Crittenden: Delta, Mississippi, and History

The Mississippi River forms the eastern boundary of Crittenden County. Crittenden County is considered fertile Delta farmland; its river scenery, historic sites, and opportunities for active days offer a range of travel themes. When choosing your vacation rental, first consider whether you’d like to focus mainly on trails and water, culture and history, or motorsports.

Trails, the River, and Horseshoe Lake

The Big River Trail is a seven-mile loop through the West Memphis floodplain along the Mississippi River. It offers nearly five miles of paved and hard-surface trails for walking, running, and jogging. Big River Crossing is part of a ten-mile multimodal corridor connecting Memphis, Tennessee, with West Memphis, Arkansas. The crossing is free and open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; check the latest visitor information before your trip.

Horseshoe Lake also brings together nature and scenery. Nancy and Pat Bonds Access provides free public boat access to the lake in Crittenden County. The facility includes a double-width concrete boat ramp, a dock, and a large paved parking lot that accommodates up to 30 boat trailers. The Great River Road runs around Horseshoe Lake. Survey maps from the period after the War of 1812 show the lake as a large oxbow lake. This place therefore combines a present-day connection to boating with a historic description of the landscape.

At Horseshoe Lake, the Plantation Gallery displays works by artists from across the Delta. Check the current opening hours before visiting. When planning your vacation, you can weigh up different interests: time on trails, time by the water, or a focus on culture.

Museums and Historic Buildings

The Crittenden County Museum is located in Earle, Arkansas, in a restored train station. The station opened in 1922 as part of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. The museum also displays artworks by Carroll Cloar, an artist from Earle. The building’s history and art come together under one roof.

The Sultana Disaster Museum tells the story of the steamboat, from its construction through its destruction and beyond. History enthusiasts will also find notable buildings and memorials: the porticoes of the Crittenden County Courthouse are supported by six Ionic columns. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 1977. Marion Colored High School was added to the register on March 23, 1995. A monument to George Berry Washington in Earle is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

These historical topics are quite distinct: one museum focuses on the history of a steamboat, another combines a train station with art, while the courthouse, school, and monument offer specific points of interest for exploring architecture and local history. If you’re planning with travel companions who have different interests, you can consider these cultural themes alongside outdoor activities or time by the water as a focus of their own.

Motorsports as a Different Travel Theme

Riverside International Speedway is a steeply banked, quarter-mile track with a gumbo surface. Southland Casino & Racing has more than 1,700 slot machines and offers simulcast racing featuring Thoroughbreds and greyhounds. Gaming and racing offerings may change, so check the latest information before visiting. Motorsports and racing offer a different focus from trails, river scenery, and historic sites.

Choosing the Right Focus for Your Stay

When looking for a vacation rental in Crittenden, it helps to think through the kinds of days you’d like to spend on vacation: Would you like to focus on the Mississippi River and trails, include boating and Horseshoe Lake, or explore museums, architecture, and motorsports? These themes offer different ways to plan your trip without requiring you to stick to just one type of outing.

Explore More Places

West Memphis, Turrell, Edmondson, Gilmore, Marion

Explore More Destinations: Desha County, Greene County, Cross County.

Back to the main travel overview: Arkansas.