6 Helpful Tips for Visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park

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A few years ago, I originally visited Arkansas to see a friend who had recently moved to the Northwest region of the state. She had hung out with in Portland, so it was only right I returned the favor. That said, if I was gonna fly all the way to dang Arkansas, I might as well turn it into a road trip – and on that Arkansas road trip itinerary was visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park.

I know, spoiler right?

I had briefly seen a mention of the park on social media, but aside from that I didn’t know too much about visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park. But even if I did, I’ve only been once. So with that in mind, I’ve enlisted the help of fellow blogger Catherine from Postcard Narrative to help round out all the best tips for visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park so you can have the best experience!

She also supplied most of the photos in this post cuz y’all know how bad I am at taking pictures haha.

What is Crater of Diamonds State Park

First and foremost, why they heck would you even consider visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park? What’s special about it?

Located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas (or about 2 hours from Little Rock), the Crater of Diamonds State Park is…well it’s a 911-acre plot of dirt with diamonds. Like, literally, that’s the gist of it.

It’s easy to forget that diamonds come from the ground – and in this instance, the park is actually the eroded surface of a volcanic crater. Crater of Diamonds State Park is the ONLY place in the world where the public can (legally) search for real diamonds in their original source. Who knew Arkansas would be that place??

Along with diamonds, you can also find gemstones, precious minerals, and…well, other pretty rocks. While not everyone finds a diamond, especially not one of notable size, whatever you DO find you can keep which is a major draw. Plus it’s just a fun and unique activity in general. If you’re in the area, why not go??

Costs and Fees

While the actual state park does not have any entry fee (woo!), the mining plot does have a daily entrance fee. And by daily, I mean DAILY. So if you’re camping at the Crater of Diamonds State Park and want to dig on multiple days, you’ll need to purchase new admission for each day.

The price (in USD) is as follows:

• Adults – $15
• Youth (age 6-12) –$7
• Children (under 6) – $0

You can also rent equipment to help excavate your finds, buuuut it’s not cheap. Plus, there is a deposit hold on top of the rental price until the device is returned. Rentals must be returned daily, so if you want to dig on multiple days you will have to pick up (and pay) a new rental every day. Here are the current prices:

• Box Screen – $5 rental with $20 deposit
• GI Folding Shovel – $5 rental with $20 deposit
• 3.5 Gallon Bucket – $5 rental with $10 deposit
• Kneeling Pad – $5 rental with $5 deposit
• Long Shovel – $6 rental with $10 deposit
• Screen Set – $8 rental with $20 deposit
• Saruca – $8 rental with $40 deposit
• Wagon – $12 rental with $40 deposit

Or if you come with nothing you can opt for a basic or advanced kit:

• Basic Kit (army shovel, screen set, 3.5-gallon bucket) – $15 rental with $45 deposit
• Advanced Kit (army shovel, screen set, 3.5-gallon bucket, saruca) – $20 rental with $70 deposit

Of course, if you want to save money you can always bring your own supplies! I’d recommend at least bringing a shovel and a bucket!

Tips for Visiting Crater of Diamonds

Alright now let’s get into the nitty gritty part! How do you actually find diamonds when visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park? Here are a few of the best tips that Catherine and I suggest so you can have the best chance of striking gold – or rather any cool rock – during your visit.

What to Wear

First off, you’ll want to dress appropriately when visiting Crater of Diamonds so you are comfortable and set up for success when looking for diamonds.

If you really want to go searching for minerals, you should expect to get dirty, since all the good stuff will involve digging and sifting through dusty volcanic soil for hours. This is not the place to wear your Met Gala backup outfits. Wear old clothes and even older shoes. I would advise against anything white, but I also wouldn’t suggest black either.

There is VERY little (aka NONE WHATSO EVER) shade in the diamond field, so wear light breathable clothing with a wide-brimmed hat. I’d also highly recommend gloves, even if they aren’t outdoor-specific gloves. It will help keep your hands safe from scratches as well as sun exposure. On that note, be sure to ring sunscreen too and REGULARLY reapply.

Yes, even if you’re Black or brown – my melanated friends, let me hold your hand when I say this, we need sunscreen too. Don’t worry, I put together a list of my favorite sunscreen brands for darker skin tones that don’t leave a white or grey caste.

Packing List

On that note, while you’re visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park, you’re not gonna wanna go in and out of the park. But of course you need to eat and be fueled in order to dig up all the diamonds, so you’ll want to bring everything you need for the day with you.

Bring plenty of snacks and a picnic lunch in a cooler. Honestly, it’s worth renting a wagon to pull your cooler along with you and your bucket. Even walking back and forth from the parking lot to grab something from a cooler in the car takes a lot of time.

But if you’re not into bringing your own food or don’t have a cooler (I didn’t), you can take a short break for lunch at the Kimberlite Cafe nearby that serves up traditional diner type food.

You should also bring small sealed containers to store unique finds throughout the day, as it’s easy to lose little gems that you make pack away in your pockets. If you are visiting with kids or people who may not be as interested in digging for hours, bring a picnic blanket/mat and a large umbrella for shade if possible.

Of course, if you’re flying in like I was…that’s not as easy, but if you’re local to the area it helps a ton.

Arrive Early

Once you’re dressed and packed and ready to go, you’ll want to plan on arriving early when you’re visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park.

I’d recommend arriving at opening if possible, to avoid both the crowds and the peak heat (depending on when you visit). You have your pick of the crop for good digging spots and move around before other people start to sift through the area. If you do spend all day, it’s good to wrap up about two hours before closing time to help skip lines for rental returns, gem identification, and cleaning up before you go.

Know What You’re Looking For

One of the most important tips for finding diamonds while visiting Crater of Diamonds is to actually KNOW what a diamond looks like. Most people, understandably, will assume diamonds will sparkle and shine in the dirt because…well, that’s how we’re used to seeing them.

But these are RAW diamonds, and they look a little different.

Raw diamonds often have a rough exterior, looking closer to ordinary rocks and pebbles. That said, they are usually opaque and slightly translucent. They aren’t CLEAR like glass, but instead have an almost oily film to them where you can see into them, but not through them.

The most common colors of raw diamonds you’ll find at Crater of Diamonds specifically are white, brown, and yellow, in that order. Diamonds are weighed and certified free of charge for the finder.

The park also offers free rock and mineral identification at the Diamond Discovery Center, so feel free to bring other cool things you find; common gems and minerals at Crater of Diamonds are amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, and quartz (which often gets mistaken for diamonds!)

Go After it Rains

Another huge tip for finding diamonds while visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park is to actually go AFTER it rains. It might seem counterintuitive because it’ll be muddy, but rain helps wash diamonds up to the surface. When rain falls on the plowed rows of the search area, it washes away the lighter dirt and leaves heavier rocks, minerals, and diamonds exposed to the surface.

It can also make the digging process easier as the ground will be softer…sometimes even TOO soft. You might want to swap your shoes for rubber boots, but just make sure whatever shoe you have as good tread.

Relax your shoulders and walk slowly, taking small steps when walking on hills to avoid slipping in the mud. If possible stick to walking on exposed gravel rather than straight mud, since they are more solid and you’ll be less likely to slip or SINK into the mud. Lace up good cuz you might even lose a shoe.

But the bright side is that your chances of finding diamonds and other cool gems goes up! Plus, the cleanup area at the mine entrance has pressurized sprayers and metal grating so you can hopefully wash off most of the mud from your tools and shoes/boots on your way out.

Kid-Friendly Digging

One of the best things about visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park is that it is completely kid friendly! Even if they aren’t as keen on digging in the dirt for hours (though….they probably will be), there is plenty of room to run and make up their own games while you are hunched over your digging spot.

If your kids are interested in digging, equip them with small garden trowels, short handled shovels, kitchen strainers, and toy construction trucks for good measure.

More Activities at Crater of Diamonds

Beyond diamond digging, visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park offers additional outdoor activities, like fishing and water recreation, picnic areas, hiking trails, wildlife and bird watching, and an Arkansas State Park Explorer Program for Kids.

The various interpretive programs help visitors learn more about diamond mining, which I recommend because the Park Interpreters not only give you background information on the area and the mining industry, but they also give you their insights on where to start your digging.

There is a mining themed pool with water slides at the park for a separate admission ( $10 USD per person over the age of 2). It is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day and features spray geysers, sprayers, water jets, animated waterspouts, cascades, two water slides, and waterfall hideaways. A spacious deck with pool furniture surrounds the pool.

Camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park

The fun of visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down! If you are prepared, you can have your own experience camping at Crater of Diamonds!

I personally did not do this, so these recommendations are all coming straight from Catherine! Take it away Catherine!

The park offers a well-maintained campground within walking distance of the diamond search area, making it an ideal base for visitors who want to spend multiple days digging. There’s a mix of tent sites, RV sites, and group camping areas.

The campground has plenty of amenities to accommodate tent and RV campers, including:

• Electric & Water Hookups for convenience and comfort.
• Shaded & Open Sites to suit different camping preferences.
• Restrooms & Hot Showers available for all campers.
• A Playground next to the restroom building.
• A Dump Station for waste disposal.
• Fire Rings & Picnic Tables at each campsite for outdoor cooking and dining.

While advanced reservations are highly recommended, the park does maintain a limited number of first-come, first-served sites. These fill up quickly, especially on weekends and during peak season, so arriving early in the day is advisable. These are typically better suited for small campers or tents. Large RV owners will definitely want to plan ahead and snag a reservation.

If you plan on visiting Crater of Diamonds and camping with kids,  pack toy boats or build your own with natural materials to take full advantage of the campground creek! Before you go, check out this list of Camping Hacks for Families.

Best Time for Visiting Crater of Diamonds

Now that we’ve fully convinced you to visit, WHEN should you go? I mean, honestly whenever is convenience for you, but if you do get the choice, here’s a breakdown of the different seasons.

Spring: Ideal Weather & Diamond Hunting Conditions

Spring offers the most favorable conditions for both camping and diamond hunting. Mild temperatures make outdoor activities comfortable, and the frequent rain showers help expose diamonds on the surface, increasing the likelihood of discovery. 

Digging and camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park is a stellar spring break destination. 

Summer: Crowds & Heat

Summer brings larger crowds and high temperatures. 

Visitors should plan for intense sun exposure by bringing wide-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and plenty of water. If you’re camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park in the summer, you’ll appreciate the shaded sites and cooling equipment such as battery-powered fans.

Fall: Pleasant Temps & Fewer Visitors

Autumn provides cooler temperatures and reduced visitor numbers, making it one of the best times for relaxed camping at Crater of Diamonds State Park.  

Winter: Off-Season Perks 

Winter camping is possible, though temperatures can drop significantly. The park remains open year-round, but some amenities may operate on a reduced schedule. 

Fewer visitors means quieter campgrounds, better access to prime digging spots, and less lines for rentals and gem inspection.

Conclusion

And that’s all folks! Hopefully you feel comfortable and well-equipped for visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park. It’s definitely one of the most unique state parks in Arkansas if not the entire country, and worth a stop if you’re in the area.

I want to give another shoutout to Catherine from Postcard Narrative for her help with this post. Please be sure to check out her site, especially if you’re looking for savvy family travel content!

And that’s it from us! Do you have any more questions about visiting Crater of Diamonds State Park? Any suggestions of your own? Let me know in the comments below! Happy diamond hunting everyone!

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