Best Date Night Ideas in Little Rock

Trying to think of date night ideas in Little Rock or North Little Rock to make a big impression and have a good time? Don’t worry, there’s loads of options for every time of the year, and for every energy level. Whether you’re new to the area, just visiting for a day, or tired of doing the same ole same ole, you’re bound to find something of interest on this list to try out on your next date!

I’ve lived just outside of Little Rock most of my life. I’m originally from a small town, so it’s where we would go as teens to go shopping, or to get out of the house for the day to go do something fun. Even still as an adult, my partner and I often head to Little Rock or North Little Rock to go have fun either with friends or on a date just between the two of us. We’re always dappling into something new, too! Whether it’s a sport, an arts thing, outdoors activity, or indoors, we love to give new things a try and change up date nights.

If you also need ideas on somewhere to eat on your date, check out Best Date Night Restaurants for some of my favorite spots around Little Rock and North Little Rock!

Table of Contents (Updated 2024)

Little Rock – Indoors

• Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
• Little Rock Climbing Center
• Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge
• Arkansas Skatium
• Museum of Discovery
• Movie Tavern

Little Rock – Outdoors

• Top Golf
• Pinnacle Mountain State Park
• Wildwood Park for the Arts
• Two Rivers Park
• River Market
• Little Rock Zoo

North Little Rock – Indoors

• The Joint Comedy Club

North Little Rock – Outdoors

• Argenta Arts District
• Arkansas Travelers Game
• The Old Mill

Things to do for a Date in Little Rock + North Little Rock

LITTLE ROCK – INDOORS

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

I’m so glad to finally see an art museum like this in Little Rock. It’s the perfect date idea when the weather is sweltering hot, blistering cold, or just wet and dreary. Plus who doesn’t like a calm and relaxed date just walking around to chat and look at pretty creations?

Little Rock Climbing Center

It might not be the best place to take someone who’s scared of heights haha, but otherwise this is a super fun and unique place for a date that is bound to make you stick out in “most out-of-the-box dates I’ve ever been on” category. The Little Rock gym is equipped with both a top rope and bouldering area, and there’s a lead rope area for those who are certified to do so. I might be biased since I’ve been rock climbing 2-3x a week for a few years now, but this is definitely one of my favorite and fun date night ideas in Little Rock.

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge

The Dust Bowl is a fun take on going bowling on a date, because it’s a retro atmosphere with just 8 lanes available. There’s a bar, food, and karaoke room (if you are brave enough to belt it in front of your date), too. I think this place provides a much more relaxed vibe compared to other bigger bowling alleys, so it’s a must if you want to go bowling!

Arkansas Skatium

Bundle up and head to the ice rink during the free skating time! There’s also roller blading on the other side of the building if you’re not prepared to brave the cold. I never even knew we had an ice rink in Central Arkansas until my partner got into hockey. He’s been playing on one of the local leagues at the rink for a few years now. While I’m as clumsy on ice as a newborn deer learning to walk, it’s still a fun activity to learn with him, and I think any couple could enjoy trying out ice skating at least once!

Museum of Discovery

The Museum of Discovery is a fun place to go for a different date than the usual of just grabbing dinner. There’s loads of interactive exhibits to explore, and it’s right in the River Market, so if you’re hungry afterwards you have plenty of places to choose from for a bite to eat. There are adult nights for 21+ that are held here every so often called “Science after Dark” where you can be served beer, wine, and cocktails, and get some pizza while having a kid-free experience at the museum.

Movie Tavern

If you want a cinema experience that isn’t the usual, the Movie Tavern is the place to go. All the same new releases you can see at the regular theater, but here you’ll have comfier seating, and you’ll be able to order gourmet food and cocktails to enjoy right at your seat.

LITTLE ROCK – OUTDOORS

Top Golf

I feel like you don’t have to be a golfer to have a good time at Top Golf. Get served snacks and drinks and just swing some golf balls into a big open range! Much more laid back than an actual game of golf, and no competition. You’ll be sheltered by an awning, so this can be enjoyed even on a rainy day!

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

If you’re the adventurous type and have a nice day outside, hiking Pinnacle Mountain is a must! There’s two trails you can take to the peak, one considered hard and the other easy, choose your difficulty level and make your way to the top for beautiful views, especially during sunrise or sunset.

Wildwood Park for the Arts

Wildwood is a beautiful botanical gardens and theater near the Promenade shopping mall. You can enjoy the trails through the woods and around the lake here, and you can catch a show at the indoor theater when they have something in production. My partner and I love coming here during the Lanterns Fest that they run each spring in April. They showcase multiple different regions of the world with immersive decorations, food, and drinks to match. After dark, you can go down to the lake’s gazebo and place a lantern into the water and watch it float out with the rest. It always makes me think of the lanterns scene in Tangled, which I mean come on is so romantic. It’s always a blast and the proceeds help the park maintain the gardens.

Two Rivers Park

Two Rivers is a beautiful park and trail you can walk along the Arkansas River. It’s a top spot for photo sessions in Little Rock, but also just a great place for a picnic and walk. I love the views and trails at the West entry point, but there’s also the East entry closest to I-430, where the Two Rivers Bridge is, where there’s water access to paddleboard and kayak.

River Market (Indoor/Outdoor)

The River Market is full of things to do and places to eat. Catch a show at the Rev Room or Stickyz, see a play at the Robinson Theater, go to the piano bar at Willy D’s, grab a bite to eat at Dugan’s Irish Pub or Flying Fish, or just take a nice walk down the Arkansas River Trail. There’s often live music or markets going on in the pavilions, too. Most of the things here are indoors, though you may have to walk a ways to your destination depending on parking so that is something to keep in mind when the weather is less than ideal. The River Market has a website where you can see a calendar of all the upcoming events across the area.

Little Rock Zoo

Who doesn’t love a nice day outdoors at the zoo? Zoo dates give ample time to enjoy chatting together while looking at a bunch of cute critters. There’s special events like GloWILD, which runs during the late-year holidays through the new year, for a night-time experience at the zoo walking among loads of fun light displays. There’s also adult 21+ nights at the zoo on occasion for a kid-free experience where you can enjoy some adult beverages and entertainment.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – INDOORS

The Joint Comedy Theater

If you like to laugh, a night at the comedy theater in Argenta might be a good date idea. This place is known for having great specialty coffee, and there’s also other beverages like beer and wine to choose from, and snacks to enjoy while you sit in on a great show.

NORTH LITTLE ROCK – OUTDOORS

Argenta Arts District

The Argenta Arts District is a great place for a walk on a nice day that is lined with plenty of options for food and bars to check out. Murals line the streets of the district, you can catch live entertainment at the square, and festivals happen down here throughout the year. I love the Blackberry Market, Capeo, and Draft + Table for a bite to eat!

Travelers Baseball Game

If you’re both into sports, there’s nothing more fun than catching a Travelers game at Dickey Stephens Park. Enjoy some hot dogs and hollerin as you watch our minor league team play a game!

The Old Mill

This 1880s-style water mill is an absolutely beautiful place to explore on a date. This is probably one of the most photographed locations in NLR. It’s been featured in multiple films, including the old classic Gone With The Wind.

Enjoy your next date night! My partner and I have really enjoyed so many of these activities that some of them have become regular date nights for us. It’s hard to come up empty when planning a date around Little Rock!

Need help planning the perfect date night or weekend getaway before you propose? I’ll help you! I’m here to be not just a photographer, but a planning guide as well. I’ve been all over Arkansas and know all of the romantic spots to propose and what you can do to make the big question a memorable af day. Let’s chat!