Last updated: October 30, 2023

It’s been a while since I took a trip and on Thursday afternoon, I was ready to hit the road.

On my quest to visit all the National State Parks, I was excited to find that Hot Springs National Park was within driving distance of my house (six hours) and I found it justifiable to drive out and spend a weekend. The drive was gorgeous and I passed through Mississippi along the way.

Let’s Learn about Arkansas

Considering this was my first time ever to visit Arkansas, I thought I’d learn a little about the state. the state song is “Oh, Arkansas” which made me laugh. Oh, Arkansas, you silly state you.

• Established: June 15, 1836 as the 25th state
• Median household income: $49,500
• Bird: Mockingbird
• Flower: Apple Blossom
• Butterfly: Diana Fritillary
• Mammal: White tailed deer
• Beverage: Milk
• Dance: square dance
• Population: a little over 3M (2020 census)
• Food: pecan
• Capital (and largest city): Little Rock
• Highest Point: Mt. Magazine (2753 ft)
• State gem: diamond
• First Walmart opened in 1962
• Nickname: “Land of Opportunity” until 1995 when it changed to “The Natural State”.
• State slogan: “Regnant Populus” – Latin for “The People Rule”

Hot Springs National Park

I honestly didn’t do a lot of research before I went and realized soon after I arrived that this was not the average National Park. First of all, it’s the oldest federal reserve in the United States and known as The American Spa. Secondly, while there are some hiking trails that I’ll share with you in a minute, mostly the entire town of Hot Springs, Arkansas is the National Park. There are shops, museums, restaurants, and of course, the famous bath houses. I actually bought leopard print dress at one of the boutiques (I regret nothing).

The first thing you need to know is that Hot Springs has history! Major League Baseball would train there every spring, there were gangsters (Al Capone had his own loft) walking the streets, it was THE place to go to gamble (albeit illegal, it was Vegas before Vegas existed) and it offered healing/medicinal bath houses (if you could afford such luxury). I mean, this place was hopping.

We stayed at The Arlington Hotel and Spa, which, unbeknownst to me at the time of booking was where Babe Ruth and Al Capone, amongst many others stayed when visiting this desirable area. Al Capone stayed in a room 443 and was known to book the entire fourth floor so he wouldn’t be disturbed. He was such a frequent visitor, they have a plaque on the door to the room where he stayed. While the history is interesting, and I understand wanting to preserve that, the hotel is in desperate need of an update. There was paint peeling off the ceiling of our room. I will say the beds are like sleeping on a cloud. Super comfy. Overall, I’m glad we stayed there, however, I wouldn’t stay there again. We did take advantage of the spa services and soak in the Arlington baths and it was a pleasant experience.

My experience at the spa inside The Arlington seemed to be authentic. I purchased a natural hot spring bath for $40 and paid an extra $6 to have my choice of bath salts added (lavender!). I was given a white sheet and spa sandals and led to a dressing room and given a locker for my clothes and personal items. After I wrapped myself in the white sheet, I was led back to my bath where I gave the sheet to the lady that led me back and hopped in the tub. She added my bath salts and flipped a switch which caused the water to act like a hot tub and I soaked in some pretty hot water for 20 minutes. She then came back and emptied the tub, wrapped me back in the white sheet and led me to a table where I laid down and she gave me some cold water and put a cold washcloth on my face. There were other women on tables in the room with me. She then wrapped towels that had been soaked in the hot springs water around my arms and legs and I laid there a good 20 or 30 min. I’m pretty sure I fell asleep… afterward, my sheet was soaked so she took me in a private room and wrapped a new one around me like a toga and told me my service was complete and led me back to the changing room. I liked that I felt so clean and relaxed. I would definitely do this again if I happen to visit Hot Springs in the future. I was honestly impressed with their sheet wrapping skills.

Next up, Bathhouse Row is something you’ll want to make sure you check out. This consists of eight bathhouses aligned in a row: Buckstaff, Fordyce, Hale, Lamar, Maurice, Ozark, Quapaw, and Superior.

There are 47 natural hot springs protected in this national park. Interestingly enough, their mineral water lacks the sulphur odor of most hot springs and they are odorless (not the case at Yellowstone). I personally have never experienced a natural hot spring, and was really impressed with how hot this water was (143 degrees!). Seriously, it looks innocent enough, but don’t touch it!

We had lunch at Deluca’s Pizzeria which offers charred brick-oven pies. The smell of the pizza will lure you in…

There are 26 trails in Hot Springs National Park with most being extremely easy.

• Grand Promenade – 0.5mi
• Oretel Trail (formally Dead Chief Trail) – 1.4mi
• Tufa Terrance Trail – 0.3mi
• Peak Trail – 0.6mi
• Short Cut Trail – 0.2mi
• Reserve Trail – 0.3mi
• Hot Springs Mountain Trail – 1.7mi
• Honeysuckle Trail – 0.5mi
• Fountain Trail – 0.2mi
• Grand Avenue Trail – 0.2mi
• Goat Rock Trail – 1.1mi
• Gulpha Gorge Trail – 0.6mi
• Floral Trail – 0.7mi
• Arlington Trail – 0.1mi
• Lower Dogwood Trail – 0.7mi
• Upper Dogwood Trail – 1.0mi
• Canyon Trail – 0.7mi
• Mountaintop Trail – 1.5mi
• Whittington Trail 1.2mi
• West Mountain Trail – 1.2mi
• Oak Trail – 1.0mi
• Sunset Trail – 10mi (divided into three sections):
  • West Mountain – 2.8mi
  • Sugarloaf Mountain – 2.6mi
  • Stonebridge Road – 3.8mi

The Gangster Museum of America offered some amazing insight into the history of Hot Springs. I wouldn’t recommend this for children as there are some videos and they’d likely get bored, but Kris and I enjoyed it very much! They have original items like gambling tables and rotary phones.

Lastly, we had dinner at Superior Bathhouse solely for the root beer made from the natural hot spring mineral water. I personally couldn’t tell a difference, but I like root beer so I enjoyed it.

Some things to do depending on how much time you have are recommended by the National Park Service:

ONE HOUR

• Tour the historic Fordyce Bathhouse
• Stroll along Bathhouse Row
• Observe the Display Springs and Hot Water Cascade

HALF DAY

• Do the one hour activities
• Join a park ranger for a guided tour
• Become a Junior Ranger
• Taste the water
• Stroll along the Grand Promenade
• Take a bath
• Hike or drive to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower
• Shop at the park store, Bathhouse Row Emporium

WHOLE DAY OR MORE

• Do all the half day activities
• Hike some or all of the park’s 26 miles of trails
• Drive the park’s scenic mountain roads
• Picnic at one of the established picnic areas
• Try a root beer at the Superior Bathhouse
• View Artist-In-Residence artwork at the Ozark Bathhouse
• Camp at the Gulpha Gorge Campground
• Spend the night at the Hotel Haley

Of course, the dogs smothered me on the ride home after picking them up from being boarded for two whole days (which I adored because I missed them too)…

This was a short, fun, trip and I’d likely go back for a day if the opportunity presented itself. Have you visited Hot Springs National Park? I’d love to hear about your experiences below!