Hot Springs National Park to Crater of Diamonds State Park

As both Crater of Diamonds State Park and Hot Springs National Park are some of the top destinations in Arkansas, it would only make sense to visit both. The question becomes when, how, and why. Both parks are connected by road and are quite close to each other.

Crater of Diamonds is in southwest Arkansas while Hot Springs is more in central Arkansas, between Little Rock and Crater of Diamonds. Without further waiting, let’s see how you can connect from Hot Springs National Park to Crater of Diamonds State Park!

How far is Crater of Diamonds from Hot Springs

The two parks are exactly 48 miles from each other or 58 miles by road. From Hot Springs, Crater of Diamonds is an easy day trip, as driving from one park to the other takes just over an hour.

What’s the fastest route between Hot Springs and Crater of Diamonds

This all depends on the day, but generally, the shortest and quickest route is via routes 27 and 70. This route is 58 miles long and takes just over an hour. The road is mostly a single lane on each side but does expand to two lanes before entering Hot Springs.

Another way you could go is via Arkadelphia and Degray Lake, this drive is a bit longer but is a fantastic alternative route. The town of Arkadelphia is connected by Amtrak, so if you want to take the train to Little Rock, Dallas, or even Chicago, you can connect directly from this town.

Hot Springs to Crater of Diamonds without a car

Neither Hot Springs nor Crater of Diamonds would be considered urban by any means, meaning that public transportation isn’t too great. With that said, you can connect between the parks without a car. Uber, Lyft, and rental cars are all available. Uber and Lyft will run you over $100 each way while a rental car will cost $75 for a day.

Stops between Crater of Diamonds and Hot Springs

If you’re traveling from Route 70, the only place you’ll pass on your way is a small town named Glenwood. There are some places to eat here and it’s a great place to take a break.

If you’re traveling via Arkadelphia, there’s much more to do. You’ve got hotels, supermarkets, and a train station. Go a bit north to DeGray Lake Resort State Park for beautiful views of DeGray Lake and the surrounding area.

Best time to travel between Hot Springs and Crater of Diamonds

Let’s first start with temperature. Winters are a bit cold as temperatures occasionally dip below freezing and summers are just too hot. I made a separate blog post on the best time of year to visit Crater of Diamonds State Park and concluded that spring and fall are the most ideal time weather-wise.

As far as crowds, both Crater of Diamonds and Hot Springs can get crowded. Some say Hot Springs is the most overcrowded national park in the country, and cite that summer is often the peak season.

If you avoid summers, then you should be fine as crowds are quite low the rest of the year. If you want the best time to find diamonds at Crater of Diamonds, it’s usually winter as the low crowds bring a higher chance of finding diamonds.

Should I visit Crater of Diamonds from Hot Springs

In short, absolutely! It’s quite a short and convenient drive, making it the perfect day trip. Diamond hunting is also a fun and unique thing to do. As long as you know all the best tips when digging for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds, you’ll be well on your way to discovering this precious mineral.