Crater of Diamonds State Park Information

The diamond search area is open the same hours as the Visitor Center. The search area is a 36.5 acre field of diamond bearing soil known as Lamporite. Weather permitting, the field is plowed routinely to turn fresh soil and make the soil easier to search through. Historical structures, old mining equipment, washing pavilions and restrooms are located on the search area.

Tickets to search for diamond are $6.00 for adults, ages 13 years old and older, $3.00 for children, ages 6 years to 12 years of age, children under 6 years old are free. Tickets are purchased at the front desk in the Visitor Center. Tickets are good from the time you purchase them until the end of that day. Tickets purchased late in the day are the same price as those purchased earlier in the day. Tickets are purchased each day, or you may purchase a Multi-Use Ticket, which has 20 admissions for $75.00. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, tickets purchased after 6:00 p.m. are good for the next day.

Tools are not necessary for diamond searching. A good way to search for diamonds is to walk up and down the rows looking for diamonds lying on top of the ground. However, most visitors do like to dig in the soil. Therefore, you have the options of bringing your own tools from home or you may purchase or rent tools here.

You may use anything that does not have a motor on it, or has wheels on it for transporting equipment in and out of the search area. People bring anything from small flower bed trowels to full size shovels. Some visitors choose to make their own sifting screens and bring them. It is your choice.

If you choose get tools at the park, then you can purchase the small flowerbed trowels and cultivators in the gift shop. These tools cost $1.37 each with tax. If you prefer renting tools, we have several different size shovels and screens for you to choose from.

The most commonly rented items are listed below. Along with the rental fee, a deposit is charged on each items to make sure the visitor returns the equipment and that the equipment is returned in good condition. The deposit amount is refunded to the visitor when the tools are returned.

Above equipment available in the gift shop in the Visitor Center. Various other equipment available for rent Memorial Day through Labor Day from the Equipment Rental Shed.

There is no overnight lodging in the park. The nearest lodging is in Murfreesboro, 2 miles away. We have camping in the park, 60 sites all with water and electric hook-ups.

There are two bathhouses in the campground with hot showers and modern restrooms. There is a centrally located dump station. The price is $13.50 per night without tax. All campers must register at the Visitor Center before occupying a campsite. If you arrive after the Visitor Center is closed, select a vacant site and register the next morning at 8:00 A.M. Discounted camping rates are available for U.S. Citizens who are 65 years of age and older, or have a Golden Age Passport Card, or are 100% disabled. Proof of age or 100 % disability required. The only items accepted for proof of 100 % disability are; a letter from Veteran's Administration, an Arkansas D.V. license plate, a letter from a personal physician, a letter from Railroad Retirement, or the Civil Service dated within the last two years, stating "100% Disable" or "Permanent and Total Disability". No other forms of proof are acceptable. We do not accept the "Golden Access Card".

Camping reservations are accepted, but not needed other than holiday weekends. Reservations are accepted 12 months in advance. Reservations require a 1night minimum stay Sunday - Thursday, a 2 night minimum stay on Friday and Saturday nights, and a 3 night minimum stay on holiday weekends. All reservations require a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit, which is the first night's camping fee. Reservations are accepted by calling the park office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. We do not take reservations via Internet.

Firewood and bagged ice are available year round at the Visitor Center. Firewood is $2.11 per bundle with tax. Bagged Ice is $1. Laundry facilities are located in the campground and are open Mach through November. Washers are $1.00 per load, and the dryers are $ .25 per load. Change is available at the Visitor Center.

Interpretive programs are presented daily, Memorial Day through Labor Day; on weekends from September through May. The orientation slide program is shown daily, every hour on the hour March through November, upon request in the winter. Program schedules are posted on bulleting boards and in the Visitor Center. Check at front desk for programs and special events. Free rock and mineral identification provided daily at the front desk. Arrangements for special programs can be made upon request from the Park Interpreter.

The gift shop is located in the Visitor Center and has the same hours of operations as the VIC. The gift shop features T-shirts, caps, postcards, novelty items, collector quality mineral specimens, stone carvings, rough and faceted stones and jewelry.

A short order restaurant is open daily during the summer season, serving breakfast, sandwiches, and a plate lunch. The restaurant is not open during the off-season, September through May. Cold sandwiches, soft drinks, water and snacks are available in the gift shop September through May. Soft drink machines are located adjacent to the Visitor Center.

The River Trail (1.3 miles) is a wooded trail from the campground to the scenic Little Missouri River. The trail is partially paved (1 mile) making it the longest wheelchair accessible trail in Southwest Arkansas. The unpaved left-hand side of the trail is easily walked.

The Prospector Trail (1.2 miles) offers visitors a first hand view or the park's unique geological features. The rock outcroppings along the northside of the trail are uncommon for this geographical area. The trail is easily traversed.

Bank fishing on the Little Missouri River is available in the park. Primary fish are Largemouth Bass, Catfish and Bream. Best fishing times are late summer, as the water is unusually cool because it comes out from under Lake Greeson Dam. Access to the river is also available at Terrell Access. This is a public boat launching ramp across from the park. Directions are available at the front desk. Trout fishing can be outstanding up closer to Lake Greeson Dam. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regularly stock the river with trout from November through March. Fishing license required to fish within a State Park or on state property. Fishing licenses are available at Miner's C-Stop (the Conoco convenience store) on Hwy 26 in Murfreesboro.

Pets are allowed in the park and on the diamond search area. Pets must be on a leash at all times and in direct control by their owners. There are no special facilities for pets at the park.

First aid is available at the Visitor Center from certified uniformed park personnel, acquire at the front desk. Emergency phone numbers are posted on all bulletin boards. Pike County Memorial Hospital is located on Hwy 26 in Murfreesboro. Mercy Medical Clinic adjacent to the hospital, is open Monday through Friday and has a staff of three doctors.

The attraction at the Crater of Diamonds State Park is the opportunity to search for real diamonds and keep any that you find. To our knowledge, this is the only public diamond mine in the world. The search area consists of a 36 acre field of Lamporite, the diamond matrix. Genuine diamonds naturally occur in this soil. The public pays a fee to search, and is allowed to keep any thing they find regardless of its size.

So far this year there have been 386 diamonds found. In a year's time, there is an average of 2-3 diamond found each day. The largest diamond found this year was in June. It weighed 5.57 carats. The second largest diamond was a 5.50 carat white diamond found in May.

The average size diamond is around 25 points or one-quarter carat. There are 100 points in a diamond. This about the size of a paper match head. The diamonds are loose stones laying in the dirt. They may be anywhere from the surface on down. Visitors can surface search or dig in the soil.

The above information was provided by:

Michael Hall, Superintendent
Crater of Diamonds State Park
Arkansas State Parks
Route 1, Box 364
Murfreesboro, Arkansas 71958
Tel. (870) 285-3113 Fax. (870) 285-4169
Email: crater@arkansas.com