Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs, Arkansas
The oldest reset still measures up
Hot Springs sits in the middle of a working town, and its centerpiece is water you can actually get into. Ancient thermal springs surface along Bathhouse Row, and the park permits soaking inside two of the historic bathhouses, the Buckstaff and the Quapaw. People have bathed here for hundreds of years, well before anyone thought to measure what the warm water was doing.
The park is more than the Row, though. Forested trails climb Hot Springs, North, and West Mountains, creeks run through the grounds, and mountain overlooks reward a short drive or walk uphill. The park service points to the Dead Chief Trail, West Mountain Trail, and the longer Sunset Trail as the least crowded, since most foot traffic stays close to Bathhouse Row.
That combination is the unusual part. You can soak in the morning and walk a quiet forested ridge in the afternoon, both within minutes of downtown, without ever driving out to a remote trailhead.
The science: Lithuanian researchers had stressed but otherwise healthy adults, close to an ordinary park visitor, take 15-minute daily baths in naturally warm, highly mineralized geothermal water at a thermal facility; only that group's blood pressure fell, by about 7/6 mmHg, while a music-therapy group and a no-treatment control did not. Hot Springs channels the same kind of hot, mineral-rich water, and the park allows soaking in two of the historic bathhouses on the Row, the Buckstaff and the Quapaw.
Rapolienė, Razbadauskas, Sąlyga & Martinkėnas (2016) · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Seasonal guide
Crowd levels use NPS monthly visitation, averaged 2015–2025. Excludes 2020 (COVID anomaly) and 2026 (partial year). Temperatures are NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from a station 1.1 miles away. Busy does not mean bad. If a peak month is your only window, the season notes below tell you how to work it.
Winter is the quietest stretch, with January the calmest month of all. Highs sit in the low to mid 50s and nights drop near freezing, and wind chill can make it feel as cold as 15F, so bring layers. This is prime time for a warm soak followed by a near-empty forested trail.
Spring brings mild highs climbing from the mid 60s to around 80, but it is also the wettest season, with rainfall peaking in May. Crowds build steadily through these months. Pack rain gear, aim for morning walks between showers, and enjoy the greening forest.
Summer is the busiest season, drawing about 60% of the year's visitors, and it is hot and humid with highs in the low 90s and heat index values that can reach 110F. Start hikes early, carry water, and save the exposed mountain trails for the morning. Bathhouse Row and shaded creekside spots make midday heat easier to manage.
Fall cools off and quiets down, with November among the least crowded months. Highs ease from the mid 80s in September to the low 60s by November, though October can be rainy. It is one of the most comfortable windows for pairing a soak with forested ridge walks.
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Sleep nearby
Most visitors base in Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 1 miles out. Hot Springs offers far more rooms and better prices within the park's urban setting. Malvern lies directly outside the park boundary but has fewer lodging options than Hot Springs. The map opens on Hot Springs, so pan toward the park to trade rooms and price for a shorter morning drive.
Camping inside the park books through Recreation.gov and is listed separately.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps keep Happier Outdoors running. It never changes what we recommend.
Let someone else lead
A guide is worth it when the terrain needs one, or when you would rather look around than navigate. These are the highest-rated trips running around Hot Springs, not the cheapest.
Free cancellationHot Springs Hop Scavenger Hunt
from $20USD
Free cancellationHot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour
from $15.29USDTours are listed by Viator; booking happens there. If you book we may earn a commission at no cost to you, which helps keep Happier Outdoors running. It never changes what we list. Prices checked July 2026 and can change.
From the field
Common questions
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs National Park?
Fall and winter are the calmest times to visit, with the smallest crowds and the mildest weather for soaking and walking. January is the quietest month, while June through August is both the busiest and the hottest, with summer highs in the low 90s and heat index values that can reach 110F. Spring and fall bring the most rainfall, so pack for showers if you come then.
How crowded does Hot Springs National Park get?
Hot Springs draws roughly 1.5 million visits a year, and the summer months of June through August account for about 60% of them. The single most crowded spot is Bathhouse Row, a quarter-mile stretch of eight historic bathhouses along Central Avenue.
What is the quietest trail in Hot Springs National Park?
The Dead Chief Trail (formerly the Oertel Trail) and the West Mountain Trail are the least crowded, and the longer Sunset Trail offers the most solitude. Most visitors stick to the easily reached Hot Springs Mountain Trail near Bathhouse Row and the Mountain Tower, so heading farther out thins the crowd quickly.
Can you camp at Hot Springs National Park?
Yes, camping is available at Gulpha Gorge Campground, the park's only campground, with 40 reservable sites for both tents and RVs. Sites cost $34 a night, or $17 with a Senior or Access pass, and every site must be reserved in advance through Recreation.gov.
Where do you park at Hot Springs National Park?
Free lots sit on top of Hot Springs, North, and West Mountains for the in-park trails and overlooks, while Bathhouse Row relies on city metered street parking and garages such as the Exchange Street Garage. Lots have limited capacity, so the park recommends arriving early during peak times, and vehicles longer than 30 feet are not permitted on park roads.
Is there an entrance fee or reservation required?
No, there is no entrance fee and no reservation is needed to enter Hot Springs National Park. Camping at Gulpha Gorge does require a reservation, and soaking is only available inside the Buckstaff and Quapaw bathhouses.
What are the park's hours?
The grounds, Bathhouse Row sidewalks, Grand Promenade, and Arlington Lawn are open daily from 5:00am to 10:00pm. The roads up Hot Springs, North, and West Mountains are open to vehicle traffic from 8:00am to 10:00pm.
Are there accessible campsites at Gulpha Gorge?
Yes, Gulpha Gorge has accessible sites, and they can be booked one week earlier than standard sites by calling the Fordyce Visitor Center at (501) 620-6715. All other sites are reserved through Recreation.gov up to six months in advance.
