Hot Springs (Arkansas)

• Hot Springs Memorial Field
• Little Rock National Airport (with shuttle service and rental cars.)

• From Interstate 30 take the Hot Springs US 70 West exit south of Benton, the Hot Springs US 270 West exit at Malvern, or the Hot Springs Ark. 7 North exit near Arkadelphia.
• If traveling south on Ark. 7, come through downtown Hot Springs where the visitor center is located.
• If traveling south on US 71 from Fort Smith, or north on US 71 from Texarkana, take the US 270 East exit and take 270B through town.
• Coming from Oklahoma on US 70 go all the way into Hot Springs. When you get into the city you will see signs for the National Park.
• The Visitor Center is downtown on Highway 7 North or Central Avenue.

• Greyhound Bus Lines, 1001 Central Ave, Suite D, Hot Springs, ☏ +1-800-231-2222.

• Amtrak's Texas Eagle route serves Little Rock, Arkansas, with shuttle services to Hot Springs.

For 200 years, the natural hot springs surrounding present-day Hot Springs National Park have been used to treat illnesses and to relax. Today, Hot Springs National Park surrounds the north end of the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Visitors from around the world flocked to Hot Springs National Park’s historic Bathhouse Row in the 1800s and early 1900s to bathe in the thermal waters, thought to have healing powers; rich and poor alike bathed in its healing waters and relaxed in its bathhouses. With the advent of modern medicine, many bathhouses were closed, but the buildings were preserved and many are open for tours. Today hot and cool mineral water flows from the local springs and many people stop on Bathhouse Row and at the Happy Hollow Spring to fill water jugs at the public fountains. There are no park entrance fees charged.

• 🌍 Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, 369 Central Ave (between Reserve and Fountain Streets), ☏ +1 501 624-3383 ext 640. Daily 9AM-5PM. The visitor center in the former Fordyce Bathhouse is also a 24-room museum offering self-guided tours. Considered the most elegant bathhouse when completed in 1915, it exhibits beautiful mosaic tile floors, marble, stained glass windows and ceilings, a gymnasium, and routine bathing equipment. The 15-minute orientation movie, Valley of Vapors, offers a brief history of the area. Taking the Baths is a 9-minute video showing the traditional bathing routine in the Hot Springs bathhouses. Rest rooms and water fountains are located in the basement. Other rooms shown include the music room, massage rooms and a bowling alley. 
• 🌍 Bathhouse Row (Central Avenue). Includes the Fordyce Bathhouse and seven other bathhouses all built in the early 20th century. The Row is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aside from the Fordyce which serves as the park visitor center, the Buckstaff is the only other operating bathhouse; it is still in use as a spa. The other bathhouses are vacant but awaiting new uses. 
• 🌍 Hale Bathhouse. The present Hale Bathhouse is the oldest visible structure on Bathhouse Row. The Mission Revival-style bathhouse is a textbook case of the changes in use and design of bathhouses buildings in Hot Springs National Park. (updated Jun 2020)

• 🌍 The Grand Promenade. A landscaped walkway behind Bathhouse Row which offers a glimpse of the springs and historic landscape features. Entrances are from behind the Visitor Center and from Fountain Street. 
• 🌍 Hot Springs Mountain Tower, 401 Hot Springs Mountain Dr, ☏ +1 501-881-4020. (updated Dec 2020)

• 🌍 Garvan Woodland Gardens, 550 Arkridge Rd, ☏ +1 501 262-9300, toll-free: +1-800-366-4664. Garvan Woodland Gardens. Learn more about its natural flora and fauna. 

• 🌍 Mid America Science Museum, 500 Mid America Blvd, ☏ +1 501 767-3461, toll-free: +1-800-632-0583. Labor Day to Memorial Day: Tu-Su 10AM-5PM; Memorial Day to Labor Day: daily 9:30AM-6PM. A great family attraction and the largest hands-on science center in Arkansas. Take the “Underground Arkansas” tour of a gigantic indoor cave filled with chambers, bridges, tunnels and slides, or experience the light, motion and sound of the “Virtual Reality Simulator.” Mid America Museum is the perfect setting for school field trips, birthday parties, summer science camps and more. 
• 🌍 Gangster Museum of America, 501 Central Ave, ☏ +1 501-318-1717. Daily 10am - 5pm. Museum about organized crime in America, particularly during the prohibition years of the 1920s and early 1930s, when Chicago gangsters came to Hot Springs to relax in the thermal baths and run illegal drinking and prostitution establishments while local police and politicians were paid to forget they ever saw any gangsters. $15 (adults), discounts for seniors and children. (updated Feb 2024)

Hot Springs is home to several festivals throughout the year.

• Arkansas Shorts Film Festival. in January of each year. 
• Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. in the fall. 
• Hot Springs Music Festival, ☏ +1 501 623-476. The, brings together mentor musicians with pre-professional musicians during the first two weeks of June to perform chamber and orchestral music. Venues are located at various sites in the historic downtown district. 
• Hot Springs Blues/Jazz Fest - Labor Day Weekend.
• Hot Water Hills Music & Arts Festival. usually held in October. 
• Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival (at Low Key Arts). every year in March. 

• 🌍 1890 Williams House Bed and Breakfast (Hot Springs Arkansas B & B), 420 Quapaw Ave, ☏ +1 501 624-4275, toll-free: +1 800-756-4635. Check-in: 3:30PM to 6PM, check-out: 11AM. Rooms:$149 - 169, suites: $199 - 229. 
• 🌍 The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, 239 Central Ave, toll-free: +1-800-643-1502, info@arlingtonhotel.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. A historic downtown hotel. (updated Dec 2020)
• 🌍 The Hotel Hot Springs, 305 Malvern Ave, ☏ +1 501-424-4669, +1 501 623-6600. The Austin Hotel & Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown Hot Springs with 200 guestrooms and a beautiful view of the Ouachita Mountains. Amenities include spa, indoor/outdoor pool, lounge and restaurant on site. 
• 🌍 Best Western Winners Circle Inn, 2520 Central Ave, ☏ +1 501 624-2531, fax: +1 501 623-0169. 
• 🌍 Country Inn & Suites, 4307 Central Ave, ☏ +1 501 525-2225. 
• 🌍 Embassy Suites Hot Springs Hotel & Spa, 400 Convention Blvd, ☏ +1 501 624-9200. Has a reasonably priced in-house spa. 
• 🌍 Hilltop Manor Bed and Breakfast, 2009 Park Ave, ☏ +1 501 625-7829. 
• 🌍 Holiday Inn Express, 206 Mehta Ct, ☏ +1 501 463-5600. 
• 🌍 Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, 104 Lookout Circle, ☏ +1 501 525-6155, toll-free: +1-866-525-6155, Info@LookoutPointLakesideInn.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Resort on Lake Hamilton. Each room has a view of the lake and many have a private balcony. Beautiful groomed gardens. $229-$749. (updated Mar 2022)
• Mountain Thyme Bed & Breakfast Inn, 10860 Scenic Byway 7 North, Jessieville, toll-free: +1-888-820-5424. 
• 🌍 Quality Inn, 4319 Central Ave., ☏ +1 501 525-1660. 
• 🌍 Sunbay Resort, 4810 Central Ave, ☏ +1 501 525 4691, toll-free: 800 468 0055. Lodging on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. Hotel rooms and 1 and 2 bedroom condos, most with balconies and lake views. 

Campgrounds with more amenities can be found in commercial, State Park, Corps of Engineers, and Forest Service campgrounds in the surrounding area.

• 🌍 Gulpha Gorge Campground, 305 Gorge Road (off US Hwy 70B on the east side of Hot Springs). 40 sites. National park campground with sites available on a first come, first served basis, no reservations. All sites have full hookups: 30 and 50 amp electric, water and sewer connections. Sites are not pull-through. Each campsite has a picnic table, pedestal grill, and water. While there are no showers, there are modern restrooms. Water is available at several stations throughout the campground most of the year and at the dump station. Quiet hours are 10PM-6AM. Pets are allowed if leashed. Camping in Gulpha Gorge Campground is limited to a total of 14 consecutive days and a cumulative total of 30 days in any calendar year. $30 all camp sites (2020 rates). (updated Jun 2020)