Hot Springs National Park

TL;DR: Hot Springs National Park is a charming stop with enjoyable camping, scenic trails, historical sites, and unique shops and eateries. Worth visiting, even in December! Hot Springs National Park made for a great mini stop on my way west. Despite uncooperative weather during my visit, I still found the camping experience enjoyable and the trails and sites I managed to explore were well worth it. The city itself is rich in history, with plenty of cool shops and great places to eat. The hot springs were a highlight, and the entire area is absolutely gorgeous, even in December. It’s a wonderful place to visit and take in both nature and history!

Amazing little tucked away national park near the boyhood town of former president Bill Clinton. There’s trails and an incredible museum with the history of the area and the national park. This was the first time I’d been to a hot springs without the sulfur smell. The water is not heated by volcanic activity. The gift shop has lots off cool things including glass bottles made in Arkansas to bring home some of the mineral water. I’m planning on coming back and checking out some of the bath houses. Lots of picnic areas and trails near by and the area surrounding the museum is picturesque. There’s an old Army Navy Hospital nearby that needs to become part of the park as it looks like it’s been untouched for a few decades.

Fun place to see a National Park, natural wonder and to take a step back in American history. While on business in Little Rock, I took a 50 min drive to a Hot Springs for a long afternoon. I took a self-guided tour of bathhouse row using the cell phone stops to hear about what I was seeing. Then took a hike up to the viewing tower at the peak of the mountain. Felt the 140° water coming out of the ground and public fountains and toured one of the bath houses to see why thousands of people have historically flocked to Hot Springs for health and medical respite.

We are normally fans of parks that involve the outdoors. However this offered a unique experience. The history involved with the old bathhouses and hot springs really surprised us. We did a soak in one of the houses. Of course we love natural springs that you hike into but we did enjoy this especially the oatmeal salts. Loved drinking the water there. Having hot spring water to drink was a first for us. We also recommend the hikes in the area. The scenic drive is worth doing too especially in Fall.

From Bathhouse Row to the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs National Park is a unique, historic national park quite unlike any others which I have been to. It is especially beautiful around the holidays, when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s gorgeous in the early spring, around the time of the Arkansas Derby, additionally. Therefore, any time of the year would be a nice time to visit. Do not forget to bring jugs to fill at one of the water filling stations; you won’t regret taking the water home with you!