Located in the heart of central Arkansas, Hot Springs is often called “America’s Worst National Park,” but after spending a summer weekend here, we couldn’t disagree with that classification more. Predating the National Park Service itself, Hot Springs was established as a federal reservation in 1832 to protect the thermal waters for public use. It’s the country’s oldest and second smallest national park, and the first created to protect a natural resource. It’s also the only national park that’s home to a brewery! Intrigued yet? You should be!
When most people think of Hot Springs, they usually picture historic bathhouses and ancient thermal springs. And while those are certainly worth experiencing, there’s so much more to discover here beyond the downtown stretch. Between beautiful hiking trails, waterfalls with turquoise blue plunge pools, and award-winning botanical gardens, Hot Springs makes for the perfect weekend getaway for those who love the combination of history, nature, and wellness. And if you want to hit all of the area’s gems when you visit, you’re in the right place.
Hot Springs Weekend Itinerary at a Glance
Looking for the perfect weekend itinerary in Hot Springs, Arkansas? This 48-hour at-a-glance guide covers the highlights of Hot Springs National Park, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Lake Catherine State Park, historic Bathhouse Row, and some of the best restaurants in town.
Friday Evening
- Check in to your hotel/rental
- Bop around Bathhouse Row after dark
- Dinner and drinks at the Ohio Club: Arkansas’s oldest bar
Saturday
- Explore Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center, Bathhouse Row, and the Grand Promenade
- Lunch downtown at Deluca’s Pizza
- Hike Hot Springs’ trails
- Catch the sunset from a summit or from Hot Springs Mountain Tower
- Dinner & drinks at Superior Bathhouse Brewing
Sunday
- Explore Garvan Woodland Gardens
- Chase waterfalls and natural waterslides at Catherine State Park and/or off Blue Bird Road
Know Before You Go: Top Tips for Visiting Hot Springs National Park
- Bring a Reusable Water Bottle so you can sample the city’s famous thermal spring water from public fountains located around downtown and Bathhouse Row.
- Reserve Bathhouse Experiences Early and Pack Rubber Swim Shoes: Public baths operate on a first-come, first-served basis, but popular spa treatments and bathing packages can book up quickly, especially during weekends. If you want to experience the Public Baths at Quapaw, remember to pack flip-flops or slip-on swim shoes entirely made of rubber or plastic. You’ll have to buy them for $7 if you forget.
- Don’t Skip the Trails. So many people focus solely on Bathhouse Row and miss the mountains that surround downtown, but that couldn’t be you!
- Pack Comfortable Walking Shoes/Hiking Boots: Although Hot Springs is one of the most accessible national parks, you’ll still find plenty of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain throughout the area. Plus, the trails are rocky, so you’ll want to be prepared.
- Rent a Car: While Hot Springs National Park is super walkable, you’ll want access to a car to get to nearby must-sees like Garvan Woodland Gardens and Lake Catherine State Park. Plus, if you want to cut some mileage/elevation off of some of the park’s trails, a car will be helpful so you can drive to the trailheads.
We spent two days chasing waterfalls, soaking in historic thermal baths, hiking to beautiful vistas, wandering beautiful, forested trails through nearby gardens, and (of course) eating and drinking our way around town. So if you’re looking to plan an adventurous summer weekend itinerary for Hot Springs National Park, you’re in the right place. Here’s exactly how to spend a weekend exploring one of Arkansas’s most unique destinations.
Friday: Dinner & Drinks Worth Betting on in Downtown Hot Springs
If you’re planning to fly into the area, the closest airport is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock. We got into town on Friday night, picked up our rental car, and drove just under an hour from the airport to Hot Springs.
Dine like a Gangster at Arkansas’s Oldest Bar: The Ohio Club
As soon as we got into town, we dropped our bags at our adorable boho loft Airbnb, and then headed downtown for dinner and drinks at the state’s oldest (and perhaps most iconic) bar. Al Capone, Bugsy Segel, and Lucky Luciano are just a few of the infamous characters who frequented this watering hole.
Today, The Ohio Club is known for its award-winning burgers, which we highly recommend. Their 7-ounce patties are cooked to order and live up to all the hype. We grabbed a seat at a table crafted from a roulette wheel that was discovered hidden behind a brick wall during renovations—alongside a collection of Prohibition-era cocktail recipes that have since found their way back onto the menu.
Saturday: Explore Bathhouse Row, Take the Thermal Waters, and Hike Hot Springs
If you’re looking to quaff (drink) the healing elixir and take (soak in) the ancient, 4,000-year-old thermal waters, head to Bathhouse Row. It’s home to the largest collection of 20th-century bathhouses where about four dozen springs produce over 700,000 gallons of water a day.
Learn the History of Hydrotherapy at the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center
Kick off your day at the historic Fordyce Bathhouse, which now serves as the park’s visitor center and museum. Built in 1915, the beautifully restored bathhouse is free to visit and provides a great introduction to the park. Taking yourself on a little self-paced/guided tour offers a fascinating look into the city’s spa-town history and a peek into what hydrotherapy entailed during the Great American Spa.
Spoiler: The stained glass windows and sculptures you’ll find in the Fordyce Bathhouse are beautiful, but some of the devices present in the original bathing rooms more closely resemble a torture chamber than a spa.
Take the Thermal Waters and Quaff the Elixer
Next, head behind the bathhouses to walk the Grand Promenade, a half-mile brick pathway that offers views of the surrounding mountains and access to several thermal spring displays. Our favorite was Hot Water Cascade (pictured below). It’s the largest visible spring in the park and one of only a few open-air springs that are accessible here.
If you want to soak in the thermal waters that made the city famous, two historic bathhouses on Bathhouse Row still operate today: Quapaw Bathhouse and Buckstaff Bathhouse. The Quapaw Bathhouse is best for couples who want to experience the thermal pools together. They also offer modern spa services like facials and massages. The Buckstaff Bathhouse is Hot Springs’ only traditional bathhouse, where men’s services are provided on the first floor with male attendants and women’s services take place on the second floor with female attendants.
You can also fill your water bottle (for free) from several thermal spring fountains and two cold spring fountains throughout the park. Pictured above is Happy Hollow Spring— one of the Park’s cold spring fountains.
Lunch Downtown at Deluca’s Pizza
When you get hungry, head to Deluca’s Pizza for lunch. This Hot Springs institution is located right on the main stretch of Central Ave. and serves up delicious 18” brick oven pizza as well as pastas, salads, and cocktails. Pro tip: This place gets busy (for good reason), so snag a seat at the bar to skip the wait during the lunch rush!
Hit the Hot Springs Trails
Hot Springs National Park boasts 26 miles of hiking trails, many of which are interconnected and can be accessed right from the Grande Promenade downtown. Below are three of our favorites, but before you head out, ensure you’re prepared for the conditions and to practice Leave No Trace. Always observe wildlife from a distance, pack out your waste, and remain on designated trails.
- Goat Rock and Upper Dogwood Loop Trail (2.5-miles RT | ~350 feet of elevation gain): This moderate route combines two of the park’s most popular trails and leads to a great viewpoint. To get to the trailhead, park at the overlook on North Mountain and head south. This trail provides one of the best photo opportunities in the park, and en route to the main overlook, you’ll pass interpretive signs, cool rock outcroppings, wildflowers, and peek-a-boo views.
- Sunset Trail to Balanced Rock (1.5-miles RT | ~500 feet of elevation gain): This trail winds through an old-growth forest (with some trees over 300 years old) and leads to a rocky outcropping featuring a massive, balanced boulder. To get there, you’ll drive through the City of Hot Springs and head northwest. Park at the trailhead along Cedarglades Road and cross the street to begin the hike. The trail is rocky and steep at the onset, but evens out fairly quickly and becomes a shaded ridgeline walk. When you reach a fork with signage about endemic flowers, you’ll turn right and walk .2 miles through a boulder field until you reach Balanced Rock. You can rock hop/climb your way out to take in the vista here. For the best view of this hike’s namesake, continue past the first outcropping you see and check out the boulder from below. You can also continue for a few yards to find another outcropping with more beautiful views of the mountains.
- Hot Springs Mountain Trail (3.3 miles RT | ~1K feet of elevation gain): This trail takes you past the Hot Springs Mountain Tower where you can climb 216 feet to the observation decks take in panoramic views of the city of Hot Springs, the Ouachita Mountains, Hot Springs Mountain, and Diamond Lakes area. It costs $13pp to ascend, and when you get to the top, you’ll be able to see 140 miles from 1,256 feet above sea level.
Post-Hike Brews at Superior Bathhouse Brewery
Nothing pairs better with a hike than a cold, local beer, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery is the perfect place to grab one. It’s located in a historic bathhouse on Central Ave., the only brewery in a U.S. national park, and the only brewery in the world using thermal spring water as its main ingredient, making it a must-visit!
Sip a Taste of Hot Springs History at Crystal Ridge Distillery
If you’re up for a walk and enjoy local, craft spirits, head over to Crystal Ridge Distillery for a nightcap. Located in a beautifully restored historic warehouse just a few blocks (20-minute walk) from Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs’ first legal distillery in modern times produces a variety of locally crafted spirits, including moonshine, whiskey, bourbon, and vodka, which draw inspiration from the area’s bootlegging history. They have a full cocktail bar, but we opted for a tasting flight, and highly recommend it!
Sunday: Woodland Gardens and Waterfalls
Today is all about discovering the area’s natural beauty beyond the park. On our last day in town, we traded historic bathhouses for blooming gardens, lakefront views, and waterfall hikes. Just a short drive from downtown, these spots proved to be the perfect way to experience another side of Hot Springs before heading home.
Stroll Through Garvan Woodland Gardens
This award-winning botanical garden may just be the most whimsical one in the entire country and surely deserves a spot on every Hot Springs itinerary. It’s run by the University of Arkansas and composed of forested paths spanning 210 acres along Lake Hamilton.
One of the highlights is Anthony Chapel, a breathtaking glass-and-timber structure surrounded by towering pine trees. The Chapel is free to visit, so if you’re short on time, we highly recommend checking it out on your way to the airport.
Other must-see stops (that you need a ticket to access) include the Evans Tree House, a treehouse-inspired structure that is nothing short of an architectural masterpiece, and the Japanese Garden, where koi ponds, stone pathways, and water features will transport you to the Land of the Rising Sun. We also loved their current Where the Wind Lives installation. Five of these colorful displays can be found suspended above the gardens’ different landscapes, and the way that they sway in the breeze is mesmerizing.
Logistics: Tickets purchased online cost $22pp (and snagging them ahead of time will save you $8), and golf cart tours are also available for an additional $20pp. The gardens are about 6 miles from Hot Springs National Park and open from 9AM to 6PM daily. There’s a lot to see, so bring water and plan to spend at least two to three hours here.
Chase Waterfalls at Lake Catherine State Park or Natural Waterslides at Bluebird Falls
After getting some steps in at the gardens, head to Lake Catherine State Park to cool off. This gem is free to visit, just 20 minutes from downtown, and offers a completely different side of Hot Springs. We recommend hiking the Falls Branch Trail, a short but scenic route that winds along the lake and leads to a beautiful waterfall with a turquoise blue swimming hole at its base. It’s the perfect spot to relax and cool off before heading home.
To get to Falls Branch Falls, you’ll park at the trailhead’s lot within the campsite. The trail is well-marked, family-friendly, and only 1.7 miles round trip. Because this spot is pretty easy to access, expect to share it with others.
Alternatively, swing by Bluebird Falls (aka the Cool Pool). This hidden gem is a bit off the beaten path, but worth the drive if you love roadside waterfalls and natural waterslides. To get there, you’ll follow directions to Blue Bird Road 71913, drive to the end of the paved road, and park near the trash can. You’ll find the falls, waterslides, and plunge pools just off the road.
Where to Stay in Hot Springs, Arkansas
One of the best things about visiting Hot Springs is that you have several great options depending on the type of getaway you’re planning. Downtown Hot Springs is ideal for anyone who wants to walk to Bathhouse Row and all the restaurants, shops, and nightlife on Central Ave. Basing yourself here puts you in the heart of the action and makes it easy to explore the National Park without constantly getting back in the car.
We loved our stay at the Rest a While Boho Loft. This 2-bedroom walk-up is beautifully designed, sleeps 4, and has a full kitchen and laundry room. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Bathhouse Row and was the perfect homebase for our visit.
The property has also been placed on the National Register of Historic Places and was previously listed in the Green Book (designed to show businesses that did not discriminate against Black travelers).
Where to Camp Near Hot Springs National Park
If you’d rather sleep under the stars, you’ll find plenty of camping opportunities in/near Hot Springs National Park. Just be sure to reserve campsites well in advance for spring, summer, and fall weekends.
Gulpha Gorge Campground: If you plan to spend most of your time exploring downtown Hot Springs, Gulpha Gorge Campground offers the most convenient location. Nestled within the park boundaries, this campground can accommodate both tents and RVs and offer access to trails while being just minutes from Bathhouse Row, making it a great basecamp for exploring the park.
Lake Catherine State Park: Located about 20 minutes from downtown Hot Springs, Lake Catherine State Park is one of the area’s most popular camping destinations. The park offers campsites with electric and water hookups, tent sites, camper cabins, yurts, like the one pictured above, and easy access to hiking trails. For lake access and family-friendly amenities, Lake Catherine State Park is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Hot Springs National Park
Planning a trip to Hot Springs National Park often comes with a few questions, especially for first-time visitors. From how many days you need to whether you can soak in the hot springs, here are the most common things you’ll want to know before visiting.
How many days do you need in Hot Springs National Park?
A weekend is enough to see the highlights of Hot Springs, including Bathhouse Row, Hot Springs Mountain Tower, Garvan Woodland Gardens, and Lake Catherine State Park. That said, three to four days will allow you to explore the surrounding lakes, spend more time on the trails, and enjoy additional museums, restaurants, and/or spa experiences.
Can you soak in the hot springs at Hot Springs National Park?
At temperatures of 143°F, the natural springs here are the hottest east of the Rockies, so you cannot soak directly in them. However, you can touch the springs and/or take a dip in the thermal waters at one of the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row.
Where is Hot Springs National Park?
Hot Springs National Park is located in central Arkansas, approximately one hour southwest of Little Rock (and the city’s airport). It’s 3 hours from Memphis, 4.5 hours from Dallas, 5 hours from Oklahoma City, and 5 hours from both St. Louis and Nashville, making it an easy road-trip destination from these major cities. If you’re flying in, you’ll want to book your flight into Clinton National Airport (LIT).
Is Hot Springs National Park walkable?
Yes. One of the unique aspects of Hot Springs National Park is that it’s integrated directly into the city of Hot Springs. Unlike many national parks that require long drives between attractions, you’ll find hiking trails, historic bathhouses, restaurants, and shops all within a compact area. Many of the park’s most popular spots (including Bathhouse Row, the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center, and the Grand Promenade) are within walking distance of each other. That said, a car is recommended for visiting attractions like Garvan Woodland Gardens and Lake Catherine State Park, as well as scenic overlooks and trailheads.
When is the Best Time to Visit Hot Springs National Park?
Hot Springs is truly a year-round destination, so deciding which season is best for your trip really just depends on what you’re looking for. Spring brings beautiful blooms, while fall offers vibrant foliage throughout the Ouachita Mountains. Summer is perfect for hanging lakeside and chasing waterfalls. That said, it gets very hot and humid, with July being the hottest month. Daytime high temperatures typically range from the mid-80s to low 90s°F, and the heat index often pushes “feels like” temperatures above 100°F. Winter, on the other hand, draws fewer crowds, which is always a plus. You can also expect mild temperatures (with daytime highs in the mid-50s°F and nighttime lows around 30°F), which provide a cozy atmosphere for soaking in the thermal baths.
Hot Springs offers one of the most unique weekend getaways in the South, and is definitely worth a visit. Anyone who thinks it’s the worst National Park is just objectively mistaken. In just two days, you can hike beautiful trails, soak in natural thermal waters, wander through whimsical, art-filled botanic gardens, and chase waterfalls. And when you love the outdoors, it doesn’t get much better than that!
