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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Arkansas.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Arkansas using data from . Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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1 / 30

#30. Arkansas Grand Canyon

- Rating: 4.5/5 (222 reviews)
- City: Jasper
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2 / 30

#29. Riverfront Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (630 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
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#28. Big Dam Bridge

- Rating: 4.6/5 (824 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
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#27. Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel

- Rating: 4.8/5 (319 reviews)
- City: Bella Vista
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5 / 30

#26. Buffalo National River Park

- Rating: 4.8/5 (299 reviews)
- City: Harrison
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6 / 30

#25. Blanchard Springs Recreation Area

- Rating: 4.8/5 (333 reviews)
- City: Mountain View
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#24. Devil's Den State Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (367 reviews)
- City: West Fork
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#23. River Market District

- Rating: 4.2/5 (666 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
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#22. The Old Mill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (573 reviews)
- City: North Little Rock
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#21. Grand Promenade

- Rating: 4.6/5 (476 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#20. St. Elizabeth's Catholic Church

- Rating: 4.7/5 (692 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
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#19. Mount Magazine State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (413 reviews)
- City: Paris
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#18. Museum of Native American History

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,024 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
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#17. Lake Ouachita

- Rating: 4.8/5 (535 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#16. Oaklawn Hot Springs, Arkansas

- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,075 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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16 / 30

#15. Eureka Springs Historical Downtown

- Rating: 4.4/5 (862 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
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#14. The Walmart Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,840 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
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#13. Pinnacle Mountain State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (504 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
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#12. Beaver Lake

- Rating: 4.7/5 (711 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
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#11. Southland Casino Hotel

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,199 reviews)
- City: West Memphis
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#10. Christ of the Ozarks

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,669 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
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#9. Petit Jean State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (760 reviews)
- City: Morrilton
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#8. Lake Catherine State Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (513 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#7. Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,272 reviews)
- City: Little Rock
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#6. Anthony Chapel

- Rating: 4.9/5 (618 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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26 / 30

#5. Bathhouse Row

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,389 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#4. Hot Springs National Park

- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,098 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#3. Fordyce Bathhouse

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,207 reviews)
- City: Hot Springs
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#2. Thorncrown Chapel

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,705 reviews)
- City: Eureka Springs
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#1. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,641 reviews)
- City: Bentonville
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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