10 Hot Springs Arkansas Locations You Need to Visit

Planning a trip to the mystical Hot Springs, Arkansas? Look no further than this travel guide detailing where to visit, places to stay, and the best locations to eat at while you spend your time in AR. 

If you can’t make it all the way to the fairy forts in Ireland for St. Paddy’s, you can still celebrate in Hot Springs! I recently went for their infamous World’s Shortest St. Patricks Day Parade and was pleasantly surprised! I knew that the holiday would bring fun festivities, but had no idea how seriously locals took the lucky day! If you can’t make it all the way to Limerick Ireland, this is the place to be. It was full of dressed up characters, celebrity encounters, food and drinks, and lots of luck. For those that have never celebrated March 17th in all its glory, I highly recommend you spend your Spring Break in Hot Springs, Arkansas for a hell of a good time.

Things to do in a Day in Hot Springs, Arkansas

FREE Tour at Fordyce Bathouse

If you head to bathhouse row, you’ll find the Fordyce Bathhouse, the Visitor’s Center of Hot Springs National Park! Tour the retired spa now maintained by Hot Springs National Park Service. This FREE museum will give a good history of the “magical” town and the story being the water. It’s usually a self-guided tour, but there are park rangers on site that you can ask questions from. If you ask on a non-busy day, they’ll even show you around the entire bathhouse! We had Ashley walk us around while narrating the history of the former spa that opened in 1910. You’ll find marble interiors, stained glass windows, and many strange exhibits here.

Pro Tip: this bathhouse is old and served many seeking healthy lifestyles. Many visitors claim they have seen a “woman in blue” walking throughout, and a man that is occupying one of the tubs. Be on the lookout for lost souls in this haunt!

Enjoy Garvan Gardens in Hot Springs Arkansas

Similarly, the Tulip Festival in Garvan Gardens is noteworthy! Head to the 210-acre Botanical and Woodland garden to see the stunning Anthony Chapel, to play in the massive Treehouse, and to enjoy the colorful tulips! It’s open from 10 am to 6 pm daily, and there is a fee to enter. The property, which began to develop in 1956 by Verna Cook Garvan, is large and the perfect place to get in your steps for the day. If you’re not feeling a big walk, you can rent a golf cart to be taken around the area. 

Here are some things to do at the garden:

• Visit the Fairy Garden installed in 2022– perfect for kids to feel the magic!
• Explore the family-friendly Treehouse with gorgeous architecture
• Take pictures at Anthony Chapel designed by Maurice Jennings and David McKee
• Enjoy the over 150,000 tulips from late-February to mid-April

Pro Tip: Anthony Chapel, famously known for the wood and glass architecture, is very affordable as a wedding or event venue! It’s even been used as a place to hold a memorial. The spacious indoors and immaculate views are peaceful and photogenic.

Soak in the Quapaw Baths

By all means, head to the Quapaw Baths for a spa day. Relax in the healing, mineral rich, thermal spring water at four pools with temps between 94-104 degrees. Many travel from near and far to visit the Hot Springs bath houses of the area for both relaxing and seeking to alleviate pain. You can soak in the four different baths for $25 a person. If you’re looking for a more personalized experience, you can book an appointment for other spa services such as massages and facials.

In case you had overlooked the tale, Hot Springs National Park is known for its “healing” water. The natural aqua is 4,000+ year old rain that fell, went deep into the earth amongst heat and minerals, and emerged thousands of year later full of nutrients, heat, and “mystical powers”. The locals swear by the water source to easing life’s ailments. I can personally attest that many of the people I met there, that confirmed they drank the mineral-filled water, had amazing skin and looked at least 15 years younger! Besides the local crowd, you’ll find many travelers coming from near and far to fill up on the water at the national park fountains in the town square that provide free, and hot, water.

Pro Tip: no reservation required to visit the Quapaw Baths, but there is a line outside the door at opening. On busy days, get there early!

View Hot Springs, Arkansas from the Mountain Tower

Besides spending time in Downtown Hot Springs, it great to get a view from above. For a view from the top. The observation deck of the Hot Springs Mountain Tower is 216 feet above the ground, and 1,256 feet above sea level with general admission costing $11.

Pro Tip: If you’re not a fan of heights, or even want to save some cash: stick to the cute, white pavilion at the bottom of the parking lot for a great lookout on the valley! The top of the tower can get windy on bad weather days, but the pavilion is generally protected from gusts of wind.

Bet, Eat and Drink at Oaklawn Casino and Resort

For a truly unique experience, you must go to watch a horse race at Oaklawn Casino and Resort.

Here are some things to do at the casino:

• During the events, you can enjoy live entertainment in the in-field of the horse track. There, you’ll find face painting, photo opportunities, live music, and food trucks– it’s perfect for the family.
• For a more adult-only area, check out Pop’s Lounge for a live band and drinks. Cliff and Susan, married musical duo, play classic country weekly and are fun to listen to play
• You can also grab drinks at First Turn bar. I recommend the Lavender G & T.
• Have an upscale dining experience at The Bugler, where you’ll find delicious food. I personally loved the Fire & Ice Seafood tower and the Lobster Bisque at The Bugler

Discover Avant Mining

Hot Springs, made of Stanley Shale and Hot Springs Sandstone, is a hot bed for quartz crystals! Due to the geological makeup of the land, you’re more likely to find fully formed crystals, that are larger and clearer, than many other places in the world. Avant Mining allows people to dig for their own quartz crystals in a small area for a fee. You can also go on a private tour to do a greater pocket dig where the best crystals can be found.

Visit Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

Also located on Bathhouse Row, you’ll find an apothecary of small batch, hand-blended bath and body products. Be sure to stop by Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium to smell the aromas of locally made bath bombs, lotions, and soaps. Don’t forget to take some home with you! I highly recommend their Goat Milk Body Butter and Foaming Body Scrubs.

SHOP WHAT I WORE

Where to Eat in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

You have got to try the “Beer Bath” at Superior Bathhouse Brewery! Taste beer made with thermal spring water from the national park with a flight of 18 beers… I Paired mine with a patty melt and fries.

The Rooftop

The perfect spot for lunch and drinks while visiting Downtown Hot Springs. You’ll find a small menu of sandwiches, salads, and mixed drinks on The Rooftop at The Waters Hotel overlooking Main Street.

The Bugler

Located in the Oaklawn Casino and Hotel, The Bugler is the place to go for upscale dining and delicious seafood dishes. Again, I really enjoyed the Fire & Ice Seafood Tower– they are all about presentation!

Where to Stay in Hot Springs, Arkansas

The Reserve Hot Springs

Firstly, if you’re looking to stay in style, The Reserve Hot Springs bed and breakfast is the place! This estate, full of rich history, has been renovated and turned from a mansion into a sprawling hotel property. Guests stay in gorgeous, modernized suites, and receive a full breakfast every morning cooked by the onsite chef. It’s a luxury Southern experience while feeling at home. 

Pro Tip: The Reserve can accommodate weddings and large events. As I walked through the property, I kept imagining all of the upscale parties I could host there!

The Woodlawn Tudor and Cottage

Ultimately, families and large parties are going to save more when renting out an AirBNB that fits bigger parties. We stayed in the Woodlawn Tudor and Cottage: a 2 bedroom, one bathroom house (with a full kitchen,  laundry room, and backyard) during out visit to Hot Springs. It was easy to sleep to to the ing size bed in the larger bedroom, and two others were able to share a room with single beds in the second area. You could also sleep someone on the living room couch, if necessary. Although it was a bit more difficult to share one bathroom and shower between four people (especially women that put makeup on), we were able to make room for each other. This is definitely the pick for anyone trying to travel on a budget or stay with 3-5 people.

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