No doubt that after being cooped up inside for months during 2020 due to the COVID-19 virus that you’re getting a bit stir crazy and would love to take a day trip to get away from home for a while. These day trips are all within a three-hour drive from Jacksonville, so you’ll be able to travel a short way from home and still get back in time for dinner.
Three Best Day Trips to Take Near Jacksonville, AR
Memphis Zoo
Just two hours away from home is the Memphis Zoo, located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is home to 4,500 animals and has won awards as one of the best zoos in the country. There are exhibits representing three continents: Africa, Asia, and North America. You will see amazing animals such as elephants, tigers, polar bears, panda bears, reptiles, birds, and even alligators. There are also numerous animal talks and demonstrations scheduled throughout the day.
Between March 2 and October 11, the zoo is open between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. every day, with the last entry at 5:00 p.m. Between October 12 and March 1, the zoo closes an hour earlier. It is also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Tickets are $18 for visitors between the ages of 12 and 59, $13 for children under 12, and $17 for seniors age 60 or older.
Sun Studio
Another fun activity for a day trip in Memphis is Sun Studio, or the “birthplace of rock ‘n roll.” This music studio boasts the discovery of such musical legends as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash. The history of the building and the music that was created in it is representative of the city of Memphis. You’ll be able to stand in the very same spot that Elvis recorded his hits and listen to outtakes from famous recording sessions.
Sun Studio is open Sunday through Thursday, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:15 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:15 p.m. Tours are 45 minutes long and take place once an hour at the bottom of the hour. Visitors age 12 and older are $15 and children under the age of 12 are free. Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop before you leave to find some one-of-a-kind souvenirs such as drumsticks, guitar picks, and more.
Bull Shoals Caverns
Flippin, Arkansas is a little further than Memphis but is still within a three-hour drive and Bull Shoals Caverns is certainly worth that long of a trip. This is one of the oldest limestone caverns in the Ozarks and is a cool 59 degrees year-round. As such, it is toasty in the winter and nice and cool in the summer. As you take the guided tour through the caverns, you’ll see 350-million-years-old stalactites and stalagmites, columns, and cave pearls.
Between March 15 and October 31, the caverns are open Wednesday through Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For the month of November through Thanksgiving weekend, the caverns close an hour early at 4:00 p.m. They are closed altogether between December and March 14 and in July, they are open all week. Guests age 12 and up are $17 each, while kids between four and 12 are $8.75. Little ones under four are free. Tours are 45 minutes long.
These three fantastic day trips will certainly pull you out of your doldrums from staying at home for nearly the entire year. However, there are many other places within a few hours’ drive that you’re bound to enjoy as well. Just drop by Crain Ford and we’ll give you a whole list of ideas that will inspire your next road trip.
