Before we had kids, our travel adventures looked a little different—think romantic hikes, sunset dinners, and spontaneous weekend getaways. Fast forward a few years, and now we’re traveling full-time in an RV with two toddlers in tow. The pace has changed, but the magic of exploring new places together? That’s only grown.
So when we found ourselves in Arkansas with a few free days and a diamond mine just a short drive away, we knew we had to go. Crater of Diamonds State Park had been on our radar for a while—but we weren’t sure if it would be toddler-friendly. Would our 4-year-old and 2-year-old have fun? Would we spend the day chasing them around muddy fields, regretting every decision?
Spoiler alert: It turned out to be one of the best family days!
Why Crater of Diamonds?
Crater of Diamonds State Park, located in Murfreesboro, Arkansas, is one of the only places in the world where you can dig for real diamonds and keep whatever you find. That alone makes it sound like a dream for adventurous couples—but surprisingly, it’s also a gem (pun intended!) for families with little ones.
We went twice—once on May 1st and again on May 3rd—both days right after a good rain, which we learned is the perfect time to go diamond hunting. The rain helps wash away the dirt and can uncover shiny little treasures just waiting to be found.
Our Experience with Toddlers in the Diamond Field
Our 4-year-old is currently rock-obsessed. He’s started his own little collection and will proudly tell anyone who listens which ones are his “crystals.” So the idea of digging in dirt for cool rocks and maybe even a diamond? He was all in. Our 2-year-old, on the other hand, just wants to be outside with dirt under her nails—so we figured at the very least, she’d enjoy making mud pies.
And honestly? They both had an absolute blast.
We spent most of our time surface searching and letting the kids just explore. The rain from earlier in the week left plenty of puddles and soft mud, which meant they could splash, scoop, dig, and pretend they were little treasure hunters. Our daughter was covered in mud and loving every second of it.
How to Make It a Successful Trip with Young Kids
If you’re thinking about bringing your little ones to Crater of Diamonds, do it! But come prepared. Here’s what worked really well for us:
Pop-Up Tent: This was our MVP. It gave the kids a shady spot to take a break, eat snacks, and reset when they needed to.
Snacks, Lunch & Water: Ands lots of it! We had snack breaks, had a mini picnic in the pop up tent while dad washed gravel, and went through lots of water.
Bucket & Shovel: You can rent tools, but it was easier (and more fun for the kids) to have their own. (We recommend grabbing the Dollar Tree shovels and buckets for the kids to run around with)
Mud-Ready Clothes: We saw lots of kids in swimsuits splashing through puddles. Ours wore play clothes we didn’t mind getting dirty.
Boots (maybe): Depending on the weather, the field can get very muddy. Boots can come in handy. We weren’t prepared, and wore tennis shoes, which was fine as well. We just packed extra socks, which our 2-year-old went through 3 pairs!
Sunscreen: There’s not a lot of shade out there—don’t forget it!
Tablet or Quiet Time Toy: We brought the tablet as a backup for when our daughter needed a calm moment while her brother kept digging.
We Didn’t Find a Diamond… But We Found So Much More
Nope, no sparkly jackpot for us this time—but we were genuinely surprised by how many other amazing rocks we found. There were sparkly crystals, colorful stones, and yes… even rocks from the actual volcano. Our son was thrilled when the park staff told him he had found volcanic tuff and lava rock. Rocks from a volcano? That’s big-time excitement when you’re four. (Who am I kidding?! When you’re in your 30’s too!)
The park has a free identification center where friendly staff will tell you exactly what you found—and they were so sweet with our kids. Watching our son proudly hand over his rock finds and get real feedback made the whole experience feel extra special.
Our Rock-Hunting Tips for Families
If you’re planning your own trip (and we hope you are!), here are a few tips that made our search fun and engaging—even with little ones:
Go Early: Not just for cooler weather, but to beat the crowds. It also gives you more time to go back to the identification center before it gets busy. We did go on a Saturday, and there was already a line outside before they even opened. But it went pretty quick. We were on the fields just 15 minutes after opening.
Sunny Days Are Best: Diamonds sparkle in the sun, so bright days give you a better chance at spotting something shiny on the surface.
After a Rainfall: Rain helps wash the dirt off the top layer of rocks and can reveal new treasures. Both of our visits were right after it rained, and the conditions were perfect.
Color Hunt Game: Instead of telling the kids to find diamonds (which can be tricky and not super exciting for toddlers), we told them to look for different colors—reds, purples, whites, sparkles. It made the search more playful and kept them engaged way longer.
Wet Sifting vs Surface Searching: My husband spent the day wet sifting (you’ll get very wet, FYI), while the kids and I walked the fields surface searching. Both were fun in totally different ways, and we loved going through his buckets later at the RV.
What to Know About the Park + Rentals
There are a few things we wish we’d known before we arrived—so here’s what we’d tell our past selves:
Bring Your Own Tools (especially for kids): Dollar Tree buckets and plastic shovels are perfect for toddlers. We lost one shovel, and I was so glad it wasn’t expensive!
You Can Rent Equipment On-Site—But Bring Cash: The park does rent tools, but there’s a deposit and it’s cash-only. If you’re coming unprepared, you can also rent from nearby businesses in Murfreesboro. (Or, if you’re camping/RVing, use our extra special tip about where to stay in Murfreesboro for FREE rentals!)
Get Your Finds Checked Throughout the Day: The identification center is free, and lines can get long later in the day. Go early, and don’t wait to check everything at the end, especially if you want to know if you’re picking up the right stuff.
Take Home a Bag of Washed Gravel: You can buy a bucket to go, and they say 80% of diamonds are found afterpeople get home. We brought one back each day, and it was so fun to sift through together after dinner. Like a little treasure hunt that keeps going!
RV & Camping Tips: Where We Stayed in Murfreesboro
As full-time RVers, finding a good campground is always part of the adventure. We stayed at Murfreesboro RV Park, and it was perfect for our trip.
Here’s why we’d absolutely stay there again:
-It’s small, quiet, and has spots for both RVs and tent campers.
-They let guests borrow diamond hunting equipment—for FREE. Seriously. Buckets, wagons, sifters, screens, shovels—the works. We easily saved $40 a day on rentals.
-They gave us FREE lessons before we headed out, which helped so much since it was our first time.
-They even have their own washing stations you can use to rinse off your finds.
It felt like such a thoughtful and family-friendly place to stay, and having that support made a big difference in how smoothly everything went.
Other Kid-Friendly Things to Do Near Crater of Diamonds
We also discovered there’s more to do in the area than just dig for diamonds (though, let’s be real, that’s the main event!). If you’re making a weekend of it like we did, here are a couple of extra activities to check out—especially great if you need a break from the mud or the weather isn’t cooperating.
🦖 Dino Dig in Murfreesboro
This was such a fun surprise! Tucked right in town is a Dino Dig play area—basically a giant sand pit where kids can dig for fossils, treasures, and toy dinosaurs. It’s a total hit with little ones and a great option for a rainy day when the diamond fields are too muddy or if you just want to give the kids a change of pace.
💎 Crystal Mines in Hot Springs (Next on Our List!)
On our way out of town, we heard about the crystal mines in Hot Springs, and now it’s officially on our must-do list for next time. It’s a bit of a drive, but everyone we talked to raved about how fun it is—especially for families with rock-loving kids (and let’s be honest, we’re kind of rock lovers now too).
You get to dig for quartz crystals and keep whatever you find. It sounds like the perfect add-on to a diamond-hunting trip, especially if you want to stretch your adventure into a few days.
Final Thoughts: Would We Do It Again? 100% Yes.
And we’re already planning our next trip! This trip to Crater of Diamonds State Park was one of those last-minute adventures that ended up being a total win for our family. It was messy, a little chaotic at times (hello mud pies and lost shovels), but also full of magic—especially watching our kids light up every time they found a “treasure.”
We may not have struck it rich with diamonds, but we came home with something better: memories, muddy boots, and a new favorite spot we can’t wait to visit again.
If you’re a parent wondering “Can I really bring toddlers to a diamond mine?”—our answer is YES. Just come prepared, embrace the dirt, and make it a laid-back, kid-paced day. Trust us: it’s absolutely worth it.
Crater of Diamonds is 100% toddler-friendly, memory-making magic. We’re already planning our next trip—and who knows? Maybe next time we’ll find that shiny stone!
✅ Family Packing Checklist for Crater of Diamonds State Park
Planning your own trip with little ones? Here’s what we recommend packing to make it a successful and stress-free adventure:
🏕 For Comfort & Shade:
Pop-up tent or umbrella for shade
Folding chairs or a blanket
Sunscreen & bug spray
🧃 For Snacks & Breaks:
Pack lunch and LOTS of snacks
Refillable water bottles
Wipes and hand sanitizer
⛏ For Digging:
Buckets and plastic shovels for the kids (Dollar Tree wins here!)
Waterproof boots or water shoes (especially if it’s recently rained)
Extra clothes or swimsuits for puddle jumping
Towel if you’re heading to the water park
EXTRA SOCKS!
🎒 For Fun & Sanity:
Small toys or entertainment for breaks
Ziplock bags or containers to save special rocks
Cash for rentals or the gift shop
💡 Bonus Tips:
Go early in the day (especially sunny days after rain!)
Encourage kids to find colorful or shiny rocks—not just diamonds
Visit the identification center throughout the day
Bring home a bucket of washer gravel (80% of diamonds are found after the trip!)
Sara, a seasoned expert in wedding planning and date ideas, brings a wealth of experience to our couples blog. With a background in the television industry and hands-on involvement in a dozen weddings, including working as a wedding assistant on "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera," Sara has an innate understanding of the magic that makes weddings truly special. Growing up with four sisters has given her unique insights into the dating world, making her a go-to source for practical and heartfelt dating advice. Her knowledge and enthusiasm make her the perfect guide for couples seeking to infuse their relationships with creativity and love.