Hot Springs National Park covers 5,554 acres in Arkansas. It became a national park on March 4, 1921, the 16th of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 2,494,611 recreation visits in 2025, the 14th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Hot Springs
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
Hot Springs National Park has a rich cultural past. The grand architecture of our historic bathhouses is equally matched by the natural curiosities that have been drawing people here for hundreds of years. Ancient thermal springs, mountain views, incredible geology, forested hikes, and abundant creeks, all in the middle of town, make Hot Springs National Park a unique and beautiful destination.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data. You do not need a pass to enter. Parking, ferry, boat or other transport fees can still apply.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Hot Springs: October and November. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: June, with about 345,120 visits in a typical recent year. That is 2.8 times as many as September.
- Quietest month: September (123,246 visits).
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Hot Springs, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: ready-made plans for 1 to 3 days
- Things to do: 25 hikes and 11 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 1 campgrounds
- Getting there: Nearest gas to Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum: Valero in Hot Springs, 0.7 miles away. Closest airport Memorial Field Airport (4 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Popular hikes
- Goat Rock Trail (30 to 75 Minutes): The Goat Rock trail offers stunning views of the Ouachita Mountains and the recharge zone for the thermal springs. Limited parking is available at the overlook on North Mountain. The trailhead starts south of the parking area.
- Oak Trail (25 to 45 Minutes): The northeastern end of Oak Trail is mostly flat. The trail is fairly steep for a short distance between West Mountain Trail and West Mountain Drive.
- An Overview: Hot Springs and North Mountain Trails (30 to 300 Minutes): The Hot Springs and North Mountain trails are popular since they are easy to reach and provide scenic views. You can get to these trails via Stephen’s Balustrade (grand staircase) behind the Fordyce Bathhouse, Hot Springs Mountain Drive, and the Gulpha Gorge Campground. See the Hot Springs and North Mountain trail map
- Honeysuckle Trail (20 to 45 Minutes): Honeysuckle Trail connects Peak Trail with Hot Springs Mountain Trail.
- Short Cut Trail (10 to 25 Minutes): Short Cut Trail connects Oertel Trail with Hot Springs Mountain Trail near the picnic area atop Hot Springs Mountain.
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
Average temperatures in Hot Springs can range from about 90°F (32°C) to less than 27°F (-2.7°C). Summer days can be hot and humid, with heat index values up to 110ºF (43ºC). Winter wind chills can make temperatures feel much colder, as low as 15ºF (-9.4ºC). Spring and fall typically have the most rainfall. Generally, Hot Springs experiences mild weather throughout the year.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks by road
- Gateway Arch (Missouri): about 7 h 30 min by car (400 miles)
- Mammoth Cave (Kentucky): about 9 h by car (491 miles)
- Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina and Tennessee): about 11 h 35 min by car (623 miles)
- Indiana Dunes (Indiana): about 12 h 45 min by car (705 miles)
Drive times run between the closest visitor centers of each pair, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads. Link several parks with the road trip planner.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Hot Springs National Park?
No entrance fee is listed for this park in National Park Service data.
What state is Hot Springs National Park in?
Arkansas.
When did Hot Springs become a national park?
March 4, 1921.
How many people visit Hot Springs?
2,494,611 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs?
October and November. June is the busiest month and September the quietest while the park is fully open.
Nearby parks
MissouriGateway Arch National Park
Missouri. 2,209,028 visits in 2025. $3 per person.
KentuckyMammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky. 660,734 visits in 2025. No entrance fee.
North Carolina and TennesseeGreat Smoky Mountains National Park
North Carolina and Tennessee. 11,527,939 visits in 2025. No entrance fee.