Roller Coasters in Arkansas

As for roller coasters in Arkansas, you’ll find one really great park near Hot Springs. (Which is a great place to visit on its own. I like this idea – ride theme park attractions one day and spend the next day at the spa!) Other than that, there’s not much. However, there are some decent water parks in the western part of the state.

Magic Springs

There is one major theme park in Arkansas, and it’s Magic Springs with five roller coasters. The Arkansas Twister is a large wooden out-and-back in a scenic setting. Big Bad John is a family mine train. Gauntlet is a steel inverted coaster, meaning the car hangs below the rails and your legs dangle. The X Coaster is a steel loop with a twist at the top. And the Diamond Mine Run is a kiddie coaster. (Click the links for videos! I love riding roller coasters from my couch.)

There is also a drop tower, a get-everybody-wet-including-onlookers raft ride, a log flume, and a few other kid’s rides. There’s a large water park component as well. In fact, the water area seems central with the thrill rides arranged around it. With a name like Magic Springs, I guess that’s appropriate.

Located around 10 minutes from downtown Hot Springs, the park is open from May until Labor Day, then during weekends in October for Halloween. Tickets cost ~$60 on Saturdays and ~$50 the rest of the week though you can save money by buying online ahead of time for a ticket as low as $35. Factor in $20 per car for parking as well. Check the website to see if there’s a concert during your visit! They are included in the admission price.

Fast Lane Entertainment

This next one is a tiny roller coaster in a bowling alley! Well, it’s more than a bowling alley – there’s also laser tag, bumper cars, and a virtual reality Hologate where four people at a time engage with a VR game together. And then there’s the Python Pit! A tiny little coaster, and the only one indoors. You can find this little guy in Lowell, in the northwest part of the state. A ride will set you back $6.

Funland

The Funland Amusement Park in North Little Rock is a tiny city park. It’s mostly small flat rides for toddlers, including the tiny Wildcat roller coaster. It’s a barely undulating circle with a train on it. Definitely not for adults! Tickets are $2 each, or with a ride pass for $12.

Water Parks in Arkansas

• In the Magic Springs water park section, you’ll find a 7-slide tower, another tower with four more, and a racing mat slide. And there’s a wave pool, lazy river, and kids’ play areas. There’s one small pool, almost all the way to Big Bad John, called The Magic Spring. It’s colder than the regular pools and is just a spot to chill out. Though these days, it looks like it’s reserved for private parties. Included in park admission, $60 and under.
• Parrot Island in Fort Smith is a decent-sized water park with 5 slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and a flow rider (a surfer’s treadmill sorta thing.) Their newest slide looks really fun. $20 and under.
• Holiday Springs in Texarkana has 5 slides, a lazy river and wave pool, plus a fun sandcastle-building area. A splash tower and activity pool for kids round out the options. $33 and under.
• Crenshaw Springs in White Hall features 4 slides, a small lazy river, some areas for smaller kids, and a fun climbing wall over the pool (so you land in the water if you fall off.) $12 and under.
• Dunkin Wall Water Park in Manila has two slides and a diving board, plus some play areas. $7 admission.
• Since this is Arkansas, there are lots more natural water spots that you can enjoy without the slides and river tubes.

Did I miss anything? Have you been to any of these parks? What are you looking forward to doing this summer? Let me know in the comments below!