Finders, keepers … for diamonds! At Crater of Diamonds State Park, two hours from Little Rock in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, you can dig for diamonds and keep all the gems you find. Situated on a 37-acre plowed field that tops an ancient volcanic pipe producing precious gems and minerals, the park is the only place in the world where you can search and keep all your found treasure.
Beyond diamonds, you might turn up amethyst, garnet, or quartz (among other gems) in your search. More than 40 types of precious stones have been found to date. The largest diamond on record was a 16.37-carat behemoth, unearthed in 1975. In the 30-plus years Crater has been a state park, more than 25,000 diamonds have been found. The most recent notable discovery took place in the spring of 2007, when a teenager found a 2.93-carat diamond during a family vacation.
Admission to the park is $6.50 for adults and $3.50 for children ages six to 12. You may bring your own tools for digging or you can rent or purchase tools on-site. A “basic diamond hunting kit” including a folding shovel, screen set, and bucket rents for $7.75.
For more resources to plan your diamond-hunting trip, visit the Crater of Diamonds State Park website or the Arkansas Tourism website.
Read more of the 50 Affordable Stateside Escapes.
Have a recommendation for Murfreesboro, or another great getaway within Arkansas? Post your comment below!
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Kenya: 14-Night Tour, Incl. Tanzania &...
smarTours
vacation $7125+7-Night Bermuda Cruise From Round-Trip Cruise...
Norwegian Cruise Line
cruise $1036+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+