How to Spend One Amazing Day at Hot Springs National Park
Bathhouse Row.
Fill Up Your Water Jug.
Walk the Grand Promenade.
Take a Hike.
Take a Scenic Drive.
People Also Ask
How much time do you need in Hot Springs National Park? If you want to just see the highlights, including Bathhouse Row, touching the hot spring, and going for a short hike, you could definitely get away with just 1 day in Hot Springs National Park.
Some undersung places in Hot Springs that we locals love include Lake Ouachita, first of all! It's a 40,000-acre lake that has no development on it, no houses all along the shoreline like Lake Hamilton. Just pristine shoreline and about a million little islands.
Although the popular resort town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, has restaurants serving every sort meal, from pancakes and bacon & eggs to Argentinian coffee and regal steaks, its culinary claim to fame is barbecue. In this beautiful mountain getaway are two of the nation's greatest barbecue parlors.
While you cannot swim in the natural hot springs within Hot Springs National Park, there are two historic bathhouses where you can experience the thermal waters.
The best time to visit Hot Springs is August to October and February to April. Many of the attractions in and around Hot Springs revolve around the water, so travelers will be most comfortable visiting during the warmer months, when drying off won't immediately induce shivering.
— indulging in spa services, watching the steam rise from exposed springs, hiking and biking the mountain trails, enjoying delectable meals and much more. In 2021, 2.1 million people visited Hot Springs National Park, which is about an hour's drive southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas. The park has no entrance fee.
Of course, you should stay cognizant of how long you've been in the water. The intense heat can cause dehydration, fainting, and even burns depending on the temperature, so stick to 10- or 15-minute soaks with breaks in between to allow your body temperature to return to normal.
Things You Need to Know Before Visiting Hot Springs
Leave No Trace. I always hope that this goes without saying, but you never know because everyones experience level with recreating in the outdoors varies. ...
You'll need the car when exploring Hot Springs as public transit throughout the town, and Arkansas as a whole, is relatively scarce. Renting a car provides travelers with the flexibility needed to fully explore the array of attractions in Hot Springs.
Hot Springs National Park is the most crowded park in the U.S. Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is best known for its historic bathhouses that are fed by ancient thermal springs. But in addition to natural hot springs (and accompanying mountain views), the national park is extremely small.
They will list the current temperature of the water as well as the maximum amount of minutes to stay in at a time. For the most part, almost all commercial hot springs in North America require swimsuits so always err on the side of caution and keep that suit on. Even if you see someone remove their suit – wait.
Lake Catherine State Park boasts a nice swim beach but it is also home to a hidden waterfall that spills into Falls Creek, a tributary of Lake Catherine. To get to this picturesque swimming spot, follow Falls Branch Trail, a moderate two-mile loop trail that winds through the forest.
A unique chance to stay on Bathhouse Row in Hot Springs National Park is now available. The Hale Bathhouse, one of the former bathhouses on the famous row, has been remodeled into the Hotel Hale.