Memorial Day weekend 2026 runs Saturday May 23, through Monday May 25, and in the four-state corner where Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas meet, it’s the unofficial start of summer. Elk River float season opens. If you’re in driving range (NWA, Tulsa, Joplin, Springfield, Kansas City, Fort Smith, even Wichita or Oklahoma City) and you’re trying to plan three days off, here’s the local breakdown from the Ozarks.
The Short Answer: What to Do Memorial Day Weekend on the Elk River
If you have one weekend and you want to get it right:
• Book a float on the Elk River (5 or 8 mile options by raft, kayak, canoe, or tube)
• Catch a Friday night glow float, which is the unofficial kickoff to opening weekend
• Reserve your lodging early; cabins, RV sites, and glamping pods book out by mid-April for Memorial Day!
The rest of this post breaks down what to expect on the river, where to stay, and how to actually plan the weekend.
When Is Memorial Day Weekend 2026?
Memorial Day 2026 is Monday, May 25. Most people have Saturday, May 23 through Monday, May 25 off. A lot of folks take Friday, May 22 too and turn it into a four-day weekend. Schools across the region are typically out by that Friday, so it’s the first real weekend of summer break for families.
Getting to the Elk River: Drive Times from Major Cities
Noel, Missouri, sits in the southwest corner of the state, where Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma meet. It’s centrally located for the four-state region, which is the main reason the Elk River is one of the most-floated rivers in this part of the country. Approximate drive times to Noel:
• Bentonville, AR: 30 minutes
• Joplin, MO: 45 minutes
• Fayetteville, AR: 1 hour
• Fort Smith, AR: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Springfield, MO: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Tulsa, OK: 2 hours
• Kansas City, MO: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Oklahoma City, OK: 3 hours 30 minutes
• Wichita, KS: 4 hours
Most folks within two hours day-trip or do a single overnight. Anyone driving three or more hours usually makes it a two- or three-night weekend, which is what Memorial Day is built for.
Float the Elk River: Memorial Day kicks-off summer!
Ask anyone who’s grown up in this part of the country what Memorial Day means and “Elk River” is going to come up. The Elk’s main float season runs May through September, and Memorial Day weekend is when it shifts into gear. River conditions in late May are usually as good as they get. Water is high enough that you’re not dragging your raft across gravel bars, and warm enough to swim.
The Elk runs about 35 miles through southwest Missouri near the Arkansas border, with the main float corridor concentrated around Noel and Pineville. It’s one of the most accessible float rivers for anyone in the four-state region, which is why it draws crowds from Tulsa, Joplin, Kansas City, and all over NWA every Memorial Day weekend.
If you’ve never floated the Elk, the move is to book a 5 or 8 mile trip from one of the outfitters in Noel. River Ranch Resort runs the largest operation on the river and has been at it for over 45 years. They handle rafts, kayaks, canoes, and tubes, with a shuttle service, and they run glow floats Friday nights, which is something people drive in for specifically.
A reasonable Memorial Day itinerary if you want one:
• Friday afternoon: drive in, settle into your cabin or campsite, eat at the on-site cafe
• Friday night: glow float after dark
• Saturday: 8-mile float, late morning launch, picnic on a gravel bar halfway down, pizza delivered to your campsite that night
• Sunday: shorter 5-mile float, breakfast buffet first, hit Sammy’s Scoops on the way back
• Monday: drive home and get Elk River Coffee Co. on the way. It’s a local favorite.
A few things to know if you’re new to it. The Elk is a friendly float, not a whitewater run. Bring water shoes. Bring a dry bag for your phone. Don’t bring glass (it’s not allowed).
Where to Stay
The move is to stay on the river. River Ranch in Noel has air-conditioned cabins sleeping 2 to 24, full hookup RV sites, glamping pods, electric and primitive tent sites, and a few off-site houses for big groups. Memorial Day weekend books out early; if you’re reading this in May, call now or book online.
A few notes on which option fits which group:
• Cabins work best for families or groups of four to twelve who want air conditioning and a real bed
• Glamping pods are the move for couples or pairs who want low-effort but don’t want to tent camp
• Tent and RV sites are the cheapest option and put you closest to the river
Whichever you pick, book it early. Memorial Day is the busiest weekend on the river all summer.
Thanks For Reading
Whether you spend the weekend on the river under the sun, at a glow float at night, or sitting on the gravel bar with a cooler, the corner where Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma meet is one of the better long-weekend destinations in the country right now. Memorial Day is when the season opens. Come float with us.
Written by the team at River Ranch Resort in Noel, Missouri. We’ve been outfitting Elk River float trips for over 45 years. Book Memorial Day weekend today!
