Digging for Diamonds in Arkansas at Crater of Diamonds State Park

My daughters and I take a few impromptu trips each year. We get bored, and we just decide to get up and go anywhere within driving distance. I had recently heard about a park in Arkansas where people could go dig for diamonds. Anything you find…you keep! So why not drag my daughters and my oldest daughter’s bestie, Kyle, to go dig for diamonds. (Kyle goes on a lot of our trips, so you will likely hear and see more of him).

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The drive is brutal, but we played so many car games to pass the time. Sometimes traveling with the right people is more important than where you choose to go. We were literally driving in the middle of nowhere and having the most fun! It took us about 4 hours to drive to Murfreesboro, Arkansas. 4 hours is not a long drive for us, but this one seems extra long due to the lack of scenery. Bring your best car game ideas!
2. We decided to drive there on a nice day and spend the night (without a reservation), and then go dig the following day. Little did we know, it rained the whole next day. However, it turned out that playing in the mud was the best! Pro tip: Check the weather 😉
3. Because we did not reserve a hotel, we ended up in a room meant for a 1970’s Griswald’s vacation. The town is very small and very old, so there are very few decent hotel rooms. It is a great idea to do your research and book in advance. When we go again, we will likely look at booking one of these: https://www.diamondscabins.com/ , rather than going to the Dollar General to get air fresheners so the smell in our room would be bearable. My girls still talk about that dirty motel room and we all have a good laugh.
4. There are very few restaurant options as well, which means that this is a very budget-friendly trip. We hit the local Sonic for $1 breakfast burritos in the morning, and ordered a pizza from Pizza Inn for dinner.
5. The diamond crater….there have been several BIG diamond discoveries at this park, and remember, whatever you find is yours to keep or sell. After reading several articles online, I went there with dreams of finding a 50 carat that would make me a millionaire, so we were digging rain or shine. It costs $12 -$15 to rent the digging equipment (with a $45-$70 refundable deposit upon return) plus admission of $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-12, and free for under 6. Bring cash for the refundable deposit. If I remember correctly, the admission can be done on a credit card but the deposit cannot.
6. Before or after digging, there is a small water park on site. We did not go to the water park because it was an additional $10 for adults and $6 for children, and we were exhausted from digging.
7. I cannot tell you how much fun we had! This trip was a lot of digging, sifting, and tiptoe-ing through our dirty motel room, but it was one of the best. We didn’t strike it rich with diamonds, but we did make memories that will last a lifetime!