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📍- Hot Springs, Arkansas

Some national parks offer a chance to immerse yourself in nature. Some national parks bring beauty within the boundary of our city limits. At just over 5,500 acres, and noted as the second smallest national park in the United States, it is truly remarkable that Hot Springs National Park gives us a bit of both. Located in central Arkansas, the oasis of Hot Springs gives its visitors a chance to escape into nature, exploring its 26 miles of hiking trails, while also being able to enjoy the amenities of the western bordering downtown hub. 

Don’t let its small size fool you. There’s so much to do in Hot Springs National Park that you will want to keep coming back for more year after year. We spent two weeks exploring the park and its surrounding area and are now reporting back with the things you just can’t miss during your next camping trip to Hot Springs National Park. Continue reading to discover your travel guide to Hot Springs National Park including where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.

A bit of Hot Springs History

You would be correct in assuming that Hot Springs National Park is aptly named after the natural hot springs that bubble throughout the property. But while many hot springs naturally occur due to subterranean volcanic activity, the story of Hot Springs, Arkansas is a bit different. When the area’s characteristic Ouachita Mountains were formed nearly 300 million years ago due to the collision of two tectonic plates, the mountain forming event left behind cracks between the layers of sandstone that make up its geology. These cracks serve as an avenue where rainwater can flow up to 8,000 feet below the earth’s surface. It takes around 4,000 years for water to reach this depth before hitting a fault line and then being redirected to the earth’s crust toward what is now known as Bathhouse Row within Hot Springs National Park. 

The heat the water absorbs throughout this journey means it exits the springs at around 140 °F. This supply of warm mineral water made Hot Springs a tourist destination early in the United States history, attracting infamous guests, like Al Capone and his tribe of Gangsters, as well as more favorable ones, like Babe Ruth, who enjoyed soaking in the thermal water and enjoying its many health benefits. 

Where to Stay

Gulpha Gorge Campground

The Gulpha Gorge Campground is the only campground located on Hot Springs National Park Property. The park offers 43 full-hookup sites at a rate of $30 a night. It features a calming stream that flows through the campsites, and also offers flush toilets but no laundry or shower stations. Its parking lot is conveniently located at the trailhead to some of the park’s best hiking trails (more on that down below), and features a small creak which adds to adds a few stars to its atmosphere rating. Because of this, you may see more crowds in the park during the weekends as people drive into the park to enjoy a day out in nature. Like many other national park campgrounds, Gulpha Gorge has a 14-day maximum stay limit, and can fill up fast, typically being fully booked even during off-season. We were lucky enough to somehow snag a last minute 14-night stay that fit our 32 foot motorhome, enjoying the large lot sizes and convenient location for every minute that we were there.

If you aren’t able to secure a reservation in Gulpha Gorge, there are plenty of campgrounds around town, ranging in both price and quality. We scouted out a few, and asked around to give you our personal recommendations on where you should try next.

Hot Springs National Park KOA Holiday

KOA campgrounds have a widespread reputation of being reliable places to park up for any vacation, and the Hot Springs National Park KOA is no different. A bit pricier than Gulpha Gorge, this campground also has more amenities to offer such as a pool, laundry facility, WIFI, weekly activities, and a shuttle service that can take you to different areas of the park. They even offer cabin rentals for those of you who aren’t very keen on camping. Their location is just a few miles from downtown Hot Springs, making it a convenient place to hang your hat during your stay.

J&J RV Park

Coming in at $41 a night, our last campground recommendation is the clean, no-fuss campground of J&J RV Park. They offer full-hookups, a convenient location to the park and downtown, WIFI, cable, and laundry. Like Gulpha Gorge, a small creek flowing through the park is a nice touch which can help you relax after a day of seeing the sights.

What to do

Hike

If you’re visiting a national park, you probably love nature and being outdoors. Luckily for you, Hot Springs National Park has over 26 miles of hiking trails for you to enjoy, ranging in length and difficulty which broadens the accessibility to a wide range of visitors. I’ve listed the details of our favorite hikes down below, but you can also access the complete trail map here.

Gulpha Gorge Trail: 1.2 miles in length, 400 foot elevation gain, out and back type trail, rated moderately challenging. Parking is at the amphitheater at the Gulpha Gorge Campground.

Goat Rock Trail: 2.4 miles in length, 400 foot elevation gain, out and back type trail, rated moderately challenging. You can choose to either park at the amphitheater at the Gulpha Gorge Campground, accessing the trail via the Gulpha Gorge Trail, or you can park at the North Mountain Overlook and access the trail coming from the opposite direction. This trail features the Goat Rock Overlook, which had one of the best views of the mountains that we had all week!

Peak Trail: 1.3 miles in length, 410 feet elevation gain, out and back type trail, rated moderately challenging. Park downtown at the free parking garage, then access the trailhead at the center of the Grand Promenade.

Ascend the Mountain Tower

No stop at Hot Springs National Park is complete without a visit to the observation deck at the top of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. At 1,300 feet above sea level, this tower offers some of the best panoramic views of the Ouachita Mountains with up to 140 miles of visibility. To get to the tower, you can choose to either park right outside in their convenient parking lot, taking the elevator straight to the top, or you can hike the Peak Trail from downtown and take the stairs if you want to stretch your legs a bit. 

Admission to the tower is $11 per adult, but is slightly discounted if you have a current Annual National Park Pass.

Soak at a Bathhouse

What better way to soak in all that Hot Springs has to offer than by literally soaking in its hot spring water? Bathhouse Row, located at the west end of the park, is a string of bathhouses and gardens that provide pampering and spa services which utilizing their supply of hot mineral water. There are several services and bathhouses to choose from, but we would recommend the Quapaw Baths & Spa because it is noted as being one of the more modern facilities with amenities to match. $55 bought us a private, 20 minute soak with a chosen aromatherapy scent. 20 minutes may not sound like a lot, but it proved to be more than enough time to sweat out our worries and to detox from our previous week spent at Mardi Gras (which is documented here).

The Buckstaff Bathhouse is one of oldest, continuously operated bathhouses in Hot Springs and can offer its guests a more traditional experience. Keeping in mind that these bathhouses were built in the early 1900s, you get readers choice for what type of experience you want to opt for.

Visit the Hot Springs

As you hike throughout the park, you will encounter several runoff streams which carry steaming water down the Ouachita hillside. Standing next to these runoffs can make you feel like you’re inside a steam cave, and could actually be a cheaper alternative than paying for a mineral bath if you think about it. Still, if you want to see a spring, and possibly dip your hand in one, there are two easily accessible options.

The display spring, which is located directly behind the Maurice Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row, is easy to access, always hot, and gives you a chance to see the thermal water as it cascades over a small water feature. Secondarily, the Hot Water Cascade is located on the lawn of the Arlington hotel. It is just off of Bathhouse Row, also easy to access, and is the biggest collection of hot spring water that you can see in the park.

Drink the Water

Yes, it is completely safe to drink the hot spring water, and it is actually encouraged by the National Park service and locals who regularly can be found filling large collections of jugs with the water to take to their home. Water fountains which supply guests with the mineral water are scattered throughout park property, with a complete list of all the water fountains found here. The fountains we frequently visited because of their proximity to the free downtown parking garage were in front of the National Park Service Administration Building on Reserve Street, and the Shell Fountain at the Grande Promenade which is right at the entrance to most of the park’s trails. 

Keep in mind that the water coming out of most of these fountains is hot, and you should allow it to cool before drinking it if you’re in the mood for ice water. You can alternatively bring some tea with you to make some natural thermal hot spring tea, which is definitely a one of a kind experience.

Drive through West Mountain Drive

If you’re short on time, and only have a day or two to see the park, driving through the West Mountain Drive is a great way to see many of the park’s lookouts in a short amount of time. This drive is a two way road which begins on Fountain Street and leads you up to the Hot Spring Mountain Tower as well as the Pagoda Overlook which is the perfect place to stop for a bagged lunch at one of their picnic tables.

Explore Downtown

Downtown Hot Springs is quirky and fun with lots of museums, activities, and hot springs themed shops. While Drew and I aren’t big shoppers, we do enjoy browsing as a way to pass the time. 

For this, The Bathhouse Soapery and Caldarium is a bath and body emporium which offers a ton of bath products in a variety of fragrances for anybody who likes a bit of luxury. 

All Things Arkansas is another unique shop which features a collection of mementos which have been sourced and crafted in Arkansas. It’s a favorite for visitors wanting to secure a souvenir from their Hot Springs Vacation. 

Of course, if you’re not into shopping, The Gangster Museum of America explores the darker past of Hot Springs, bringing visitors back to a time when gambling and bootlegging were frequent past times in the mountains of Central Arkansas. The $15 admission price gives you access to seven galleries, a museum theater, and even allows guests the opportunity to play in an antique casino.

Where to Eat

Grateful Head Pizza Oven and Beer Garden

If you like pizza and beer, you will certainly love The Grateful Head. The first restaurant we tried while in Hot Springs, this restaurant made us want to come back for more the second day. The menu is small but exactly as advertised, giving patrons a choice of pizzas with a wide selection of sauce bases and toppings. This restaurant is one of the more popular restaurants downtown, and typically has the wait to prove it. Show up early to avoid the crowds, or you can enjoy sipping on one of their local draft beers in their lush beer garden as you wait for a table on their scenic outdoor patio. 

The Ohio Club

If you are intrigued by the gangster filled past of Hot Springs, you should make eating at The Ohio Club your top priority. Previously operating as a bar and casino when it was established in 1905, The Ohio Club is the oldest bar in Hot Springs. It even operated as a speakeasy during the prohibition era. Keeping up with the gangster theme, it advertises Al Capone, Bugsy Segel, Bugs Moran and Lucky Luciano as some of its most infamous patrons, with some major league baseball players frequenting the establishment as well.

Today, it offers good food, an elegant and retro bar scene, and live music 7 nights a week. It gets crowded fast, especially during the weekends, so make sure to show up early or be prepared to forgo a bit of a wait.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

The Superior Bathhouse Brewery may be the most unique restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of eating at. Boasting its title as the only brewery within a national park, the Bathhouse Brewery operates in what was previously a working bathhouse. They’ve maintained the integrity of the original bathhouse architecture, but added great music and neon lights to lift the vibe. They even use the natural hot spring water in their 18 crafted beers. During our visit, we opted for the “Beer Bath”, a $35 experience that lets you sample all 18 of their beers. I must admit we struggled to polish off the last of our tasters, but still feel the experience was well worth it. The star of our meal was the Brie-LT Sandwich which we highly recommend with the warning that it was spicier than expected!

We hope you enjoyed this Travel Guide for Hot Springs National Park and hope that it will help you in planning your next camping trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas. If you have any questions, or if you have a tip for visiting Hot Springs that you think I missed, please leave us a comment so that we can help future travelers together!

Thank you for joining us at Discovery Detour, where the Destination is always unknown!