Our recent getaway to Hot Springs, Arkansas, included a visit to the quaint resort town and its beautiful national park. It was our first trip of the spring, and we were excited to get back on the road after spending the winter in northeast Texas. The mountain scenery and the company of fellow campers at an RV rally was just the ticket to kick off a new travel season.
Hot Springs National Park
At 37 square miles, Hot Springs is the second smallest national park in the US (after Gateway Arch). However, unlike the Gateway Arch, which is surrounded by the city of St Louis, Hot Springs National Park surrounds the town.
The name Hot Springs comes from the naturally flowing spring waters that are found in the area and come out of the ground at an amazing 143 degrees. Now that is definitely HOT water! I was surprised to learn that the hot springs water we see flowing today once fell as rain or snow over 4,000 years ago.
We enjoyed spending time outside hiking some of the trails in the park. Combining the West Mountain Trail and the Mountain Top Trail made a nice 2.5-mile loop through wooded areas. On the other side of the park, the shorter Peak Trail leads up to the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Here we rode an elevator up 216 feet to the observation deck where a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains and countryside awaited us.
Bath House Row
One of the most famous landmarks in Hot Springs is Bathhouse Row. Here eight elegant historic buildings line the main street in town where they were originally built over the area’s thermal springs. Tourists flocked to the town starting in the late 1800s to experience the supposed healing effects of a bath in the hot springs water.
The Fordyce Bathhouse is now the national park’s visitor center. This was a great place to learn about the whole thermal bathing industry because it preserved many of the different rooms as they appeared in the early 1900s. Throughout its 3 floors, we got a look at original treatment rooms, equipment, parlors, bathtubs, and a gymnasium that were used by guests at the bathhouse.
Today there are only two operating bathhouses. The Buckstaff gives a traditional bathing experience as was done years ago (see above photos). We tried the Quapaw which offers a more modern thermal pool and spa experience. In either case, the pools are walk-in, but the spa/massage experiences must be reserved ahead of time.
The Superior bathhouse is now home to the only brewery in the world that makes its beer with hot spring water. Mike really enjoyed the beer tasting flights there.
Garvan Woodland Gardens
Another popular attraction is the botanical paradise of Garvan Woodland Gardens. Located on the shoreline of Lake Hamilton, the 210-acre park includes native shrubs and wildflowers, an Asian garden, and a children’s garden all nestled beneath tall pine trees. We took a peaceful stroll along the winding pathways and unique footbridges to view 160 different types of azaleas, a 12-foot waterfall, and colorful tulips. This was a beautiful place to wander, relax and unwind.
The Gangster Museum of America
It was surprising to hear that the little town of Hot Springs was a hotbed of organized crime back in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Gambling, prostitution, and bootlegging were overlooked by local authorities (and the state!). So, it became a sanctuary for notorious gangsters like Al Capone, Bugs Moran, and Lucky Luciano who all followed the laws and enjoyed protection here. The Gangster Museum has a fun tour with relics, exhibits, weapons from the time period, and even a secret passageway.
National Indoor RV Center (NIRVC) Appreciation Rally
We stayed at Catherine’s Landing RV Resort, which is a very nice and large RV campground in Hot Springs. There are lots of amenities and outdoor activity options here – canoeing, hiking, zip lining, and disc golf to name a few.
We also attended the annual NIRVC Appreciation Rally where customers are treated to wonderful catered meals and fun entertainment for 3 days. We visited the Oaklawn Racing Casino and had fun casino events during the rally. It was nice to see old friends and meet many new ones there.
Hot Springs is a great little resort town with lots to offer. There are shops, restaurants, local murals, historic sites, outdoor activities, and so much more to keep you entertained. Our 10-day getaway was the perfect amount of time to enjoy the campground activities as well as the park, the town, and the beautiful scenery that abounds in the area.
Wow! What a very interesting place. I could use one of those thermal healing baths too. Another great adventure! Thanks for sharing 🙂
We were pleasantly surprised at the cute town of Hot Springs. The thermal baths are amazing and we really enjoyed hiking in the national park too. It seems like a perfect little vacation town!
We loved our stop at Hot Springs National Park! It may be small but it’s unique and filled with history.
Hi! Thanks for checking out my blog. I’m glad you liked your visit to Hot Springs National Park. We thought the area was so beautiful and enjoyed our hikes in the park. The town and history of the area was so interesting too. We will definitly go back!
Hi! Thanks for checking out my blog. I am glad you enjoyed your visit to Hot Springs National Park. We thought the area was so beautiful and really liked our hikes in the park. The town and history was very interesting too. We will definitely be back!