Hot Springs National Park
Arkansas Est. 1921

Hot Springs National Park

Forest Mountains
Plan a visit Check conditions
Established
1921
Size
5,554 acres
Visitors / yr
2.5M
Entrance
Free
Best season
Year-round
Nearest airport
HOT Memorial Field
01

Why Hot Springs is worth the trip

Arkansas · Established 1921

Hot Springs breaks every rule you have about national parks, and it was protecting land before the idea of national parks existed. The federal government set these springs aside in 1832, four decades before Yellowstone, to guard 47 thermal springs pushing out roughly 700,000 gallons of 143-degree water a day. The park wraps around a working Arkansas town, and its main attraction is a row of Gilded Age bathhouses on a city street.

The right way to visit is to participate. Soak at the Buckstaff, which has run continuously since 1912, tour the restored Fordyce, and fill your bottles at the public fountains like the locals do. The spring water is the souvenir. Then walk it off on the mountain trails that rise directly behind Bathhouse Row.

Start with our full Hot Springs guide, then use the planning below.

02

Top things to do in Hot Springs

Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.

Hot Springs National Park
Start here

15 Things to Do in Hot Springs National Park

Read the guide
01 Become a Hot Springs Junior Ranger Junior Ranger Program · nps.gov Become a Hot Springs Junior Ranger Kids visiting Hot Springs National Park may earn a Junior Ranger badge by completing a number of activities as they explore the park. The... 02 Camp at the Gulpha Gorge Campground Camping · nps.gov Camp at the Gulpha Gorge Campground BASIC INFORMATION Camping at Gulpha Gorge Campground costs $34 per night for all sites. All sites have full hookups: 30 and 50 amp electric,... 03 Oak Trail Hiking · nps.gov Oak Trail The northeastern end of Oak Trail is mostly flat. The trail is fairly steep for a short distance between West Mountain Trail and West... 04 An Overview: Hot Springs and North Mountain Trails Hiking · nps.gov An Overview: Hot Springs and North Mountain Trails The Hot Springs and North Mountain trails are popular since they are easy to reach and provide scenic views. You can get to these...
Before you go

Get the Hot Springs heads-up

Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Hot Springs guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.

03

Plan your trip

Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Hot Springs.

Things to Do When to Visit Fun Facts

Where to stay

Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.

  • Hot Springs, ARGateway town
  • Gulpha Gorge Campground 40 sites · Reserve
Compare stays near Hot Springs

Maps & guides

Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.

America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass

What to bring

Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.

  • Trail Shoes
    Lightweight with good traction for maintained trails. View on REI
  • Rain Jacket
    Mountain weather turns fast. Pack a shell even on clear mornings. View on REI
  • Merino Hiking Socks
    Prevent blisters and keep your feet comfortable for miles. View on REI
  • Day Hiking Pack
    A 22-30L pack fits water, layers, snacks, and a first aid kit. View on REI

Getting there

  • HOT Memorial Field 5 mi
  • LIT Bill and Hillary Clinton National 55 mi
NPS Official Page Reservations Google Maps

Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.

Hot Springs map

VC Visitor Center CG Campground Nearby Park
04

When to go

Read our seasonal guide
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Month-by-Month Conditions

Tap any month for details

Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan
52°
32°
Light
Open
Feb
56°
35°
Heavy
Open
Mar
65°
42°
Heavy
Open
Apr
74°
51°
Heavy
Open
May Best
80°
60°
Moderate
Open
Jun Best
88°
68°
Peak
Open
Jul Best
93°
72°
Heavy
Open
Aug Best
93°
71°
Moderate
Open
Sep Best
86°
64°
Light
Open
Oct Best
75°
52°
Light
Open
Nov
62°
42°
Moderate
Open
Dec
53°
35°
Light
Open
Best months to visit Crowd level (low to peak)
05

More Hot Springs guides

06

Parks near Hot Springs

Within reach if you are building a longer trip.

Gateway Arch National Park
Missouri

Gateway Arch

325 miles away
Mammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky

Mammoth Cave

431 miles away
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Tennessee

Great Smoky Mountains

545 miles away
Indiana Dunes National Park
Indiana

Indiana Dunes

591 miles away

Worth protecting

Hot Springs belongs to all of us

Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.

See what's at stake Join the fight for Arkansas

Threatened Lands Map

Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.

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