Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro, Arkansas is the world's only diamond-producing site where the public can dig for diamonds and keep what they find. The 37.5-acre plowed search field is the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic pipe — the same geological formation that produces diamonds worldwide — and visitors regularly find real diamonds. The largest diamond ever found by a park visitor was the Uncle Sam Diamond (40.23 carats) in 1924; recent years have seen multiple finds of 1–5 carats. Over 35,000 diamonds have been found since the park opened in 1972.
For reunions, Crater of Diamonds is one of the most uniquely memorable anchor activities in the South — not a typical natural area, but a shared experience that creates stories families retell for decades. The park has a campground and RV sites but no traditional lodging; Murfreesboro's small motel stock is limited. Most reunions base in Hot Springs (1 hour northeast on AR-270) and day-trip to the crater. Hot Springs National Park, Lake Ouachita, and the famous Bathhouse Row spas make Hot Springs itself a multi-day reunion destination. Crater of Diamonds works best as a full-day excursion (plan 4–6 hours of digging) combined with a Hot Springs base.
Where it is
Things to do (with the family)
Hand-curated. Every entry links to its official source so you can plan without guessing.
Diamond search field (the main event)
Pay the park admission, rent tools (or bring your own sifting screen and shovel), and dig the 37.5-acre plowed field. The park staff certifies any stone you find and tells you if it's a real diamond. The field is plowed regularly after rain to expose new surface. Budget 4–6 hours.
Official source ↗Diamond Discovery Center
The park's visitor center and museum — explains the volcanic geology, shows famous finds (including the Uncle Sam Diamond replica), and demonstrates sifting and washing techniques. Visit before hitting the field.
Official source ↗Washing and screening station
The park provides water troughs and screening stations for washing your dug earth. This is where most diamonds are identified — washing removes clay and the diamonds' luster catches the light.
Official source ↗Hot Springs National Park Bathhouse Row
1 hour northeast — the only national park in an urban downtown. The historic bathhouses along Central Avenue include the fully-operating Buckstaff Bathhouse (thermal baths, no reservations) and the Quapaw Bathhouse spa. A famous Arkansas institution.
Official source ↗Lake Ouachita State Park (Hot Springs area)
15 miles west of Hot Springs — one of the cleanest lakes in the US (zero agricultural runoff), with excellent scuba diving visibility, kayaking, and fishing. Group camping and cabins available.
Official source ↗Hot Springs downtown (Spa City)
Hot Springs has a revitalized downtown — craft breweries, art galleries, the historic Garvan Woodland Gardens, and the Arkansas Hot Springs Convention Center for group event space. A comfortable reunion base city.
Official source ↗Murfreesboro Pioneer Village
A small outdoor museum adjacent to the state park depicting 19th-century Murfreesboro — log cabins, a church, and artifacts from the lead-mining and timber era. Free; 30-minute stop.
Official source ↗Find more things to do for your Crater of Diamonds State Park reunion
The picks above are general. Inside the Reunly app, Rosi tailors local activities, meals, and printables to your actual dates, group size, ages, and budget — and saves them straight to your reunion plan.
Good for
- Unique bucket-list reunion experiences
- Families with kids who love treasure hunting
- Reunions combining Hot Springs National Park with a memorable day-trip
- Groups that want a "we actually found diamonds" story
- Budget-friendly geology and history excursions
Practical logistics
- Nearest airport
- Little Rock (LIT) — 1.5 hr drive · Hot Springs Memorial Field (HOT) — 1 hr drive (limited service)
- Group lodging
- Hot Springs: Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa (full service, group blocks), Oaklawn area hotels, Lake Hamilton vacation rentals. Murfreesboro: very limited — plan to base in Hot Springs.
- Best time to dig
- After a heavy rain — the field is washed clean and diamonds are more visible on the surface. Weekday mornings also have fewer visitors. Summer mornings before 10 AM before the heat.
- Diamond field admission
- Adult $12, child $6 (2025 rates). Tool rental additional. Personal shovels and sieves allowed.
- Groceries
- Hot Springs has full grocery options (Walmart, Kroger). Murfreesboro has a small dollar store only.
- Accessibility
- The diamond field is open plowed earth — soft ground after rain, hard-packed in dry weather. The visitor center is accessible. Field mobility is variable.
When to go
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–October) have the most comfortable digging temperatures. Go the day after a good rain for the best chance of surface-exposed finds. Summer works but the field gets hot — arrive early and plan to be back at your car by noon. Avoid the field in extreme heat (100°F+ days are common in July–August).
Best for your group size
Small group · 10–25
Groups of 10–25 can all dig together in the field. Assign sifting and washing stations so multiple people can work one excavation site.
Medium group · 25–60
Groups of 25–60: split into digging teams of 5–8 and rotate through the washing stations. The field has room for 100+ simultaneous diggers.
Large group · 60+
Groups of 60+ work well at the field (it's 37.5 acres) but Hot Springs lodging becomes the logistics challenge. Reserve rooms 3–4 months ahead.
Sample 2-day Crater of Diamonds + Hot Springs reunion
A starter agenda you can copy into Reunly's Schedule and customize for your group.
Day 1 — Hot Springs Base
- Fly into Little Rock; drive to Hot Springs (1.5 hr)
- Check into Arlington Resort or Hot Springs area hotels
- 3 PM Bathhouse Row walk — national park visitor center in the Fordyce Bathhouse (free)
- 4 PM Buckstaff Bathhouse thermal baths (walk-in welcome, no reservation needed)
- 7 PM group dinner in Hot Springs downtown
Day 2 — Crater of Diamonds
- 7:30 AM early drive to Murfreesboro (1 hr from Hot Springs)
- 9 AM Diamond Discovery Center orientation
- 9:30 AM–2 PM diamond field digging — full immersion, assign teams
- 2 PM washing station certification of finds
- 3 PM Murfreesboro Pioneer Village (free, 30 min)
- Drive back to Hot Springs or Little Rock airport
Reunion organizer tips
Visit the Diamond Discovery Center first — 30 minutes learning the geology and identification techniques dramatically improves your group's success in the field. Kids especially benefit from knowing what to look for.
Assign a "head digger" for each family group to organize their finds and carry water. Pack sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses — the field is unshaded and the Arkansas sun is intense.
If no one finds a diamond, buy one from the park gift shop (they sell certified Crater of Diamonds stones) as a memento. Many families frame their dirt sample with a diamond chip as a reunion keepsake.
Base in Hot Springs (1 hr away) and turn this into a 2-day Hot Springs + Crater of Diamonds itinerary — the Buckstaff Bathhouse thermal baths and Lake Ouachita kayaking make Hot Springs a complete 2-night reunion anchor.
How Reunly helps you plan it
Reunly is the all-in-one app made for family reunion organizers. Free to start. No credit card. Cancel anytime.
Smart guest list
Drop in any spreadsheet — Rosi (our AI) reads multi-sheet, color-coded family groups, even handwritten exports. RSVP, dietary, T-shirt, paid status all in one row.
Open in Reunly →Public RSVP link
Share one link with the whole family. They RSVP per event (Friday BBQ, Saturday dinner) without making an account. You see live counts.
Open in Reunly →Budget that adds up
Track estimated vs. actual, who paid, who still owes. Auto-creates per-guest fee rows from your registration cost.
Open in Reunly →Day-by-day schedule
Friday welcome BBQ, Saturday photo, Sunday brunch — with location, meal flag, and per-event RSVPs.
Open in Reunly →Name tags + printables
Avery 5160 sheets color-coded by family, programs, welcome packets, packing lists — auto-filled from your data.
Open in Reunly →Rosi the AI helper
Stuck on a reminder email? A budget? A timeline? Click Rosi anywhere in the app — she drafts it from your live data.
Open in Reunly →Plan your Crater of Diamonds State Park reunion with Reunly
Free to start. Build your guest list, share an RSVP link, track payments, and print name tags — no spreadsheets.
Frequently asked
What are the chances of finding a real diamond at Crater of Diamonds?
The park reports an average of 1–2 diamonds found per day by visitors, though most are very small (under 0.10 carat). Larger finds are rarer — 1+ carat diamonds are found several times per year. Visiting after heavy rain significantly improves the odds of surface-exposed finds. The park certifies all stones.
Do you keep diamonds you find at Crater of Diamonds?
Yes — that is the park's policy. Any diamond or other gemstone you find in the plowed field is yours to keep. The park staff will identify and certify your find at no additional charge.
What do you need to bring to dig for diamonds?
The park sells and rents tools (shovels, sieves, buckets). Personal shovels and mesh sifting screens are allowed. Bring sunscreen, a hat, water, snacks, and wear old clothes — the field is dusty or muddy depending on recent weather. Gardening gloves are optional but helpful.
Where is Crater of Diamonds State Park?
Murfreesboro, Arkansas — approximately 1 hour west of Hot Springs and 1.5 hours southwest of Little Rock on AR-270 West. The nearest major airport is Little Rock (LIT). Most visitors combine this with a Hot Springs National Park visit.
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Helpful planning guides
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Read the guide →Family reunion budget guide
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