Before Gateway Arch National Park became a national park in early 2019, Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park was the smallest of all American national parks, and the only urban one. While it may have lost those distinctions, it still has many other things going for it.
For one, it has a solid claim to the title of the first “national park” in the USA—and in the world. Set aside in 1832, forty years before Yellowstone became a national park, by the U.S. Congress to preserve it as a recreational area, Hot Springs comprised the first-ever federally protected land.
Originally called the Hot Springs Reservation, its name changed to Hot Springs National Park in 1921, this is the oldest unit in the extensive National Park Service system.
Additionally, it’s also the first, and currently the only, national park with its own brewery.
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Natural Hot Springs and Historic Architecture
All in all, Hot Springs National Park is tiny. Situated in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a settlement that grew into a charming and popular spa town after federal protection was established, the park’s and town’s history are closely intertwined.
It’s the only national park that includes an urban street lined with historic stone buildings, known as Bathhouse Row.
As its name suggests, the park’s main feature and the very reason for its historic popularity are its numerous hot springs.
Known as the “Valley of Vapors” by Native Americans, who had been visiting the area for several thousands of years to bathe in its healing waters, modern development didn’t start until the thermal waters were federally protected in the 19th century.
Development started in the mid-1800s with the construction of basic wooden bathhouses. The first real tourism boom happened around the turn of the 19th century, when several large, stone and brick bathhouses were built and more complex bathing rituals established.
Entrepreneurs added ornate outdoor fountains, built promenades and formal entrances, giving the town of Hot Springs worldwide fame as “The American Spa.”
How to Spend a Day in Hot Springs National Park
It’s both these bathing rituals with water from natural hot springs, the popularity of which was/is also thanks to its lack of sulphur odor, and the ornate bathhouses that attracted a variety of guests.
From gangsters such as Al Capone to politicians, artists and foreign tourists, everyone came all the way to Hot Springs National Park to find healing in its soothing, warm waters.
Nowadays, it remains a super-popular tourist destination. More than 1.5 million people spend at least a day in Hot Springs National Park each year.
This is a small national park by all accounts, and one of the few actual urban national parks, so you can easily see all the major Hot Springs National Park attractions in 24 hours or less. It’s a fantastic stopping point on a cross-country road trip.
5 Things to Do in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas
If you’re wondering what to do in Hot Springs National Park, you’ll find all highlights below. Small enough to hike around it in just a few hours, there are also a wealth of historic sights and a couple of other fun Hot Springs National Park attractions.
Tour Historic Fordyce Bathhouse
In operation from 1915 to 1962 as the fanciest of all bathhouses, the Fordyce Bathhouse now houses the Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center. It’s the only building on historic Bathhouse Row that’s open to the public and can be toured.
Watch the orientation film and go on a self-guided tour. See the Dressing Rooms, the Massage Rooms, the State Rooms, the Gymnasium and the Music Room, all showcasing the opulence that characterized these bathhouses in the first half of the 20th century.
Also, don’t forget to pick up a Hot Springs National Park map. There’s no need to pay an entry fee—Hot Springs National Park is free to visit.
Stroll Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade
After you’ve gotten to know the park’s history and toured an actual bathhouse, continue your day in Hot Springs National Park with a casual stroll on Bathhouse Row. There are eight historic bathhouses on Bathhouse Row as well as the national park’s administrative building.
Walk along this wonderful tree-lined street, one of the main Hot Springs attractions, and admire the varied architectural styles of buildings such as the Buckstaff, Ozark and Hale Bathhouses.
Behind Bathhouse Row lies the Grand Promenade, a pathway through a park-like landscape that takes you past several hot springs. You’ll notice that almost all of them are covered with lids to protect them against pollution, but there are also a few open springs and fountains.
The most notable open hot spring in the park is the Hot Spring Water Cascade at the northern end of Bathhouse Row, also reachable via a stairway down from the Grand Promenade.
Hike Around Hot Springs Mountain
Besides the two above-mentioned urban paths, there are also several hiking trails in the forests of Hot Springs National Park. Going for an afternoon hike is one of the greatest things to do in Hot Springs National Park.
Even though the park may be smaller than 9 square miles (23 km2), there are no fewer than seventeen named trails in its Hot Springs Mountain and North Mountain areas.
Additionally, five more trails crisscross the West Mountain area on the other side of town. Most trails are really short, but you can link them together for a longer hike.
The Hot Springs Mountain Trail lies in the heart of the park, encircling the summit of Hot Springs Mountain. Only 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers) long, it makes for a great outing in the woods and hills behind Bathhouse Row.
The trail is reached via the 0.6-mile (1-kilometer) Peak Trail from the Grand Promenade or via the similarly long Gulpha Gorge Trail from the Gulpha Gorge Campground. This is definitely one of the best hikes in Hot Springs National Park.
A nice addition to this hike is the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which offers amazing views of the surrounding landscape. Note that you have to pay a fee to climb the tower.
Take a Bath in Hot Springs Water
The Buckstaff Bathhouse and the Quapaw Bathhouse are the only remaining operating bathhouses in Hot Springs National Park.
These historic spa buildings are, not surprisingly, one of the classic Hot Springs National Park attractions, one that has drawn in visitors for centuries.
At these bathhouses, you can experience an elaborate bathing routine that dates from the 19th century, modeled after traditional European spa practices.
You can enjoy several different treatments, including soaking in a hot bath, full steam baths, the application of hot packs and a cool-down shower. You can leave out any treatments that you don’t want or pay extra for services like massages.
Visit Superior Bathhouse Brewery
After your world-class bathing experience, finish off your day in Hot Springs National Park with a beer or two at Superior Bathhouse Brewery. This is the first, and up until now the only, brewery within a national park.
That’s not the only thing that sets this brewery apart, though. Housed in a remodeled historic bathhouse, it brews its beer using water directly from the hot springs. It’s the first brewery of its kind in the world.
Needless to say, this was one of my favorite Hot Springs National Park activities.
Where to Stay in Hot Springs National Park
Because Hot Springs National Park is basically an urban park, you won’t have any trouble finding a place to stay. From camping to stays in luxury hotels and everything in between, accommodation in Hot Springs is nothing less than abundant.
Let me just suggest two particularly great places to stay in Hot Springs National Park, which also happen to be complete opposites.
Gulpha Gorge Campground
The Gulpha Gorge Campground is the only campground in Hot Springs National Park. Located in the eastern part of the park, this is a great place to spend a night while exploring this small urban national park. Note that advanced reservations are required at this campground.
Campsites have potable water, a grill and a picnic table and there are modern restrooms, but no showers. (You can, of course, clean yourself in an actual bathhouse!)
The Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa
Arguably the greatest hotel in Hot Springs is the Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa. Located just north of Bathhouse Row, its location smack-bang in the middle of town couldn’t be any better. It’s a huge building with plenty of luxurious amenities.
Over the years, it has had the honor to receive such distinguished guests as Al Capone, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Bill Clinton (who actually grew up in Hot Springs), Babe Ruth, Tony Bennett and Yoko Ono.
Check this map for current deals on accommodation in Hot Springs National Park.
Other National Parks to Explore
- Acadia National Park Attractions
- Arches National Park Attractions
- Canyonlands National Park Attractions
- Capitol Reef National Park Attractions
- Crater Lake National Park Attractions
- Cuyahoga Valley National Park Attractions
- Death Valley National Park Attractions
- Grand Canyon National Park Attractions
- Joshua Tree National Park Attractions
- Mount Rainier National Park Attractions
- Olympic National Park Attractions
- Petrified Forest National Park Attractions
- Shenandoah National Park Attractions
- Theodore Roosevelt National Park Attractions