CRATER OF DIAMONDS STATE PARK

Crater of Diamonds State Park is located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas and is a one-of-a-kind State Park that allows visitors to search for and keep diamonds and a variety of other minerals for a modest fee. The diamond field is located on an eroded volcanic crater.  Lamproite magma brought the diamonds up to the surface through a volcanic pipe. The park plows the field occasionally to help loosen the soil. Diamonds have been found on the land since 1906 with Uncle Sam (40.23 carats), and Amarillo Starlight (16.37 carats), being the largest  diamonds to be found on the land that is now Crater of the Diamonds State Park. Smaller diamonds are found almost daily at the Park. We were not lucky enough to find one. #diamondswerenotagirlsbestfriend




Tip: Once you leave the highway and head to the park entrance you will be on a winding country road. When towing an RV to the Park adhere to the speed limit and watch the road as we encountered a lot of logging truck traffic.

This was our maiden voyage in our T@B 320 teardrop RV and we were not disappointed. The campground at the Park was very nice. The sites are paved and include sewer hook-up, water,  50 amp  service, a picnic table, campfire ring and a hook to hang your garbage or food off the ground away from wildlife. The campground also includes two nice bathhouses, a laundry, dump station and free Wi-Fi. A tent pad is also included if you are tenting. The Little Missouri River is near the campground and makes for a nice hike. Fishing is also allowed in the park, with a license. We were too early to go to Diamond Springs Water Park - it is open from Memorial Weekend through Labor Day and is located in the State Park.

Plowed diamond bearing field

The Park offers pails, trowels, wood screen boxes and shovels for rent to assist your search. Basic and advanced diamond hunting kits are also available. We rented the basic kit and it included everything we needed for a fun-filled diamond-hunting day. There are several ways to search for diamonds- use a screen to sift loose soil, dig up soil and take it to a washing station and hand sort the concentrate (the water was so cold that our hands were bright red after washing) or simply walk the field and look for diamonds. 

Historic Building located on the diamond field.

The town square in Murfreesboro has a few antique and rock shops as well as a small cafe and ice cream shop. There is not a huge selection of restaurants nearby but we did find a nice Mexican restaurant not too far from the square (the guacamole was AH-MAZE-ING). There is no grocery store in town or near the park, so we suggest stocking up on groceries before you leave the highway. Because we took a few day trips, we were able to pick up a few thing we had forgotten at one of the many Walmarts we saw - it seemed as if there was a Walmart at every exit as we traveled through Arkansas!

Another spot we committed to visiting while in the area was Little Rock, which is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Crater of the Diamonds State Park. While there we visited the William J. Clinton Presidential Center. The exhibits at the center include The Presidential Limousine, the Cabinet Room, historical documents, gifts the Clinton's received, State Events and the Early Years, to list a few. There were also significant items like Hillary' Clinton's Inauguration gown and a Chihuly piece that is intricate and amazing.

On our way back to our home state, we stopped at Hot Springs National Park located between Crater of the Diamonds and Little Rock. The National Park includes part of the city of Hot Springs, where BathHouse Row is located. Fordyce Bathhouse is now the visitor center for the National Park - you should really stop in to get your National Park Stamp and souvenirs! Be sure to bring an empty water jug to fill with mineral water at one of the hot spring's fountains.

If you are pulling an RV the best place to park is at Hot Springs Visitor Center located at 629 Central Avenue. There are a few pull through spots for RVs and the parking is free. There is a clean bathroom in the visitor center and the staff was very helpful. They will provide you with a map and make suggestions on what to see.

Our experience at Buckstaff Bathhouse was truly a unique one. Some of the spas require a swimsuit and others are toga-style. Buckstaff Bath House is toga-style. When you enter the spa an attendant is assigned to you. You will be led to the locker room to lock up your clothes and personal belongings and the attendant will then wrap you in a sheet. #toga

From the locker room you will be led to a private whirlpool bathtub filled with mineral water to soak in for a 20 minutes. A loofa mitt scrub down to increase circulation was next, followed by a Hot Pack station. Here the attendant will have you lie down on a lounge chair and place hot towels on your back, shoulders hips and legs. A cold towel will be brought to you and placed on your face to cool you a bit.

Next is a 10 minute sitz bath in which you sit your bottom in a small tub with your legs and upper body out. It's a little awkward at first, but once done your hips feel awesome! Finally, five minutes in the vapor (steam) cabinet and a needle shower and you're done. PS - you would think the vapor cabinet would be claustrophobic, but it's not!

During the entire experience the attendant offered us mineral water to drink! It was an amazing step back in time experience, with the original equipment. (The included pictures give you an idea of what the equipment looks like, but we also thought the space reminded us of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest!) If you want to experience a more modern day bathhouse check out Quapaw Baths and Spa, but reservations are required.

ADVENTURE ON!