse Museum, the only one of its kind in the U.S., where fashion becomes a window to personal stories and cultural shifts for women.

The Little Rock Zoo offers another kind of cultural experience. It's home to the world's only remaining Over the Jumps Carousel. This hand-carved masterpiece from 1924 is the last of its kind on Earth, making it a piece of living history that still spins daily.

History fans will want to stop at Curran Hall, the city’s oldest surviving home, now the Little Rock Visitor Center. And just downriver, the La Petite Roche Plaza pays tribute to the very rock that gave this city its name.

The Story of "Little Rock"

How did Little Rock get its name? Back in 1722, French explorer Bernard de la Harpe spotted a bluff rising from the north side of the river and called it la grande roche. But it was the smaller outcropping on the south bank that became the landmark, La Petite Roche. Yep, there really is a little rock. The name stuck. A hundred years later, so did the city.

History That Shaped a Nation

From the steps of Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, where nine courageous Black students faced opposition to desegregate the school, requiring federal troops for their protection, to the Old State House Museum and MacArthur Museum of Military History, Little Rock holds a key to understanding America’s past. Dive deeper into Black heritage at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center. At the Historic Arkansas Museum, pioneer grit comes alive in a historic city block containing the oldest building in Little Rock and an 1850s farmstead.

Outdoors? Always

Walk outside your hotel and rent a boat to paddle the Arkansas River. Or bike or hike the Big Dam Bridge, the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridge in North America at 4,226 feet. It connects to the 88-mile multi-use loop Arkansas River Trail. More than 60 city parks offer a variety of extensive running and walking trails, bike paths, fishing spots, golf courses, sports facilities and perfect picnic areas.

Just west of town, Pinnacle Mountain State Park delivers serious views, plus miles of trails. The overlooks provide stunning vistas of the Trail of Tears water route and Monument Trails make for excellent mountain biking. Plan an outdoor adventure any season, thanks to Arkansas’s year-round mild climate.

Year-Round Festivals & Events

One day it’s Jazz in the Park, the next it’s a food truck showdown, art fair, International Greek Food Festival or World Cheese Dip Championship (yes, that’s a thing and yes, it’s worth the trip). Small concerts pop up in breweries, coffee shops and even on the streets.

Guided Discovery

Jump on a Little Rock Tours bus, where local step-on guides share insider stories with the help of movie clips and historical footage via onboard screens. You’ll see the city’s neighborhoods, landmarks, and cultural gems in one loop and get ideas for where to head back to on foot.

Your Gateway to Arkansas' Historic Trails

Launch into Arkansas' layered past at the crossroads of the state's Heritage Trails System. From Little Rock, you can access four nationally significant routes: the Butterfield Overland Trail (stagecoach route to the West), the Southwest Trail (the old military road to Texas), the Trail of Tears (marking forced Native American relocation), and the Little Rock Campaign Civil War Sites (hallowed battlefields right in the city). Start your journey in Little Rock, and Arkansas' heritage stories will follow you far beyond city limits.