A Hot Springs National Park Itinerary for One Full Day

As Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Missouri, is a thing, I won’t say that size matters much when it comes to national park sites worthy of your time.

In fact, despite its size — this one is just 5,500 acres — you’ll find quite a few things to do in Hot Springs National Park that can fill up a full day.

One of those things is visiting one of its traditional bathhouses, an experience I won’t soon forget no matter how hard I try.

I’m mostly kidding here. Sometimes you need to get a little uncomfortable for the sake of relaxation, or something.

This guide gets into everything we were able to fit in on a one-day Hot Springs National Park itinerary, including a few hours at one of the park’s historic bathhouses.

Is it worth going to Hot Springs National Park?

Hot Springs National Park is definitely worth the trip, even if you don’t have time to visit one of the bathhouses in town.

It has a rich history worth exploring, and if you do have time to visit a working bathhouse, you won’t find a more unique place to do so. If anything, you’ll have some stories to tell at the next family Thanksgiving.

Hot Springs: From Frontier Town to Spa Destination

Hot Springs National Park is famous for its history as a destination-worthy spa town, but it also shows how quickly a landscape can change in a short amount of time.

In about 10 years, this frontier town turned into a spa town with a much fancier set of inhabitants and visitors. They were there for the thermal waters, the stuff of legend for the local Native American tribes.

Yes, white people took another thing from Native Americans in this tale of the park’s history.

They called this place the “Valley of the Vapors,” a secret that was safe with them until Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived in 1541 to get the word out to his friends.

READ MORE: If you’re interested in Native American history, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, should be an essential stop in your U.S. travels.

Hot Springs was also a national park before national parks were even a thing. The U.S. Congress established the area as a federal reservation, the first of its kind, in 1832 thanks to its status as a natural wonder.

Fun fact: Some circles may then say that this was the country’s first real national park site, but I’m not here to fight with historians.

You only need one day at Hot Springs National Park.

Honestly, you only need a few hours if you just want to walk Bathhouse Row and give yourself a primer on spa culture back in the day.

With more time, you can have a soak, a leisurely lunch, and get in some hiking. It’s a great day trip from Little Rock, too, with plenty to do to fill up the better part of a day.

Best Things to Do in Hot Springs National Park

People visit the park because of its therapeutic hot springs. Whether you soak or are here for a drink, these springs have been known for their healing properties for centuries.

The park is also home to some excellent hiking and natural landscapes, making it a popular destination for the outdoor folks out there.

If you do want a soak, though, you should start there. Space is limited as well as your options, and you’ll be able to tackle the rest of the park in a more leisurely fashion once you’re done.

Stop 1: A Working Bathhouse

You cannot soak in thermal springs at the park unless you visit a working bathhouse.

The Buckstaff Bathhouse does it the traditional way, which is why it was our pick for our bathhouse experience. I wrote about it in detail in my bathhouse guide.

If you want more of a spa-like experience, visit the Quapaw Baths & Spa.

At Quapaw, you can incorporate a private bath with modern-day spa services like facials and body wraps. Those all require reservations, but their four thermal mineral pools do not.

At the Buckstaff Bathhouse, you’re truly at the mercy of your attendant. I say that in the most loving way.

You can’t make reservations at this one, so I highly recommend starting here on your trip to Hot Springs if you’re interested in the full experience.

They break around noon and then restart again at 1:15pm, and I overheard that most should expect a long wait for services after lunch.

Note: If you’re interested in additional treatments like their facials of manicures at Buckstaff, you can make an appointment for those.

Stop 2: Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum

Most of the old bathhouses in the park have been repurposed as something else, and the Hot Springs National Park visitor center is no expectation. This historic building opened as the Fordyce Bathhouse in 1915 as the largest bathhouse in town.

Unfortunately, it was also the first to go out of business when bathhouses began to fall out of vogue in 1962.

Today, it includes an extensive free exhibit and self-guided tour across three separate floors (and a basement!) that show what a visit would have been like back in the heyday of Bathhouse Row. Don’t miss the basement’s spring display.

Bathers back in the day stood in that very same spot you will today to ponder the miracle of the thermal waters.

Note: If you’re not visiting a bathhouse for a treatment, this is the best way to experience Hot Springs National Park and take photos of the different things folks did in there. You can’t take photos inside an operating bathhouse for obvious reasons.

Get there by visiting Arlington Lawn at the northern end of the Grand Promenade.

Stop 3: Bathhouse Row

The buildings still standing here were constructed between the years of 1892 and 1923, earning National Historic Landmark District status in 1987.

You can read the informational signage at each one or stop by any of the buildings still open to the public.

Here are all eight bathhouses in all of their glory:

• Fordyce Bathhouse: You know all about this one already. The Fordyce Bathhouse of yesterday is the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum of today.
• Lamar Bathhouse: This bathhouse was known for offering tubs of various lengths to accommodate the tall, short, and everyone in between. Today, the Lamar Bathhouse is home to the Bathhouse Row Emporium, the national park store.
• Ozark Bathhouse: The exterior of this one, home to the Hot Springs National Park Cultural Center, is my favorite along Bathhouse Row. It doesn’t even have anything to do with Jason Bateman.
• Quapaw Bathhouse: This is the more modern spa experience I’ve already told you about, and one of only two locations in the park where you soak in thermal waters.
• Maurice Bathhouse: The Maurice Bathhouse was the only bathhouse with a pool on the Row. It’s currently vacant, but all that means is that you should pool some money between you and a rich friend to open the next Hot Springs spa.
• Hale Bathhouse: The Hale Bathhouse has been converted into the Hotel Hale, a boutique hotel featuring only nine individual suites.
• Superior Bathhouse: If you can’t soak in the springs, drink the springs. The Superior Bathhouse is the Superior Bathhouse Brewery today, the first craft brewery in any national park. They use the thermal water in their beer recipe.
• Buckstaff Bathhouse: This is the only bathhouse along Bathhouse Row that has been operating continuously for over 100 years as a working bathhouse. It’s also the only place where you can get a classic bathhouse experience.

READ MORE: Love a relaxing trip? Check out my guide to lovely Lake Oconee.

Stop 4: Display Springs

This isn’t the kind of park that’s overloaded with sites along the way, but if you want to see the thermal springs up close, you’re well-situated to do so as you stroll the row.

Start with The Display Spring — I couldn’t come up with a simpler name than the park service — behind the Maurice Bathhouse. It’s a cute little thing and the best place to touch the springs if you aren’t here for an actual bath.

It’s not your only option, either. The Hot Water Cascade is the largest spring in the park accessible to tourists

Stop 5: Superior Crafthouse Brewery

I’ll suggest that you sip on some thermal spring water in a little bit, but if you’re thirsty for some beer, your best bet is Superior Crafthouse Brewery. They use actual thermal spring water in their beer recipe.

You may also recall that the brewery operates out of one of the old bathhouses on Bathhouse Row. Everything is connected.

Order a flight if you’re not sure how you can choose. The food here is good, too. I had a cauliflower po’boy that was the size of a large cat.

Fun fact: Superior Crafthouse Brewery is the only craft brewery in any national park in the United States.

Stop 6: Hot Springs Trails

There are all kinds of trails around Hot Springs National Park, many of which start right at the visitor’s center.

We were wearing flip-flops as we had just had our baths, and this was a mistake. Elevation gains seemed gentle enough, but you’re walking through some rough terrain here.

I should always take my own advice and be prepared for hikes when they’re a likely item on a trip itinerary.

To be fair, we had our hiking shoes in the car. We were just too lazy to go get them after our relaxation hours. Don’t do this. Local wildlife includes several species of venomous snakes. (I learned this later.)

We took a series of short trails to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, but the Peak Trail (1.2 miles roundtrip) will get you there more directly. The park service has trail maps for you online but many of these either loop around or connect together.

Here are a few more popular trails with roundtrip mileage to add to your itinerary:

• Goat Rock Trail (2.1 miles): Hike to viewpoints at about 380 feet of elevation on this popular but moderate trail. You’ll pass several large novaculite boulders on the way up, but keep going. The Goat Rock Overlook is just up ahead.
• Gulpha Gorge Trail (1.2 miles): This is a connector trail that eventually meets up with the Hot Springs Mountain and the Goat Rock trails. It’s not as long as Goat Rock but quite steep to start with nearly 400 feet of elevation gain.
• West Mountain Trail (2.4 miles): Ditch the crowds and hit the western half of the park. You’ll climb about 500 feet of elevation, but the inclines are spread out. You’ll know you’re done when you reach the West Mountain Shelter House.
• Sunset Trail (12.9 miles): This is the longest, toughest hike in the park, but you’ll certainly get your solitude on this one if that’s what you’re seeking. Obviously, you’ll want to start your day here if you’re planning a day hike.

Alternative Stop 6: Hot Springs Mountain Drive

If you don’t feel like hiking, Hot Springs has all kinds of scenic drive potential. Pick up Hot Springs Mountain Drive off Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs.

This was an old carriage road in the 1880s with switchbacks all the way up to a series of overlooks and a picnic area.

Don’t miss the Hot Springs Mountain Pagoda while you’re up there. You’ll see the Ouachita Mountains from here.

If you’re interested in checking out the west side of the park, travel along the two-way West Mountain Drive to the Summit Loop. You’ll meet up with three unique overlooks of Bathhouse Row, a shelter, and a panorama of the Trap Mountains and Lake Hamilton.

Optional Stop 7: Hot Springs Mountain Tower

We didn’t go all the way up the Hot Springs Mountain Tower because it was $12 per person. If you have an America the Beautiful pass, it’s $9, but our annual pass was unfortunately expired.

There is a great view just down below if you feel the same way, but if you take the lift up, be sure to tell me all about it.

Stop 8: The Grand Promenade

The Grand Promenade is a paved walk of about half a mile each way. There are four ways to find it.

Take the stairs off of Reserve Street, the grand staircase on Stephen’s Balustrade, or ramps on Fountain Street and behind the Fordyce Bathhouse.

There are all kinds of interpretive signs along the way with old-timey photos of what folks did here back then. It seems like mostly it was gossip in large floppy hats while they waited for their hot baths.

Stop 9: Thermal Water Fountains

If you skipped a real bathhouse experience on your visit, you may not have even tasted the water just yet. The easiest spot to get yourself some is in front of the big yellow National Park Service Administration Building.

You might find people filling up big jugs of the stuff here. Let them have their joy.

Here are a few more spots where you can get yourself hydrated with those thermal waters:

• Libbey Memorial Physical Medicine Center
• Bathhouse Row between the Hale and Maurice Bathhouses
• The Noble Fountain on Reserve Street
• The Dripping Spring between the Hale and Maurice Bathhouses
• The Shell Fountain on the Stevens Balustrade between the Fordyce and Maurice Bathhouses
• Hill Wheatley Plaza on Central Avenue*

*This one is technically outside of the park’s boundaries, but it’s legit.

Stop 10: Hot Springs Historic District

Stroll the historic district and check out the little boutique shops if you like that sort of thing. We stopped in a few to check out the tchotchkes and seek out postcards for my traveling friend, but I usually limit my shopping time while doing the national park thing.

If you’re into this and not sure where to start, just head down to Central Avenue and it’ll become quite obvious where the goods are.

All Things Arkansas looked fun if you want to bring your honey back home a little Arkansas love. All Things Natural is their sister store for beauty products and bath salts inspired by the bathhouse culture here.

Need some sweets in between all of that window shopping? Head straight to Fat Bottomed Girl’s Cupcake Shoppe. This stop’s not just good enough to eat. It’s been featured on Cupcake Wars.

That’s where we ended our day in Hot Springs, as we thought we’d find better options for food and nightcaps back in Little Rock.

If you want to linger, the Ohio Club looked intriguing. This bar and live music venue has been open since 1905, and quickly became a hangout for gangsters and baseball players. They have a full menu of pub grub if you’re hungry, too.

With More Time in Hot Springs

With more time in the area, you can explore things to do around the town of Hot Springs. Arkansas itself is home to all kinds of natural wonders, so if you’re into outdoor adventuring, there’s quite a bit of that for you to enjoy on a longer stay.

Biking enthusiasts may be especially interested in one of the trail systems popular with cyclists like the Hot Springs Northwoods Trail System and Womble Trail.

Here are a few options for things to do outside of the park:

• Garvan Woodland Gardens: Stroll 15 separate natural areas and get all of the Instagram photo ops at this botanical garden. Don’t miss the Anthony Chapel.
• Lake Catherine State Park: Lake Catherine is one of five lakes in the Ouachita Mountains collectively known as the Diamond Lakes.
• Ouachita National Forest: You’ll see this beauty from a few overlooks in the park if you go for a scenic drive or hit any of the panoramic trails.
• Mid-America Science Museum: A variety of hands-on exhibits make this science museum a popular stop for families.
• Gangster Museum of America: Now this one I was bummed about missing. Learn about why Hot Springs was such a hub for gangster activity in the 1920s-1940s.
• The Galaxy Connection: Nerds, I’ve got you. (I’m talking to Brian here.) This is a Star Wars and superhero-themed museum for all of the kids, big and small.
• Hot Springs Historic Baseball Trail: See spots important to legends like Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson on this self-guided walk. Majestic Park is featured.
• The Winery of Hot Springs: We chose the brewery over this one as it operates out of a historic bathhouse, but this winery is quite well-reviewed.

I’m skipping recommendations for the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo on this list on purpose. I just don’t love the idea of holding baby gators and feeding them off a stick. Honestly, your time is better spent elsewhere, like inside one of those bathhouses.

Where to Stay When Visiting Hot Springs National Park

We were in Hot Springs on a day trip from Little Rock, but if you’d like to stay overnight on Bathhouse Row, Hotel Hale is about as good as it gets.

The boutique hotel was built in 1892 as the Hale Bathhouse, serving up hot thermal waters for anyone who wanted a soak.

Today, there are only nine individual suites accessible to guests. Each has a large soaking tub with hot mineral water pumped into each room on demand.

Now that’s something I’d add to the bucket list.

If you’re camping, your only option is the Gulpha Gorge Campground. I love our national parks, but camping in them is just not for me. Follow that link for information on fees, reservations, and restrictions.

For more options in the city of Hot Springs, check out the map below:

Spend the day at Hot Springs National Park.

I didn’t have any expectations for our trip to Hot Springs. I was coming to the place from a place of curiosity, especially when it came time to plan our bathhouse experience.

While this isn’t one I need to return to, that isn’t because we had a bad time. It’s a place deserving of the day you give it, and that’s OK. Not every destination has to pull you back to make for a worthwhile experience.

Traveling elsewhere in the region? Check out these guides:

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• My Favorite Day Trips on Visits to Tulsa
• Where to Stay on a Vacation in Memphis
• A Guide to New Orleans for Traveling Couples
• A Nashville Itinerary for All of the Best Eats

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• A Detailed Guide to Visiting the Badlands
• How to Plan Trips to Theodore Roosevelt
• The Best Capitol Reef National Park Hiking Trails
• Hiking the Narrows Meets All Expectations
• You Should Bring Your Dog to Acadia National Park

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