Arkansas is widely renowned for its natural beauty, so it’s quite easy to see why it’s also known as the Natural State. This natural beauty is one of the reasons why the state is excellent for romantic getaways like honeymoons.
Lakes, mountain ranges, national parks, and spas are abundant in Arkansas. The state is also littered with natural hot springs, which are perfect for a romantic getaway.
So if you’re interested to see what an Arkansas honeymoon has to offer, then read on!
What Makes Arkansas Perfect For A Honeymoon
Arkansas might not be the most grandiose state, as you won’t find the finest hotels and restaurants in the nation here. However, if anything, this adds to its quaint charm, as some people like to get away from it all when they’re on honeymoon.
If this is the case for you, then there are few places better than Arkansas, as there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, cozying up in romantic cabins, and soaking in hot springs. The hotels in Arkansas might not be the best in the nation, but they still have plenty of luxurious amenities that will keep you and your new spouse happy.
There are a number of romantic hotels and honeymoon resorts in the state, and if you’re willing to spend a bit more, it won’t be difficult for you to even secure a room with a hot tub!
Best Areas To Stay In Arkansas
Arkansas is very much an agricultural state, and when this is the case, you’ll find that many of the big towns and cities are spread quite far apart. If you and your partner are going for a long honeymoon, then it will be easy to see quite a lot of what the state has to offer.
However, if your romantic getaway is only a few days long, then it would be better to stick to one general area and see all that it has to offer. Otherwise, your romantic getaway could involve a lot of driving and feel quite rushed.
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is by far one of the best places to stay for a romantic getaway in Arkansas. This is thanks to the natural hot springs that litter the area and give this resort city its name.
Hot springs aren’t the only great thing that the city has to offer, though. There are also excellent views of the Ouachita mountains, theme parks, water parks, and the beautiful Garvan Woodland Gardens.
Outdoor activities are plentiful in the area, too, as it is also home to the Hot Springs National Park, the Diamond Lakes, and the Ouachita National Forest.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs can be found in Northern Arkansas, and, as its name suggests, it is also home to numerous natural springs. Eureka Springs is nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, and as a result, there are many outdoor activities just outside the city.
Beaver Lake is only an hour away and offers excellent trout fishing, but if that’s not your thing, then there are plenty of opportunities for water sports, too. Spending a relaxing day soaking up some sun and splashing in the water is also an option.
White River also has many of these same activities on offer and is also just over an hour away.
Little Rock
Little Rock is the capital of Arkansas, and while it may not have natural hot springs, it does have plenty of other attractions that make it worthwhile. Little Rock is set on the south bank of the Arkansas River and is surrounded by lakes, a few natural areas, and state parks.
However, it also features some great shopping and cultural attractions, as it is the capital of the state, after all! The Little Rock Zoo is home to 725 animals and is definitely worth a visit. The Park Plaza is considered by many to be the best mall in the city, and will likely have something for everyone.
If you and your partner are interested in art and culture, then you can head to the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, which is one of a few art galleries in the city.
Best Honeymoon Resorts, Hotels, and Other Stays in Arkansas
The accommodation you will find in Arkansas will differ depending on which area you choose to visit on your honeymoon. Both Eureka Springs and Hot Springs have many romantic cabins, bed and breakfasts, and hotels. If a quaint cabin is what you and your partner are interested in, then Beaver Lakefront Cabins in Eureka Springs will be perfect.
However, Little Rock is a built-up city that is home to many of the best hotels in Arkansas, but it won’t be all that easy to find any quaint cabins. Capital Hotel is great if you want to see what Little Rock has to offer while enjoying some luxurious amenities and romantic dining.
1. Capital Hotel, Little Rock
- Price per Night: From $237
- Best For: Short stays, Long stays, Couples, Families
- Availability: Easy to book
The Capital Hotel is one of the finest hotels you can find in Arkansas. The rooms are extremely cozy, and all of them come with floor-to-ceiling windows, custom mattresses, and excellent views of Downtown Little Rock.
The Capital Hotel also happens to be a great spot for a romantic dinner, as the One Eleven Restaurant offers some great fine dining. If you and your new spouse would prefer comfort food, then you can just head to the Capital Bar and Grill, which is just across the lobby.
Perhaps the best thing about the Capital Hotel is its location. You can easily see everything that the city has to offer by staying here, as the Little Rock Zoo and the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts are only short drives away.
2. The Burgundy Hotel, Little Rock
- Price per Night: From $157
- Best For: Long stays, Short stays, Couples
- Availability: Limited
The Burgundy Hotel was the first boutique hotel in Arkansas, but that is far from its only claim to fame. The Burgundy Hotel is easily one of the most romantic hotels in Arkansas, as some of the rooms come with fireplaces and hot tub baths. The hotel will even place rose petals on your bed for an extra fee if you wish.
You will also find both a pool and a fitness center at the hotel, so if you and your partner are active, there are plenty of ways for you to get some exercise in. The dining options at the hotel are great, too, as Table 28 features a renowned Arkansas chef that specializes in fine dining.
3. Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, Hot Springs
- Price per Night: From $199
- Best For: Long stays, Couples, Families
- Availability: Easy to book
The Lookout Point Lakeside Inn refers to itself as the most romantic hotel in America. While this might be a bold claim to make, the hotel is definitely one of the most romantic hotels you’ll find in Arkansas.
The hotel offers excellent lake views and some great views of the Ouachita Mountains too. Lake Hamilton isn’t just for viewing, though; you can also go canoeing, kayaking, and pedal-boating on it too. However, if you’d like a more relaxing water experience, you can also head to one of the hot springs that the resort city gets its name from for a soak in one of the mineral baths.
There is also plenty of hiking trails and fishing spots, and there are even ziplining trails nearby. So you and your partner will be spoiled for choice when it comes to outdoor activities.
4. Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, Hot Springs
- Price per Night: From $128
- Best For: Short stays, Long stays, Couples, Families
- Availability: Easy to book
The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa can be found right outside the Hot Springs National Park, so it’s a great place to stay if you want to spend your honeymoon exploring the park. This historic hotel is the largest hotel in all of Arkansas, so it is generally always easy to book, too.
The Thermal Water Spa on the hotel premises is one of the best ways to experience the hot springs. Guests can bathe in the hot spring water that is pumped directly from the ground to the spa, and this will be excellent when paired with a massage right afterward!
If you aren’t interested in heading to the spa, then you can also make use of the free hot tub, which is open all year. If you decide to venture out of your hotel, you’ll find the famous bathhouse row, which also offers many great ways to experience the natural hot springs.
5. The New Orleans Hotel, Eureka Springs
- Price per Night: From $150
- Best For: Couples, Long stays, Short stays
- Availability: Easy to book
The New Orleans Hotel has a rather misleading name when you consider it is based in downtown Eureka Springs. However, when you visit the hotel, you will notice that it looks exactly like a historic building from New Orleans.
The hotel is particularly cozy, as it features beautifully preserved wooden furniture, grand wooden staircases, and wooden flooring. The location of the hotel is also excellent, as you’ll be treated to some spectacular views of the Ozark Mountains. The best amenities in Eureka Springs are only a short walk away from the hotel as well.
Some of these great amenities include the Cosmic Cavern, the Blue Springs Heritage Center, and the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
6. 21c Museum Hotel, Bentonville
- Price per Night: From $280
- Best For: Couples, Long stays, Short stays
- Availability: Easy to book
The 21c Museum Hotel can be found in Bentonville, which is only an hour away from Eureka Springs. If you and your new partner enjoy art and culture, then there is no better place to stay in Arkansas.
You will quite literally be staying at a contemporary art museum, and even the rooms and the restaurant have been decorated with this in mind. When you walk into the lobby, you will be greeted by large sculptures and a Cadillac limousine covered in thousands of coins!
The Hive restaurant features an exhibit called the Buzzkill, which is an interactive exhibit about bees. Although, it is to be expected, as the restaurant is called The Hive after all!
7. Beaver Lakefront Cabins, Eureka Springs
- Price per Night: From $136
- Best For: Couples only, Long stays, Short stays
- Availability: Easy to book
There aren’t many dedicated honeymoon resorts in Arkansas, but Beaver Lakefront Cabins will certainly meet your needs. The vast majority of the accommodation is reserved for couples only, so peace and quiet are the names of the game.
The accommodation is particularly cozy, and guests will be able to choose from romantic cabins, suites, and even a hot tub lakehouse. The fact that this establishment is situated on Beaver Lake means that you’ll have access to all the water sports you can think of and some excellent fishing.
All of the other amenities that Eureka Springs offers, like the Ozark Mountains, are also only a short drive away.
8. Lookout Lodge, Eureka Springs
- Price per Night: From $66
- Best For: Couples, Families, Long stays, Short stays
- Availability: Limited
Lookout Lodge is another great accommodation in Eureka Springs amidst the Ozark Mountains. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly and quaint, then this little motel will be perfect for you and your new spouse.
All of the furniture featured in the rooms has been handmade by local craftsmen, which gives them a cozy, quaint feel.
If you’re willing to spend a little more, then you can get a room with a private hot tub, and you can even choose to have breakfast brought to your room every morning!
9. Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa, Mount Ida
- Price per Night: From $185
- Best For: Short stays, Long stays, Couples, Families
- Availability: Easy to book
Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa is based in Mount Ida, which is only a 40-minute drive away from Hot Springs. It is set in the Ouachita Mountain range and is on the shore of Lake Ouachita.
The resort is a great place to stay based on its location alone, but it also offers a number of great amenities. Besides the numerous watersports you can participate in at the lake, you can also go hiking on one of the trails, spend a day at the Turtle Cove Spa, and even go horseback riding.
Some of the accommodation options at the resort come with their own hot tub, so you and your partner can soak the night away after a long day of activities.
10. Inn At The Mill, Springdale
- Price per Night: From $142
- Best For: Couples, Families, Long stays, Short stays
- Availability: Easy to book
The Inn At The Mill can be found in Springdale, which is one hour away from Eureka Springs. The inn is the longest-running business in the entire state of Arkansas, so if you’re looking for historic hotels, then this quaint little inn will be perfect for you and your partner!
Despite this, the inn has been updated frequently over the years to keep up with the times. It’s even possible to get a room with a hot tub. The hot tub rooms are only one small part of the great amenities available, though, as you can also enjoy a buffet breakfast.
Some of the activities you can get up to at the inn include horseback riding and swimming in the river that runs next to the hotel.
Top Excursions & Activities To Do On Arkansas Honeymoons
Arkansas is brimming with natural beauty, and there are so many things to see and do in the state as a result. If you and your new partner love the outdoors, then there really is no better place for you to spend your honeymoon.
1. Soak in a hot spring
Hot springs are plentiful in Arkansas, but if you want to experience them, you should go to the city that is named after them! In Hot Springs, you can find Bathhouse Row. It is home to eight different bathhouse buildings, where you and your partner can soak and relax in some hot spring water.
2. Do some watersports
Rivers and lakes are also plentiful in Arkansas, so finding a place to spend a day near the water is quite easy. Some of the best lakes and rivers to visit in the state are Beaver Lake, White River, Ouachita Lake, and Buffalo River. You will easily find water sports equipment to rent at any of these places.
3. Go hiking
A trip to the Natural State wouldn’t be complete without stepping out and exploring some of its beautiful scenery. You won’t struggle to find a great place to hike in the state, but some of the best places to go include the Ouachita National Forest and the Hot Springs National Park.
4. Visit one of the parks
There are a number of great parks and conservation areas in Arkansas, but thankfully, you don’t have to hike through all of them to appreciate their beauty. The Hot Springs National Park is a great park to explore, but if you decided to stay near Eureka Springs, you should check out Pea Ridge National Military Park.
5. Visit the zoo and wildlife center
If you’d like to see some wildlife in a more up close and personal way, then you’re in luck. The Little Rock Zoo has a wide range of exotic animals to look at, and so does the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge.
Sample Itinerary & Budget For Your Honeymoon To Arkansas
In this section, we’ll provide you with a four-day sample itinerary for your honeymoon trip to Arkansas.
Day 1
Hot Springs is a great place to start your Arkansas honeymoon, as it offers many relaxing amenities that will be perfect after a long journey. You can start your day by visiting the Garvan Woodland Gardens and seeing all of the beautiful indigenous and exotic plants it houses.
After spending the morning at the gardens, it would be a good idea to check out one of the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row. Here, you and your partner can soak in some natural hot spring water.
Day 2
Now that you and your partner are well-rested, you can explore the Hot Springs National Park. There are plenty of hiking trails, but you can also take your car through the park if you would like a less tiresome way to explore.
When you get back from the park, you can head to the Gangster Museum of America to see some of America’s more infamous history. Hot Springs was once a place where some of America’s most wanted used to come to relax, and this museum has some interesting memorabilia from the era.
Day 3
Little Rock is only an hour away from Hot Springs and is definitely worth a day trip. In Little Rock, you and your partner can start by heading to the Little Rock Zoo to see all of the animals housed there. After that, you can explore some of the museums in the city.
The best museums to visit are the Museum of Discovery and the Old State Museum. Once you’ve seen everything at these museums, you can head to Park Plaza Mall, so you can get a bite to eat and do some shopping.
Day 4
On your last day in Hot Springs, you should consider taking a trip to Lake Hamilton. There are plenty of places that rent water sports equipment, so you and your partner can spend the day kayaking, canoeing, or skiing.
If you’d prefer a more relaxing last day, then you can lounge on one of the beaches around the lake and soak up some sun.
Budget
- Accommodation – $100 to $200
- Car Rental – $52
- Food and drinks – $100 to $200
- Excursions – $150
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Arkansas honeymoon cost?
An Arkansas honeymoon will vary greatly in price, depending on what hotel you stay in, what you plan to do, and where you plan to eat. We have estimated that you can have an excellent honeymoon in Arkansas for $450 per day as a couple.
When is the best time to visit Arkansas?
The best times of the year to visit Arkansas are from March to May and from September to October. Fall and Spring are great in Arkansas, as the weather is pleasant, and it isn’t too busy or expensive.
What is the best way to travel around Arkansas?
If you want to visit Arkansas for your honeymoon, it would be best to rent a car. The amenities in the state aren’t all that close together, and traveling any other way can make things difficult.
Start Planning The Perfect Romantic Honeymoon Getaway
Arkansas is an excellent place for a honeymoon, as it is the best place to get away from it all with your spouse. You can spend time at the lakes, exploring parks, or even soaking in a hot spring; the choice is yours!
Check out the Couple’s Travel Resources, so you and your fiance can start planning the perfect honeymoon.