Helena-West Helena

Three people walking past a rustic red brick building on a sunny day.

Musicians playing guitars on stage at an outdoor event.

Guitars and banjo displayed in a museum exhibit with glass cases.

Smiling person standing at the entrance of a red train cabin.

Outdoor concert at sunset with a crowd seated on grass.

Guitar exhibit in a museum with guitars in glass cases.

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Rooted in the Delta Blues

Set where Crowley's Ridge meets the Mississippi River, Helena-West Helena carries more history per square mile than almost anywhere in Arkansas.

Helena-West Helena, specifically Historic Helena, is one of the oldest towns in The Natural State — incorporated in 1833, three years before Arkansas became a state. The Mississippi River drew native peoples to this area long before European settlement and has shaped the city's physical landscape and history ever since. The city sits at the southern tip of Crowley's Ridge, a narrow ridge of hills that runs 200 miles through the upper Arkansas Delta. Two National Scenic Byways run through town — the Crowley's Ridge Parkway and the Great River Road All-American Road — connecting Helena-West Helena to the broader Delta landscape. The St. Francis National Forest lies north of the city, one of the smallest and most ecologically diverse national forests in the country and the only place in the National Forest System where the public can experience the Mississippi River from the shoreline. Within the forest, Mississippi River State Park offers campgrounds, camper cabins, swim beaches, boat ramps and hiking trails, with seven bodies of water for fishing, kayaking and boating. For a guided introduction to the area, Helena Adventure Company offers e-bike tours of the city's trails, public art and history.

Helena-West Helena is recognized as one of the birthplaces of Blues music, and the evidence is still here. The Delta Cultural Center traces the roots of the Delta sound and its global reach, and on weekdays you can watch the live broadcast of King Biscuit Time — the longest-running daily blues radio show in the country, on the air every weekday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. The King Biscuit Blues Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors to the banks of the Mississippi every October. The city's history runs deeper still. Freedom Park is the first National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site in Arkansas, and the Battle of Helena in July 1863 was one of the last major Confederate offensives in the state.

When it's time to eat, Helena-West Helena leans into its Delta roots. Biscuit Row BBQ is the place for smoked barbecue and signature sauces. Delta Fish Market Bar and Grill covers catfish, shrimp and burgers. Delta Dirt Distillery, America's only Black-owned farm-to-bottle distillery, is worth a tour and a tasting.

Dirt path in a forest, solitary person walking, surrounded by dense green trees.

Helena is for the Soul Seekers

There are places you visit, and then there are places you experience. Helena, Arkansas falls firmly into the second category. Set where Crowley’s Ridge meets the Mississippi River, this Delta town invites you to slow down and look closer Music drifts through the streets, history sits just beneath your feet and the landscape shifts from riverbanks to forested ridges in minutes. This is a place for exploring, not rushing, where the best moments aren’t always planned.

"Arkansas welcome sign with gems, greenery in background."

Budget-Friendly Road Trip: Historic Helena

Helena is one of the oldest towns in Arkansas – incorporated three years before Arkansas became a state.

Bartender in a red shirt mixing drinks at a modern bar.

Delta Dirt Distillery: Raising “spirits” nationwide

Located in historic downtown Helena is Delta Dirt Distillery, America's only Black-owned farm-to-bottle distillery.

Two cyclists ride on a forest trail under dense trees.

Delta Heritage Trail State Park

Every visit to Delta Heritage Trail State Park is one to remember. Walking or riding along the trail, you may encounter a variety of wildlife and plants. When the rail-to-trail project is complete, it will be an astounding 84.5-miles long. To date...

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What's Nearby

Places to Stay

The Edwardian Inn Bed and Breakfast, a 1904 Colonial Revival home listed on the National Register of Historic Places, sits in Helena's historic district and offers some of the most distinctive lodging in the Arkansas Delta. For a night closer to nature, Mississippi River State Park has camper cabins, campsites and RV spots.

Places to Eat

Helena-West Helena's dining scene runs deep, with Delta staples like barbecue and catfish, handcrafted cocktails at Delta Dirt Distillery and local favorites like Downtown Bar and Grill and Pasquale's Tamales food truck.

Things to Do

The Delta Cultural Center and the Helena Museum of Phillips County bring the region's history and music legacy to life. The Helena Blues Trail connects the city's blues heritage sites, while Freedom Park, Fort Curtis and Battery C Park tell the Civil War story.

Get Outdoors

Helena Adventure Company offers guided e-bike tours to the confluence of the St. Francis and Mississippi Rivers as well as a tour that combines music, public art, history and nature. Downtown Helena has some great hiking and walking trails, like the Big River Loop that connects downtown to the Helena River Park.

State Parks

Helena-West Helena is within a short drive of Mississippi River State Park, Delta Heritage Trail State Park, and Louisiana Purchase State Park, all of which offer exceptional opportunities for outdoor adventures.