Family on the Go

We love a good road trip, and when we thought about places within driving distance of St. Louis that might still have fall colors, we landed on Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The drive from St. Louis to Hot Springs is about six hours, but when we mapped the drive, we saw Little Rock was right along the way, so we decided to stay there one night. We also had to stop in Benton, Illinois before heading out, so we found a park for the boys and left from there, cutting our drive time down to four and a half hours from Benton to Little Rock.

Our day in Little Rock

Little Rock exceeded our expectations. There was a lot for the boys – and for us. It was a great stop to break up the drive and see other sites before settling in Hot Springs.

If you are in Little Rock with family, we recommend:

All Aboard Restaurant & Grill

This is perfect for train lovers and really anyone wanting a unique dining experience. There are two locations: one in Little Rock and one in Benton. We ate at the Little Rock location and had one of the best dining experiences, especially with the boys.

It’s in a small strip mall, and the second you walk in, you can tell everything is perfectly themed. The boys immediately ran to the train table and played while we ordered our food. They have an extensive menu, and everything is reasonably priced.

We grabbed the paper conductor hats for the boys, went to our table and they admired all the train décor and watched The Polar Express while we waited for our food.

The trays were delivered by train via the custom-designed tracks overhead. It was the coolest food delivery we have ever received, and it was delicious.

Little Rock Riverfront by the Clinton Library

The next morning, we woke up and drove down to the Little Rock Riverfront by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library. Since we had the boys with us, we didn’t go inside the library, but walked around the beautiful grounds and admired the views of the riverfront.

There is a pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River, so we walked along there before exploring a bit more of the area and heading to our next stop.

Central High School National Historic Site

Little Rock holds a significant place in the Civil Rights Movement, and the Central High School National Historic Site stands as a testament to the courage of the Little Rock Nine.

The visitor center has a wonderful museum, providing a great history lesson in the bravery of the Little Rock Nine and what they endured in their journey toward integration and equality. This historic site helps visitors gain profound insights into the struggle for desegregation and the pivotal role it played in shaping the nation’s history.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

We then left Little Rock but had to make one more stop at Pinnacle Mountain State Park.

This state park is well marked and extremely beautiful. There are hiking trails and overlooks throughout the park, and the prominent views of Pinnacle Mountain are breathtaking.

We drove to the visitor center, where there was a half-mile, paved trail to an overlook of the Arkansas River and then got back on the road to our final destination of Hot Springs.

Two days in Hot Springs

Our road trip continued to Hot Springs, Arkansas for the national park and family friendly attractions.

Hot Springs National Park

Our first stop in Hot Springs was the Hot Springs Mountain Tower in the national park. You can drive all the way up the mountain to a parking lot and walk right to the bottom of the tower. There, you can look around the gift shop, grab a snack, use the restroom or purchase tokens to go up the elevator to the top of the tower. Once at the top, you get 360 views of all of Hot Springs and beyond. Since we went during peak foliage, we saw amazing, colorful trees for miles.

The next morning, we went for a family hike on the west mountain. All the hiking trails throughout the park connect and most can be accessed from Bathhouse Row. The trails are well marked and vary in difficulty. The park’s hiking trails provide a scenic escape into nature, offering panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains. Hot Springs National Park seamlessly blends outdoor recreation with the soothing embrace of the thermal springs—a must-experience for any nature enthusiast.

Bathhouse Row is a unique national park experience. Many of the bathhouses have been turned into event spaces, restaurants, a visitor center and museum, gift shop and one still functions as a spa. The main street has many great shops, restaurants and cafes to visit with the family as you stroll along the road.

MidAmerica Science Museum

After a nap, we ventured to the MidAmerica Science Museum near Lake Hamilton. It’s full of interactive exhibits, engaging demonstrations and activities. We loved all the amazing exhibits inside the museum and the hands-on learning, but our favorite part was outside the museum. They have Dino Trek, where guests walk along a path with various dinosaur statues and a park-like atmosphere with a skywalk and treehouse. It was the perfect setting for a beautiful fall day.

The Purple Cow

Our last dinner in Hot Springs was at The Purple Cow. This family-friendly diner was full of purple and offered an extensive menu featuring classic American fare. The kids were delighted by the purple ice cream and shakes, and we loved the food.

The next day, we at breakfast in the hotel and took a different route back to St. Louis for a change of scenery. We did stop in Fredericktown, Missouri, which has great state parks and a cute downtown area. Top of Form

Overall, both Little Rock and Hot Springs were great destinations for our family with a lot of fun activities and attractions for all of us to enjoy. We are already talking about going back during a different time of year – or possibly going back to relax and unwind for a couple’s weekend. If you’re looking for unique national parks and historic sites or hidden gems of the Midwest, add Little Rock and Hot Springs, Arkansas to your list.