Overview
Hot Springs is a city in the Central region of Arkansas and home to Hot Springs National Park, a United States national park. It is also the childhood home of former President Bill Clinton.
8 sights · 10 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 13 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Hot Springs
Bathhouse Row
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…
Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Garvan Woodland Gardens
Garvan Woodland Gardens. Learn more about its natural flora and fauna.
Mid America Science Museum
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, mo…
Gangster Museum of America
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 prost…
Magic Springs and Crystal Falls
An amusement park with water and thrill rides such as roller coasters perched high above the Ouachita Mountains, outdoor concerts and more.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 92°F; winter lows dip to about 31°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Apr and May. (climate data from nearby Little Rock)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- HOT Memorial Field Airport, Hot Springs — 3 mi away. Directions
- LIT Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport/Adams Field, Little Rock — 50 mi away. Directions
- MEM Frederick W. Smith International Airport, Memphis — 179 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
- Places to stay listed here: about $30–$229 a night (typical $199), from 5 listed prices.
- Typical meal: about $8 per person at listed restaurants.
- Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$60, mid-range ~$250, comfortable ~$340.
Options are grouped as Hotels, Camping in the Sleep guide ↓.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, Bathhouse Row, The Grand Promenade
- Lunch Rolando's Nuevo Latino Restaurante
- Afternoon Hale Bathhouse, Gangster Museum of America
- Dinner JavaPrimo Coffee House, Cafe & More
- Evening Ohio Club
Day 2
- Morning Mid America Science Museum, Lake Ouachita State Park
- Afternoon Scenic mountain drives, Hot Springs Music Festival
- Evening Maxine's
Day 3
- Morning Lake Catherine State Park, Ouachita River Whitewater Park
- Afternoon Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Hot Springs has many restaurants inside Victorian buildings in the Historic Downtown District, featuring food and friendly service. Historic downtown is not the only popular eating spot in town. Dine by the lake, on a riverboat, near the horse track or mall, on a main thoroughfare, on a mountain lane. Hot Springs restaurants offer a wide variety of excellent dining choices and cuisines - from cafes to gourmet cabarets.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Hot Springs National Park was the U.S.'s first federally protected reservation, having been created by Congress in 1832 as Hot Springs Reservation. It was made a national park and renamed in 1921. It was created to protect the region's 47 natural flowing thermal springs. Today the park protects eight historic bathhouses, and is the nation's smallest national park by area. The park visitor center is housed in the former luxurious Fordyce Bathhouse, and the entire "Bathhouse Row" area is a National Historic Landmark District that contains the grandest collection of bathhouses of its kind in North America.
Municipal information
City of Hot Springs website
Get in
By plane
- Hot Springs Memorial Field
- Little Rock National Airport (with shuttle service and rental cars.)
By car
- 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.
By bus
- Greyhound Bus Lines, 1001 Central Ave, Suite D, Hot Springs, +1-800-231-2222.
By train
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle route serves Little Rock, Arkansas, with shuttle services to Hot Springs.
Get around
The public transport system isn't recommended. It's best to have a car or a friend in the city who doesn't mind driving you around. If you are downtown, it is possible to walk to many sites.
See
Hot Springs National Park
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.
See Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center
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.
See Bathhouse Row
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 and the Quapaw are the only other operating bathhouses that are still in use as a spa. The other bathhouses are vacant but awaiting new uses.
Botanical gardens
Museums
See Mid America Science Museum
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.
See Gangster Museum of America
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.
Do
Do Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort
From January through April, Oaklawn is the place to be in Arkansas. Watch and wager on live top-quality thoroughbred racing, enjoy delicious food served up at restaurants and stands and participate in contests and promotions. Oaklawn also offers simulcast racing action year-round, plus live casino games and slots (thanks to casinos being legalized in the state in 2019). Some Arkansas Derby winners have also won one or more of the Triple Crown races in Kentucky, Maryland or New York. During the live racing season, children may enter Oaklawn accompanied by a parent or guardian; children attending during the simulcast season must be at least 48 inches tall to be admitted.
Do Scenic mountain drives
The drives on West Mountain, Hot Springs, and North Mountains have overlooks to the surrounding areas. An observation tower on top of Hot Springs Mountain is operated by a concessionaire and offers a panoramic view of the Zig Zag range of the Ouachita Mountains.
Events
Hot Springs is home to several festivals throughout the year.
Do Arkansas Shorts Film Festival
- Hot Springs Blues/Jazz Fest - Labor Day Weekend.
Buy
Eat
Hot Springs has many restaurants inside Victorian buildings in the Historic Downtown District, featuring food and friendly service. Historic downtown is not the only popular eating spot in town. Dine by the lake, on a riverboat, near the horse track or mall, on a main thoroughfare, on a mountain lane. Hot Springs restaurants offer a wide variety of excellent dining choices and cuisines - from cafes to gourmet cabarets.
Eat JavaPrimo Coffee House, Cafe & More
JavaPrimo is a locally owned coffee shop and cafe featuring fresh roasted coffee. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, JavaPrimo offers a selection of paninis, wraps, sandwiches, salads, soups, cakes, pies, pastries and coffee. Gift ideas include coffee beans, teas, collegiate football gifts and greeting cards.
Eat Rolando's Nuevo Latino Restaurante
Great Latin cuisine restaurant with an outdoor seating area.
Drink
Drink Maxine's
Great atmosphere inside a historic building and a great beer list.
Drink Ohio Club
Live music inside the oldest bar in Arkansas!
Sleep
Hotels
Camping
Campgrounds with more amenities can be found in commercial, State Park, Corps of Engineers, and Forest Service campgrounds in the surrounding area.
Stay Gulpha Gorge Campground
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.
Stay safe
Caution is advised when handling the thermal spring waters, as their temperatures may reach 143°F. Also, persons with heart or respiratory conditions should have written consent from a physician before bathing.
Go next
- Broken Bow
- Hope
Nearby
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