You Can Dig for Diamonds at This State Park—and You Can Keep What You Find

Travel + Leisure

29-06-2025

Located around two hours southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas, is arguably the most unique state park in the U.S.—Crater of Diamonds State Park. This 911-acre park attracts visitors from all across the Natural State, and beyond. Why, you may ask? Because of what lies beneath the soil.
Crater of Diamonds is located on a former volcanic crater, and in 1906, a local farmer named John Huddleston found diamonds here. Since then, over 35,000 diamonds have been unearthed from the mineral-rich soil, the largest diamond ever discovered in the United States, the 40-carat 'Uncle Sam." In 1972, the property became a state park, and now, visitors can try their luck and dig for diamonds in the park's 37-acre field. Any gems, rocks, or minerals that you find—diamonds, or otherwise—are yours to keep.
The park primarily has three types of diamonds: white, yellow, and brown. You can view the diamond hunters' "Hall of Fame," at the park's Diamond Discovery Center, which showcases the most impressive gems unearthed at the park. As recently as May 2025, a visitor to the park from Minnesota found a 3.81-carat brown diamond, the largest found so far this year. However, there are other stones and gems that can be found on-site, including quartz, agate, garnet, and jasper.
If you're looking to find a treasure for yourself, the best time to go is after rain, says park superintendent Waymon Cox.
'Many of the park's largest diamonds are found on top of the ground," Cox says. "As rain falls in the search area, it washes away the dirt and uncovers heavy rocks, minerals, and diamonds near the surface.'
Admission for diamond hunting is $15 for adults and $7 for children. Aspiring rock hunters can bring their own tools or rent equipment from the park. Crater of Diamonds has things like shovels, screens, wagons, sarucas (a bowl-shaped screen covered with a fine mesh), and buckets on hand. Local stores in town also sell gem-hunting gear such as Lovejoy Diamond Screens and Murfreesboro Hardware. If you do find something, you can get it certified by the park rangers. However, Cox recommends not getting too caught up in the quest to find diamonds—there's much to appreciate at the park.
'Though most guests don't find a diamond on their first visit, there are lots of other unique and beautiful rocks and minerals to collect,' says Cox.
If you're not interested in diamond digging, Crater of Diamonds also has a seasonal water park, miles of hiking trails, and, because of its location, prime stargazing unaffected by city lights. You can spend the night (especially if you plan on spending several days mining) at the shaded campground. It has 47 sites with full hookups for RVs and tents, plus five more basic tent sites, all with access to the two bathhouses.
Whatever kind of adventure you're hoping to have at Crater of Diamonds State Park, you're sure to have a gem of a time.