The Essential Guide to Hot Spring National Park

With ancient thermal springs, historic bathhouses, and mountain views, Hot Springs National Park is arguably one of the most interesting national parks in the country.

It spans over 5,500 acres, is home to 47 hot springs, and includes parts of downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas, as well as forested hikes and scenic creeks. Originally Quapaw and Caddo land, the area has long been a place where travelers came to seek treatment for various ailments. Hot Springs became a part of the United States during the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and it quickly became a popular resort town. The government decided to preserve it in 1820, long before the creation of Yellowstone, but it wasn’t designated as an official national park until 1916.

Hot Springs is the only national park with nonvolcanic geothermal springs, with over 700,000 gallons of water produced per day. The Victorian-era bathhouses that served visitors from the 1800s are still standing, and you can find them today in Bathhouse Row.

“The thing that most people should know about the national park is that it’s one of the few urban national parks in the country,” says Coleman Gocio, a Hot Springs native and the owner of Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Co. “As far as stuff to see, the spring water is amazing. A lot of people think that we’re going to have big pools of springs to jump in, but they’re piped off to jug fountains where you can taste the spring water.”

Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Hot Springs National Park.

Know Before You Go

Hot Springs National Park is free to visit, although some tours and activities require an admission fee. The park is also open year-round, but some points of interest, like the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, are closed between November and March. 

Unlike some of the parks out west, there is no outdoor bathing in the hot springs. If you want to have a soak, you’ll need to book a reservation at a place like the Buckstaff Bathhouse or the Quapaw Bathhouse. 

You can, however, feel the heat of the thermal springs at The Display Spring behind the Maurice Bathhouse, the Hot Water Cascade at Arlington Lawn, and the Fordyce Fountains between the Fordyce and Maurice Bathhouses. 

Best Time to Visit

In terms of weather, the best times to visit Hot Springs are in the spring and fall. 

“Fall is one of my favorite times of the year around here because the temperature [and] weather is just phenomenal,” says Gocio. “The mountain biking is incredible with our really stellar trail system.”

But there’s really no bad time to visit Hot Springs, and no matter what time you visit, there’s likely something going on around town. The World Championship Running of the Tubs in June pays homage to Bathhouse Row with a Pinewood Derby-style race using modified bathtubs. The World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in May brings in celebrity guests for the merriment. The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival in October is the oldest documentary film festival in North America.

How to Get There 

Hot Springs National Park is about 53 miles southwest of Little Rock’s Clinton National Airport (LIT)—that’s about an hour-long drive. Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport (HOT) has regional flights available on Southern Airways Express, but you will likely find more flight options out of Little Rock.

Since Hot Springs National Park is in an urban area, you’ll be able to find ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber. However, renting a car will be more convenient for exploring Hot Springs and the surrounding area. 

Best Things to Do

Visit a bathhouse.

The most popular part of the Hot Springs experience is Bathhouse Row, where generations of travelers have come to “take to the waters.” The Fordyce Bathhouse is now a visitor center, with historic artifacts and incredible stained glass ceilings on display—if you want to learn more, you can also catch daily ranger tours of the facility. If it’s a real soak you’re after, the Quapaw and Buckstaff bathhouses are still in operation.

Fill your bottle with fresh spring water.

The mineral-rich water that made Hot Springs famous can be found throughout the park, where visitors can fill up their personal containers. You’ll even see people drive up with large jugs to take with them. These thermal springs can be found in seven locations, but the easiest and most popular one to access is the Hale and Maurice bathhouses. Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Co. even has a bike tour that visits the different springs and compares the water minerality. 

Climb the tower.

Several iterations of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower has stood in the park since 1877, but the current version was built in 1983 and is 216 feet tall. From the top, visitors can see over 140 square miles of the surrounding area, including the entire park and the Ouachita Mountains. You can reach the top by elevator, making it accessible to all. However, note that this attraction does charge an admission fee of $14 per person. 

Best Hikes 

Hot Springs National Park has 26 miles of trails, so you have plenty of hiking routes to choose from, varying from 0.2 miles to 17 miles. 

Hot Springs Mountain Trail

For an easy stroll and hardly any grade, check out the Hot Springs Mountain Trail. At 1.7 miles, it follows the top of the mountain with scenic lookout points to stop for water and soak in the views. 

Peak Trail

At 0.6 miles, the Peak Trail is short but with a slight grade. It’s on the steep side, so step carefully, but you’re rewarded when you reach the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, the best way to see the park from above. 

The Sunset Trail

The longest trail in the national park, the Sunset Trail is 10 miles one way or can be done in a loop, ranging from 15 to 17 miles. It also reaches the highest point within the park, Music Mountain, at over 1,400 feet. 

Best Places to Stay

Hot Springs National Park doesn’t have a traditional “lodge,” but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of great places to stay. 

The Arlington Resort, Hotel & Spa

Want to stay in the hotel of choice of gangster Al Capone? You can do just that at The Arlington, where he had his own suite. The historic property, which opened in 1875, has 500 luxury rooms, multiple restaurants, and an on-site spa that has pools full of the local thermal waters. 

Dame’s Fortune Cottage Court

Live out your Schitt’s Creek dreams at Dame’s Fortune Cottage Court, a converted historic motel accented with vintage charm. Each of the eight pet-friendly rooms has a different design, and guests can enjoy nearby restaurants and wander the surrounding Bellaire Court Historic District. 

Gulpha Gorge Campground

Gulpha Gorge Campground is the national park-run campground with 40 riverside spaces for tents and RVs. Reservations are required and can be booked six months in advance, starting at $34 per site. The campground also has accessible sites and trailhead access. 

Lookout Point Lakeside Inn

While it’s a short drive outside of town, Lookout Point Lakeside Inn is worth the trip and sits on the shores of Lake Hamilton, where guests can take out canoes and kayaks. There are stunning guest rooms with lake views and a daily breakfast is included in the nightly rate. 

The Waters Hot Springs

Located in a 1913 doctor’s office, The Waters Hot Springs reopened as a hotel in 2017 with 62 modern guest rooms. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant and a rooftop bar with the best views in town. 

Places to Eat

If you’re camping, you might want to pick up groceries on your way into town. But Hot Springs has plenty of great restaurants if you don’t want to bother. 

Best Cafe and Bar

Located in a historic motor court, Best Cafe and Bar is open for breakfast and lunch, and highlights regional, local ingredients in its dishes. Start with the biscuits and gravy with a sunny-side-up egg, or the confit pork belly hash. 

Deluca’s Pizza

A New York transplant brought his brick oven pies to Deluca’s Pizza, arguably one of the best pizzerias in the states. The Sidetown (a Margherita-style pie) is one of the most popular selections, but the restaurant also has pasta and salads. 

The Pancake Shop

The Pancake Shop is a Hot Springs classic, open since 1940. Of course, the pancakes are the big draw, including buttermilk and buckwheat flapjacks stuffed with fruit. The eatery also has its own blend of coffee and all the other breakfast favorites, such as oatmeal and omelettes. 

Steinhaus Keller

For traditional German fare, turn to Steinhaus Keller, which brings the Oktoberfest vibe year-round. Menu staples include spaetzle, goulash, schnitzel, and wurst platters, all of which can be paired with beer straight from the motherland. 

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Founded in 2013, Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the only brewery located within a national park and sits in a historic bathhouse. It makes its beer using the thermal waters of the spring, and while you’re enjoying your brew, you can also enjoy elevated pub fare, including pretzels, wings, and sandwiches.