The smallest and one of the oldest national parks, centered on a row of historic bathhouses fed by naturally occurring thermal springs in downtown Hot Springs.

Park Pass

Join the National Parks Club

A single day covers the bathhouses and a short hike, easily extended to a relaxing overnight stay given the spa amenities.

No special permit is required.

Hot Springs itself is the gateway — this is an urban, downtown park with no separate gateway town.

There's no entrance fee; individual bathhouse tours and treatments have their own separate fees.

Why Visit?:

Hot Springs is one of the smallest and oldest national parks in the system, centered entirely on a row of historic bathhouses fed by naturally occurring thermal springs right in downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas. It's a genuinely different kind of national park visit — more spa day than backcountry adventure.

The bathhouses themselves are architecturally striking, and several are still operating as working spas today, letting you actually soak in the same thermal water that's drawn visitors here for over a century.

Things to Do:

Walking Bathhouse Row is the essential visit — the Fordyce Bathhouse now serves as the park's visitor center and museum, well worth a stop even if you don't book a soak elsewhere. Booking an actual bathhouse treatment at one of the still-operating spas (like Buckstaff or Quapaw) lets you experience the thermal water firsthand.

For a bit of hiking, the Hot Springs Mountain Trail offers an easy, shaded walk with a tower at the summit overlooking the town and surrounding Ouachita Mountains.

Get the Full Itinerary

Closest airports: Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) in Little Rock is about an hour away, the most practical option for most visitors.

Nearby Attractions:

Downtown Hot Springs offers a genuinely charming historic district beyond the park itself, with restaurants and shops right along Bathhouse Row.