There’s exactly one place on Earth where the general public can dig for diamonds and walk away owning whatever they find, no size limit, no value threshold, no fine print. That place is a 37.5-acre plowed field in rural Pike County, Arkansas, and it’s been handing real diamonds to ordinary visitors since 1906. Over 37,000 have been found here by park guests alone since it became a state park in 1972, at a pace of roughly one to two stones a day.
If Crater of Diamonds is on your 2026 travel list, here’s what actually matters before you show up with a shovel.
Crater of Diamonds State Park Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Location | Murfreesboro, Pike County, Arkansas |
| Park size | 911 acres total |
| Diamond search field | Approximately 37.5 acres, plowed regularly |
| Daily search admission | $15 per person |
| Diamonds found by visitors | Over 37,000 since 1972 |
| Average daily finds | About one to two diamonds |
| Ownership policy | Finders-keepers, no size or value limit |
| Diamond colors found | White, brown, and yellow |
| Other minerals present | Amethyst, garnet, jasper, agate, quartz |
| Best digging conditions | 2–3 days after rainfall |
| Campground | 59 sites with water and electric hookups |
| Tool rentals | Available on-site, separate fee, security deposit required |
How the Search Field Actually Works
Unlike a museum exhibit or a paid mining “experience” designed to guarantee a souvenir, this is a genuinely working search field — the eroded surface of an ancient volcanic crater, regularly plowed to bring buried material closer to the surface. Your $15 daily admission gets you into that field along with access to the Diamond Discovery Center, where park staff will identify anything you find at no extra charge. There’s no permit process and no experience required; you can walk in, grab a spot, and start searching the same day.
What you don’t get included in that fee is equipment. Basic tools like sifting screens and buckets are available to rent on-site, typically with a security deposit, so budget a bit extra if you’re not bringing your own gear. Tickets are for single-day admission only, are non-transferable, and all sales are final, so double-check your plans before buying.
When to Go for Better Odds
Timing genuinely affects your chances here. Experienced visitors and park staff both point to the window two to three days after a good rainfall as the best stretch to search, since rain washes away loose topsoil and exposes diamonds sitting closer to the surface. Showing up the same day it rains usually means a muddy, waterlogged field that’s harder to work; waiting a few days lets things dry out just enough while still benefiting from the erosion.
Weather can also shut the field down entirely without much notice, since access is subject to conditions and can be cancelled for safety reasons. If diamond hunting is the whole point of your trip, building in a flexible day or two rather than a single tight afternoon window is worth the extra planning.
The Three Search Methods, Briefly
Most visitors use one of three approaches. Surface searching, walking the field and scanning the ground after rain or plowing, requires no equipment at all and is where a lot of first-time visitors start. Dry sifting involves screening loose soil to filter out smaller material, while wet sifting, done at washing stations using water and screens, tends to reveal stones more clearly since diamonds often have a distinctive shine when wet. Reviewers who’ve tried both dry and wet methods on the same trip often say the washing tables are considerably more comfortable, especially in Arkansas’s summer heat, and can be worth the extra rental cost even if you started the day digging dry.
Regardless of method, nothing about actually finding a diamond depends on luck alone. Diamonds here tend to have a distinctive rounded, water-worn look rather than sharp crystal facets, which is part of why the Discovery Center’s free identification service is worth using on anything unusual you dig up rather than assuming it’s just quartz or calcite.
Camping and Staying Nearby
The park’s 59-site campground offers full water and electric hookups, accommodating RVs alongside tent camping, with modern bathhouses and hot showers reported as a welcome amenity after a dusty day in the field. A seasonal water park adds a break from digging for families traveling with kids who might not last a full day sifting dirt. Veterans get a camping and day-use discount at check-in regardless of home state, though there’s no equivalent discount on the digging fee itself.
Because Murfreesboro is a small town roughly two hours southwest of Little Rock, most visitors either camp on-site or plan around a longer day trip rather than expecting extensive lodging options nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Do I really get to keep any diamond I find, no matter how big it is?
Yes. The park operates on a strict finders-keepers policy with no size or value cap — anything found in the search field, diamond or otherwise, belongs to the person who found it.
Q2. How likely am I actually to find a diamond during a single visit?
The park averages roughly one to two diamonds found across all visitors per day, so any single visitor’s odds are modest, but it’s not rare for someone to go home with something. Many visitors leave with other interesting minerals like agate, jasper, or quartz even without finding a diamond.
Q3. Is the digging fee refundable if the field closes due to weather?
Ticket policies note that access can be affected by weather and that sales are final, so it’s worth checking current conditions before making the drive, especially if rain is forecast for your visit date.
Q4. Do I need to bring my own tools, or can I rent everything on-site?
Rentals are available for screens, buckets, and other basic gear, typically requiring a security deposit. If you plan to visit more than once or want familiar equipment, bringing your own can save money over repeated rental fees.
