Fort Smith, AR is a vibrant mid-sized city on the Arkansas River in the northwestern portion of the state. The historic city is steeped with important tales and battles of yesteryear, and there are many museums and cultural centers in the area where you can learn all about it. There’s plenty of scenery to enjoy including a journey to the Ozark Mountains by train. The outdoor spaces are abundant and there are many great parks to enjoy in the area.
5 Favorite Parks in and Around Fort Smith, AR
1. Ben Geren Regional Park
This park has everything you need for a day of fun with the entire family. There are running paths, baseball and soccer fields, and two disc golf courses. It’s a massive place that even includes go-karting and mini-putt. If you feel like swinging the tennis racquet, there are courts available for that too. Be sure to bring your bike as there is a bike trail nearby as well. If all that isn’t enough, take a few cuts at the batting cage.
2. Creekmore Park
Creekmore is a nice respite to escape the chaos of the city and relax underneath a shady tree and crack open a book. There are gorgeous, mature trees throughout that provide a cool canopy to beat the heat on those hot Arkansas afternoons. The park is great for kids as it has a train ride that circles the park to showcase the scenery. There’s also a great playground and jungle gym for them to burn off their extra energy.
3. Fort Smith National Historic Site
This is an excellent riverside site to spend the afternoon at and learn a little bit about the area’s history. The exhibits are nicely put together and are full of interesting facts. There are great Park Rangers in the area that are more than happy to bestow their historical knowledge upon you. After your tour, there’s even a gift shop to stop at and pick up a souvenir to take home with you.
4. Chaffee Crossing Dog Park
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a great local spot to take your four-legged friends. It’s a beautiful park with vast open spaces for the dogs to run to their hearts out. Quaint ponds are dotted throughout the area and there are sitting areas for the humans to enjoy. There are plenty of pathways and wooded areas to explore and you can really get lost here as it’s a huge space.
5. Van Buren Municipal Park
This lovely city park is located just off of 11th and Maple Street and is an awesome place to go for an escape while not having to stray too far from the city. There’s so much to do here including a fabulous running track around the lake. There are plenty of geese in the area, so bring a bag of breadcrumbs and feel free to feed them lunch. There are also playgrounds for the kids to monkey around on.
After a great day in the outdoors, come on down to Crain Kia of Fort Smith and test drive one of our great new or pre-owned vehicles.



Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.