Crater Of Diamonds State Park Murfreesboro Ar
Our visit to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Ark., was the first Arkansas State Park that we have camped at and we were very impressed with our first experience. We have heard from Touring Camper readers that several other Arkansas state parks are just as nice, so we will have to visit Arkansas again to check out more. In addition to the great campground, Crater of Diamonds boasts the only diamond-producing area in the world where the public can come and search for diamondsand keep whatever diamonds they find! We spent a day trying to find those elusive little gemstones and while we had a great time we did not have the keen eyes that other park guests have had in the past year. The day before we arrived, a sixth grader found the largest diamond of 2016!
Crater of Diamonds State Park had been on our radar for a few years: We originally planned to visit back in 2015 when we were headed out West with my dad. But when he could no longer go on the trip, we shortened our itinerary and had to eliminate many stops. Ever since then our kiddos have been begging to go look for diamonds. When we learned that we were headed to Texas, we knew at stop in Murfreesboro was in order.
Campground:
- Site 23
- Site 23
Bathrooms:
Amenities:
Touring:
Cost: $107.52 for 3 nights of full hook up
Crater Of Diamonds Campground To Little Missouri River
Check out this 1.6-km out-and-back trail near Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 19 min to complete. This trail is great for birding, camping, and fishing, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.
Walking The Surface Area
You dont have to bring fancy tools to mine for diamonds. Many people simply walk around the fields and look for shiny objects eroded on the surface. Many visitors have found a rough diamond this way, and the locals swear by it! Keep your eyes peeled for sparkles from the ground since diamonds glimmer from all directions due to their metallic luster.
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Inside Crater Of Diamonds State Park
Obviously, the number one reason to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park is for the diamond mining. After all, who wouldnt want to find their very own precious gem to take home? That said, this is far from the only thing to do in the park, and we highly recommend checking out the other activities offered by the park during your visit.
Some cool experiences and activities at the park include:
Walking/Hiking The park boasts a variety of lovely, easy-to-walk trails. Take advantage of this and go on a hike to check out some of the beautiful Arkansas wildlife that likes to hang out in the park.
Water Play One of the more unique features of Crater of Diamonds is the amazing water park located onsite. This amazing water play area is tons of fun and the perfect way to cool off on a hot, Arkansas summer day. There are admission fees to use the water park, so be aware of this and plan to spend the whole day.
Fishing Everybody loves a relaxing day spent fishing. Use one of your days in this fabulous park doing just that.
Interpretive Programs Want to learn more about the park? The ranger-led programs offered here are a great opportunity to learn something new and interesting, all while having a great time.
Camping Crater Of Diamonds State Park In Arkansas
Posted by: 50 Campfires in Arkansas, Locations
< h4> Camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park< /h4> All of the campsites at Crater of Diamonds State Park include tents, electrical hookup, water hookup, 30 or 50 amp services, showers, and dump stations. Crater of Diamonds State Park does an excellent job of providing campers with everything they need to enjoy their camping experience.< h4> Amenities at Crater of Diamonds State Park< /h4> The park also includes an enclosed pavilion that can be rented. The pavilions are air-conditioned and they have restrooms. The pavilion can be rented for $80 to be used from 8AM to 10PM. Individuals also have to pay a clean-up deposit fee. There is also the option of renting the pavilion by the hour for $20. Lastly, there is an additional fee of $20 of you are hosting a group of more than 50 people in the pavilion.< h4> Things to do at Crater of Diamonds State Park< /h4> Crater of Diamonds State Park is presently the only diamond-producing site that is open to public usage. Naturally, the number one reason why individuals come to this park is to go hunting for diamonds. The Diamonds Spring Water Park is another one of the main attractions of this beautiful park. It is the perfect place for campers or diamond hunters to take a break and enjoy the miniature aquatic playground. Individuals can also stop by the gift shop to by a souvenir to take home with them so they can always remember their experience at Crater of Diamonds State Park.
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Disappointed In Tent Camping And Diamond Mining
The campground areas were not up to other State Parks we have visited. It seemed to be more of a money maker tourist attraction then a State Park. There were no programs to attend , which we enjoy when staying at State Parks. Every thing was Diamond mining! Other nature related activities would have been nice.The tent “walk-in” sites were way to close. It was like having a sleep over with 5 other families. VERY small sites. We had pre- paid and then needed to change the days.. We were unable to get our money back for the one day , simply because we prepaid. I had called to change the reservation a few weeks in advance as well as telling them when we checked in. Still no refund. Bad customer service in my opinion. $8.00 a day per person for mining is a bit steep. We didn’t even get a discount for staying in the campground. And the “Water Park” was for very little kids anyone over the age of 7 would not enjoy it. Again over priced at $6.00 a day.. Very much a tourist attraction. If you are a regular camper you may be disappointed. The actual diamond mining was fun. We weren’t lucky enough to find any but still had fun.
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My kids say I must write that children do not want to ever leave here. They explored, made some friends from another state and got covered in this super slick muckety-muck! This was messy but fun. Good way to enjoy time with your family. 🙂
Camping At Crater Of Diamonds State Park
by Blogger | Oct 8, 2020 | Uncategorized
For a really exciting family adventure take a family camping vacation at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. Crater of Diamonds Park is the only diamond producing site in the world that allows the public to come in, camp, and go digging for diamonds. You even get to keep any diamonds that you might find. Visitors to the park have found many different types and sizes of diamonds but the diamonds that are most often found are white, brown and yellow diamond.
You can bring your own diamond hunting equipment with you if you want, but nothing that is motorized or has wheels. Making sifting screens at home is easy and cheap and a great art project for the kids. Also bring a few buckets and a few shovels or trowels, and definitely bring some gloves. If you dont want the hassle of bringing your own equipment you can rent buckets, shovels, and sifting screens at the park for less than $10.
There are lots of other types of rocks to be found at Crater of Diamonds Park too. Visitors can find lamproite, amethyst, banded agate, jasper, peridot, garnet, quartz, calcite, barite and hematite, among others. Best of all, any precious stones or diamonds that you find on the site are yours to keep, even if they are large and valuable! The kids will love prospecting for diamonds and other stones, but there are also acres of land that are great for hiking and other activities.
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What Is Crater Of Diamonds State Park
About an hour south of Hot Springs National Park lies Crater of Diamonds State Park, famous for its 37.5-acre diamond-bearing plowed field one of the 8th largest diamond mines in the world. Diamonds and gemstones occur naturally here due to a volcanic eruption that brought the diamonds to the Earths surface, making them easily accessible.
Crater of Diamonds is the worlds only publicly open diamond mine where diamonds found may be kept. More than 33,000 diamonds have been found at this Arkansas diamond mine since becoming a state park in 1972. The diamond-rich soil of Pike County is why Arkansas is called the Diamond State.
Rv Resorts & Campsites In Crater Of Diamonds State Park
Tent camping during your trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park is fine, but the best way to camp is in an RV. By choosing an RV, youre opting for comfort and convenience during your diamond digging adventure.
Fortunately, getting your hands on the perfect RV doesnt even need to be a challenge, thanks to the hundreds of rentals available through RVshare. These rentals come in all shapes and sizes and at every price range imaginable, meaning youre sure to find something to suit your needs perfectly.
Want another bit of good news? This particular state park has an entire campground onsite. The campground is complete with water, sewer, and electric hookups at every site, as well as a dump station, two modern bathhouses, and even free Wi-Fi for campers. With so many amenities, you can stay right in the middle of the action without sacrificing anything in the way of comfort.
Unfortunately, this onsite RV park can fill up quite quickly. Therefore, you may want to know a bit about other options nearby.
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Things To Know When Visiting Crater Of Diamonds State Park
Most Arkansans have heard about our unique state park where you can dig for diamonds, but did you know that you can also camp at Crater of Diamonds State Park? This park has so much to offer, you really need to spend the weekend to enjoy it all. My family and three other families did just that recently, and here are a few things that I learned.
Crater Of Diamonds State Park
Campground – Pike County | Arkansas
Crater of Diamonds State Park – Campground is located in Pike County, Arkansas, United States. Address of Crater of Diamonds State Park – Campground is Murfreesboro, AR 71958, USA. Crater of Diamonds State Park – Campground has quite many listed places around it and we are covering at least 24 places around it on Helpmecovid.com.
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Where Is Crater Of Diamonds State Park
The park is in Murfreesboro in west-central Arkansas, located in the Ouachita Mountains. The Ouachita and Ozark Mountains are the most prominent mountain ranges between the Rockies and Appalachians and are breathtaking.
The Ouachitas are home to other incredible parks in Arkansas, such as Mount Magazine State Park, home to the tallest mountain in the state.
The diamond park is roughly two hours away from Little Rock, the state capital, and Pinnacle Mountain State Park.
Are The Diamonds Worth Anything
You might be wondering if there is a catch at this point. There is not!
Anything miners find at the diamond mine is theirs to keep . So, diamonds, rocks, minerals, historical artifacts, treasures its all finders keepers!
Visitors are constantly finding diamonds. The biggest diamond ever found in the rough weighed 40.23 carats and was named Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam is a white diamond and is the largest diamond ever unearthed in the USA. A local Arkansas woman discovered the famous uncut Esperanza diamond in 2015. The Esperanza was the largest found since 2015, weighing over eight ounces uncut.
In addition, there have been many quality diamonds found at the park weighing a carat. One such find, the Strawn-Wagner Diamond, is a flawless triple zero diamond listed by the American Gem Society and is worth a lot of money.
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How Do You Know If You Found A Diamond
Save all potential mined diamonds and gemstones in a small paper bag provided by the park. Take findings to the on-site gemologist to be inspected. Visitors can find the gemologist at the Diamond Discovery Center, where the rental equipment is.
Even if you dont find a diamond, the gemologist will teach miners about the rocks, gems, and minerals found, which is a great experience. If you dont see a diamond, you can still find amethyst, garnet, jasper, quartz, or semi-precious stones.
Other Arkansas State Parks Close By
Arkansas is also known as the Natural State thanks to its beautiful hiking trails and landscapes. However, many people dont realize that there are excellent parks to explore in the state. From the Buffalo National River to Hot Springs National Park, theres plenty of outdoor adventure in Arkansas.
Visit Mount Nebo State Park for one of the best sunset views in the state and an overlook of Lake Dardanelle. Devils Den and Petit Jean State Park wont disappoint for excellent hiking, camping, and mountain biking through fantastic scenery in western Arkansas.
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Final Thoughts On Diamond Mining In Arkansas
For a one-of-a-kind prospecting experience in the Diamond State, make your way to Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas and go mining for diamonds! You can camp out under the stars while there and take advantage of the short hiking trails. The park is open every day from 8 am to 4 pm, so plan your visit soon. This is the perfect summer activity. Who knows, maybe youll leave with a sparkling natural diamond in hand.
This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geeks.
Ashlee Fechino
Ashlee Fechino is an outdoor recreation writer and founder of The Happiness Function. Her goal is to help inspire people to build a life they love by sharing how simple and fun it is to travel locally, connect with nature, and explore off-the-beaten-path. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or use a ton of vacation time to explore close to home. Ashlee holds a BS degree in Biology and MS in Environmental Policy & Sustainability and has a passion for the outdoors. She is married to an expat Argentine, Pablo! They camp in their Aliner often and love road trips and hiking. You can read more about them at thehappinessfxn.com.
Crater Of Diamonds State Park Camping
The Crater of Diamonds State Park includes a tree-shaded campground featuring 47 Class AAA campsites and five Walk-in Tent Sites. The campground includes two modern bathhouses with hot showers. A dump station is on-site. Note: Tents are not included. When a tent is listed, this means it has a tent pad.
Check out our reservation policies.
“Connect your heart and mind to a special place when you visit an Arkansas state park.”- Arkansas State Parks
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”- Helen Keller
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”- John Muir
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”- Rachel Carson
“A true conservationist knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”- John James Audubon
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children.”- Theodore Roosevelt
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What To Know
One of the only places in the world where the public can search for real diamonds in their original volcanic source, Crater of Diamonds is a one-of-a-kind experience that brings people from all over the world to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. Visitors to the park search a 37-acre field, the eroded surface of a volcanic crater, for a variety of rocks, minerals, and gemstones and any rock or mineral you find is yours to keep. You may bring your own mining equipment to search with , or rent tools from the park.
Diamond Springs Water Park