Rebecca Engel
Hot Springs is a small city in the Ouachita Mountains that grew up around water. Hot water flows out of the side of a mountain here, and people have been coming to soak in it for well over a century. That’s why it earned the nickname America’s Spa City.
These things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas start on Bathhouse Row, where you can still take a traditional bath, and then head out to the mountain trails, the old gangster haunts and the clear lakes just outside town. Hot Springs is about an hour from Little Rock, so it works as a weekend away or a stop on a longer road trip through the South.
1. Start At The Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center
Hot Springs National Park is unusual because its main attraction sits right in the middle of downtown. Congress set the springs aside in 1832, decades before Yellowstone became the first national park, and the grand bathhouses along Central Avenue came later.
The Fordyce Bathhouse opened in 1915 and was the fanciest one on the row. Today it’s the park’s museum and visitor center, and walking through it is free. Its rooms are set up the way they looked in the bathhouse era, with old tubs, a gym full of vintage exercise machines and a stained glass ceiling over the men’s bath hall.
It’s the best first stop in town. The rangers inside can explain how the springs work, and the building shows you exactly what a spa day looked like a hundred years ago.
2. Take A Traditional Bath At The Buckstaff
The Buckstaff has been running baths since 1912, and it’s the only bathhouse on the row that still gives the traditional bath. It’s the closest thing to stepping back in time that Hot Springs has.
An attendant walks you through each step. You start with a soak in a whirlpool tub full of thermal water, then move to a sitz bath, a steam cabinet and hot towels. It’s simple, old fashioned and surprisingly relaxing.
You can add a massage if you want to make a morning of it. Check the bathhouse’s schedule before you go, since hours and booking options can change.
3. Soak In The Thermal Pools At Quapaw Baths
If the traditional bath sounds a little too formal, Quapaw Baths is the more laid back choice. This bathhouse has public pools filled with the same hot spring water, so you can float, chat and stay as long as you like.
The building is one of the prettiest on the row, with a tiled dome on top. Quapaw also runs private thermal baths and spa treatments if you want something quieter.
Guests need to be at least 14, so this one works better for couples and friends than for families with young kids. A soak here on a chilly day is one of the best things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas.
4. Order A Flight At Superior Bathhouse Brewery
Superior Bathhouse Brewery sits in one of the old bathhouses on the row, and it’s the only brewery inside a national park. Every beer is brewed with the thermal spring water that comes out of the mountain.
Ordering a flight is the easiest way to try a few styles at once. The menu runs from light and easy to dark and strong, and there’s food too, so it makes a good lunch stop between bathhouses.
It’s a fun way to taste the springs without getting in them. Even people who don’t drink much beer tend to stop in just to say they’ve been.
5. Fill A Jug At The Thermal Water Fountains
The water that flows out of these springs fell as rain about 4,000 years ago. It soaks deep into the earth, heats up and comes back out at around 143 degrees.
The park has several fountains where anyone can fill up with that water for free. It’s normal to see locals lining up with big jugs to take home, and the water has a clean, soft taste once it cools down.
Bring a bottle or two. There are also a couple of cold spring fountains in town, like the one at Happy Hollow, if you’d rather drink it straight away.
6. Stroll The Grand Promenade
The Grand Promenade is a brick walkway that runs along the hillside right behind Bathhouse Row. It’s about half a mile long, and it gives you a view over the rooftops of the bathhouses with the mountain rising behind you.
Along the way you’ll pass spots where you can see the springs themselves. Behind the Maurice Bathhouse, the Display Spring flows into a shallow pool, and on the lawn near the Arlington Hotel, the Hot Water Cascade spills down the rocks into two steaming pools.
It’s an easy walk for any age. Go early in the morning on a cool day, when you can actually see steam rising off the water.
7. Ride The Elevator Up Hot Springs Mountain Tower
Hot Springs Mountain Tower stands 216 feet tall on top of the mountain that the springs flow out of. An elevator takes you up to the observation decks, so there’s no climbing needed.
From the top, you can see the city below, the rolling Ouachita Mountains and the lakes around town. It’s especially pretty in fall, when the forest turns red and gold.
You can drive the winding road up the mountain or hike there from downtown on the park’s trails. Pair it with the scenic drive on the mountain for an easy afternoon.
8. Hike The Stone Steps To Goat Rock
Plenty of visitors stick to Central Avenue, but the national park has about 26 miles of hiking trails in the hills right above town. They’re quiet, shady and much less crowded than the bathhouses.
The Goat Rock Trail is one of the best short hikes. It’s a little over two and a half miles round trip, and it ends with a set of stone steps up to a rocky lookout with a wide view of the mountains.
If you want something longer, the Sunset Trail runs for more than 10 miles across the park. For most people, though, Goat Rock is the right size for a morning before a soak.
9. Hear The Mob Stories At The Gangster Museum Of America
In the 1920s and 1930s, Hot Springs had a wild side. Illegal casinos ran openly downtown, and famous gangsters like Al Capone came here to gamble, relax and lie low.
The Gangster Museum of America tells that story on Central Avenue. Visits are guided tours that last about an hour and a half, and the guides fill them with stories about the mobsters, the casinos and the town officials who looked the other way.
It’s one of the best things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas on a rainy day, and you’ll walk out knowing why so much of downtown looks the way it does.
10. Grab A Drink At The Ohio Club
The Ohio Club opened in 1905, and it’s the oldest bar in Arkansas. It has never closed its doors, even through the years when both gambling and alcohol were banned.
Capone and plenty of other famous names drank here during the gangster era. The long wooden bar and old photos on the walls still give it that feel.
There’s live music several nights a week, so it’s a great spot to end the day. Walk over after the Gangster Museum, since it sits just up Central Avenue.
11. Catch First Friday Gallery Walk On Central Avenue
Hot Springs has a big art scene for a town its size. On the first Friday of every month, the galleries downtown stay open in the evening for Gallery Walk, a tradition that has been going for more than 35 years.
You can wander from gallery to gallery, meet local artists and see new shows. There’s often live music, and the restaurants along Central Avenue stay busy.
If your trip lines up with the first Friday, plan dinner downtown and stay for the walk. It’s free and gives you a good feel for the town’s creative side.
12. Ride A Duck Boat Into Lake Hamilton
National Park Duck Tours uses old military vehicles that can drive on the road and float on water. The tour starts downtown, rolls past the historic sights and then drives straight into Lake Hamilton.
The whole ride takes a little over an hour. The captains keep it light with jokes and local history the whole way.
It’s a silly, fun way to see both the town and the lake in one go. It’s a great pick for families with younger kids who aren’t old enough for the bathhouses.
13. Wander Garvan Woodland Gardens And Anthony Chapel
Garvan Woodland Gardens is a botanical garden run by the University of Arkansas, set on a wooded peninsula on Lake Hamilton. Paths wind past streams, waterfalls, a Japanese garden and thousands of flowers.
The star of the gardens is Anthony Chapel, a tall chapel made of wood and glass that seems to rise out of the trees. It’s a favorite spot for weddings, and it’s worth the walk just to stand inside.
Spring brings tulips and azaleas, but winter is just as special. Every year from late November through December, the gardens light up for Holiday Lights, and the timed tickets often sell out, so book ahead if you’re visiting then.
14. Watch The Races At Oaklawn
Oaklawn has been racing horses in Hot Springs for more than a century, and race days still draw big crowds. The live racing season runs from late fall or early winter through spring.
The biggest day of the year is the Arkansas Derby in April, which is one of the final races that send horses to the Kentucky Derby. Regular race days are more relaxed, and you can watch from the grandstand without spending much.
Oaklawn also has a casino that’s open year round. If you’re here in the racing season, an afternoon at the track is a fun change of pace from the bathhouses.
15. Walk The Skywalk At Mid-America Science Museum
Mid-America Science Museum is a science museum just outside downtown, and it’s a great stop if you’re traveling with kids. Most of the exhibits are made to be touched, pushed and played with.
The best part is outside. The Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk stretches 240 feet into the forest, about 40 feet above the ground, with exhibits along the way that teach about the woods around you.
It’s a good backup plan for a hot afternoon or a rainy morning. Adults tend to enjoy it just as much as the kids do.
16. Ride The Northwoods Trails
The Northwoods Trails are a big reason Hot Springs has become a mountain biking town. The trail system has more than 30 miles of riding in the forest, only about five minutes from downtown.
The trails were designed by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, and they’re marked for every level. Beginners can stick to the green loops, while experienced riders can take on the jump lines and the tougher black trails.
There are several trailheads around the system, so it’s easy to fit in a ride before lunch. Local bike shops in town can help if you need to rent a bike.
17. Hike To The Waterfall At Lake Catherine State Park
Lake Catherine State Park sits on the shore of a quiet lake just southeast of Hot Springs. It’s an easy drive from town, and it feels much more remote than it is.
The Falls Branch Trail is the park’s best hike. It’s about two miles and leads through the woods to Falls Creek Falls, a small waterfall that spills over the rocks into a shallow pool.
Time your visit after a few days of rain. The waterfall slows to a trickle in dry weather, but after a good storm it’s one of the prettiest spots near town.
18. Snorkel Or Paddle Lake Ouachita
Lake Ouachita is the largest lake entirely inside Arkansas, and it’s known as one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the country. It’s tucked into the national forest northwest of Hot Springs, with about 200 small islands to paddle around.
The water is so clear that people come here to snorkel and scuba dive. There’s even a 16 mile water trail called the Geo-Float Trail, with stops that point out the rock formations along the shore.
Lake Ouachita State Park is the easiest place to start, with a marina, swimming area, cabins and campsites. Summer is the season for it, when the water is warm enough to stay in all afternoon.
19. Dig For Quartz Crystals At Ron Coleman Mining
The mountains around Hot Springs are famous for quartz crystals, and you can dig for your own. Ron Coleman Mining is about 15 miles from downtown and has welcomed public diggers for more than 30 years.
You pay to dig through piles of dirt that have come out of the working mine, and you keep whatever you find. The mine promises you’ll find enough crystal to cover what you paid, or you get credit in the gift shop.
It’s messy, so wear old clothes and bring water to rinse your finds. Kids love it, and most people leave with a bag of sparkly rocks they’re very proud of.
When To Visit Hot Springs Arkansas
Hot Springs is good all year, but each season gives the trip a different feel. Spring brings flowers to Garvan Woodland Gardens and the big races at Oaklawn, and the trails are green and mild.
Summer is hot and humid, so it’s the season for the lakes. Plan the hikes for early morning and spend the afternoons on Lake Ouachita or Lake Hamilton.
Fall is a favorite, with cooler days and color across the Ouachita Mountains. Winter is quieter in town, but it’s the best time for a thermal bath, and it’s when the holiday lights glow at the gardens and the racing season begins.
If you’re building a bigger trip through the region, these bucket list places to visit in Texas make an easy add on from the south.
Final Thoughts
Hot Springs is a rare mix of a national park, a spa town and a little bit of gangster history, all packed into a few blocks. It’s easy to get around, easy on the budget and easy to love.
Pick a few of these things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas, save time for at least one soak in the thermal water, and leave room for the mountains and lakes outside town. If you’re looking for another Southern mountain town after this one, these things to do in Gatlinburg Tennessee are a great next pick.
