10 Essential Things To Do in Hot Springs National Park

Last updated on July 2, 2025

Hot Springs National Park is like no other in the national park system. Hiking and natural beauty aren’t the main attractions here, although there is plenty to enjoy. Rather, it’s history and mineral-rich water is what draws more than 2 million visitors to Hot Springs National Park every year.

We recently visited this national park for the first time and fell in love with its charm, quirky attractions, natural surroundings, and historic hot springs. If you plan to visit this one-of-a-kind park, here are 10 essential things to do in Hot Springs National Park.

Quick facts about the Hot Springs National Park

• Ancestral Lands: Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo.
• Established: 1832
• Size: 8.67 sq. miles or 5,550 acres
• Annual Visitors: 2.1 million in 2023
• Visitor Centers:
  • Official Visitor Center
  • Fordyce Bath House Museum and Visitor Center (what most people visit)
• Entrance Fee (as of 2024): Free

Best time to visit Hot Springs National Park

Spring to fall is the peak season for Hot Springs National Park, but you can expect a moderate number of visitors year-round. Winter draws fewer visitors but it’s a more pleasant time to enjoy the hot springs. Summer can be very hot and humid in Arkansas, making it a less appealing time to relax in 104° water. If you want to soak in a hot spring, I recommend coming during the week to reduce your chances of waiting.

Cost to visit Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is one of the few free National Parks in the country! You can visit all of their sites along Bathhouse Row for free. However, the two bathhouses available for soaking are privately operated and require payment.

Things to do in Hot Springs National Park

Most things to do in Hot Springs National Park can be done in a day. However, if you want to explore at your leisure or combine several activities into longer events, you can extend your trip to two or three days. We did *almost* all of the things on this list in one day though. Now with that out of the way, let’s dive into the 10 essential things to do in Hot Springs National Park.

1. Walk Bath House Row

Exploring Bath House Row is among the most iconic things to do in Hot Springs National Park. This historic street is lined with bathhouses that date back to the early 20th century. Bathhouses have lined this street since it was first protected by the Federal government in 1832.

The original bathhouses from the 1800s and turn of the century would have been wood. However, thanks to humidity, floods, and fires over the last 200 years all original buildings are gone.

🤓 Fun Fact: Hot Springs National Park is considered the first national park because it was Federally protected by President Andrew Jackson in 1832. That’s 40 years before Yellowstone!

You can still see several old bathhouses dating as far back as 1905. The buildings now range from a hotel, museum, restaurant brewery, and operating bathhouses, while others are being restored. No matter what, a stroll down this historic Magnolia-lined street is a must.

2. Soak in Quapaw Baths & Spa

Only two operational hot springs remain in Hot Springs National Park. The first is Buckstaff Bathhouse (more on that in the next section) and the second is Quapaw Bath & Spa. The bathhouse is named after one of the three Native Tribes that called this land home before settlers arrived in the 1800s.

Quapaw is the more modern bathhouse of the two with an option to soak in a public pool. You can reserve a private room or book other spa treatments if desired but most people use the public pools.

Soaking in the public area is on a first come first serve basis. The pools are open from 10 am to 6 pm with the last admittance at 5 pm. You can soak as long as you’d like and there’s a nice changing room with showers and lockers to get ready before and after.

We spent around 2 hours here and loved the experience! There are multiple pools at different temperatures to help you cool down or heat up as desired. Of all the things to do in Hot Springs National Park, this was our favorite!

➡ Read Next: Guide to Quapaw Baths & Spa: The Best Bathhouse in Hot Springs, AR

3. Have a traditional experience at Buckstaff Bathhouse

If you want a more traditional experience, head over to Buckstaff Bathhouse. This is the oldest continuously operating bathhouse on Bathhouse Row. It was built in 1911 and the interior still has the same decor and finishings as it would have in the 1920s, during the Golden Era of Bathing.

Soaking here is clothing optional and done in individual tubs. You get a bathhouse attendant who will scrub your body after soaking. You can select other services like a massage to be included in your soaking experience, too.

We didn’t soak here but loved learning about the history. Plus, the exterior looks like it’s from a Wes Anderson movie.

4. Tour the Fordyce Bathhouse museum

Another iconic activity on a trip to Hot Springs National Park is visiting the Fordyce Bathhouse Museum. This historic bathhouse has been turned into a museum and operates at a visitor center for the park. The building is beautiful and filled with character and charm. I loved visiting here!

It’s free entry and has loads of information about the different spa treatments that would have been offered here 100 years ago.

We loved visiting the gymnasium, seeing the intricate stained glass ceilings in the men’s area, and learning about some of the unusual treatments of the olden days, like an electric bath!⚡️🛀

5. Try the mineral-rich Hot Springs water

There are several places to try the mineral-rich hot springs water. One is outside the visitor center at the start of Bathhouse Row and the other is inside the Hot Spring Emporium (Lamar bathhouse). The fountain in the gift shop is slightly cooler than the outdoor one but expect the water to be warm when drinking.

People come from all over with jugs to bring home some of Hot Spring’s healthy water. While there is no medical evidence this water has healing properties, it is rich in minerals. Plus, it never hurts to hydrate!

6. Walk the Hot Springs Grand Promenade

Hot Springs Grand Promenade is located directly behind Bathhouse Row. This promenade was built in the 1930s to complement the bathing experience. People would come from across the country, often on a prescription, to soak and receive medical treatments for ailments.

Another prescription during this period was spending time in nature. The promenade gave visitors an easily accessible outdoor path for enjoying nature’s bounty. There are loads of trails that vere off this half-mile paved trail. You can also spot several areas of running spring water.

7. Drink beer made from hot spring water

It may surprise you to see beer on the list of essential things to do in Hot Springs National Park, but it’s a must-do activity! Hot Springs National Park is the only park in the country to have a brewery. As if that wasn’t special enough, Superior Bathhouse Brewery is also the only brewery in the world to make beer with hot spring water.

There are 18 different beers to try, which are all fantastic. They also serve burgers, fries, pretzels, and other sandwiches. We weren’t expecting much from this spot but were really impressed with the food and the beer. There are no reservations here. You can be put on a waitlist if it’s busy (it likely will be) and tables on the patio are first come first serve.

8. Learn about the mobster history at the Ohio Club

While the hot springs are what most visitors come for, Hot Springs also has a big gambling and mobster history. Bugsy Segel, Bugs Moran, Lucky Luciano, and countless other mobsters came here throughout their mafia careers and a great place to learn about Hot Spring’s mobster history is at The Ohio Club.

The Ohio Club is hard to miss. Located across from the Brewery and restaurant on Central Avenue, this historic building has operated since 1905. It was one of the original gambling institutions on this strip and was a hidden speakeasy during the prohibition years. Mobsters ran illegal bookie operations for horse racing out of the back.

It’s a cool vibe inside with the most beautiful mahogany bar. However, skip the food (overpriced and subpar). Instead, just grab a drink to learn about its history.

9. Watch the sunset on top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower

One of my favorite things to do in Hot Springs National Park is to watch the sunset at the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower. The tower is nearly 66 meters (215 feet) tall giving you 360-degree views of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the surrounding mountains.

The entrance when we visited in the spring of 2024 was $11 per person with the National Parks Pass. The second story is home to a small museum that shares a lot of interesting facts about myths of Hot Springs, some of the famous and important people who hail from the city (like Bill Clinton), and some of the floods and fires that impacted the area over the last several hundred years.

The third floor is where you’ll find the viewing deck with stunning views! This tower was built in the 1980s and is the third iteration of the mountain tower in its over 150-year history.

10. Go for a hike on the 27 miles of trails

Most people stick to Bath House Row on their visit to Hot Springs, Arkansas. But if you’re looking for more things to do in Hot Springs National Park consider taking a hike on the 27 miles of trails surrounding the park. Most trails can be accessed from behind the visitor center just off the Grand Promenade.

If you want more adventure than hiking alone, head to Adventureworks Hot Springs where you can zip line over the National Park! The reviews are great and the views look epic.

Hopefully, this blog post has given you an idea of the fun things to do in Hot Springs National Park. We absolutely loved our short visit here and think Hot Springs should be on every traveler’s list when exploring the USA. If you found this guide helpful let us know in the comments below.