Hot Springs National Park: RV Camping and Travel Guide
The ancient thermal springs at Hot Springs National Park have drawn people to this region for centuries. (Yes, well before the first of nine grand bathhouses opened in the early 1900s.) The area’s natural beauty, rich cultural history, and 4,000-year-old healing waters (flowing from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain and long-rumored to possess medicinal and mythical properties) were already legendary among several Native American tribes before European settlers arrived. It was a place of healing, restoration, and peace before an RV tire ever marked the land.
A Little Bit of History to Get You Started
Fortunately, an unprecedented act of the U.S. Congress in 1832 created a way to preserve 5.500 acres of land for future recreation. (It was known then as the Hot Springs Reservation.) Forty years before the words “national park” worked its way into a bill, this legislation preserved land specifically for recreational use. (The first time in U.S. history.) In doing so, Congress established an amazing precedent for protecting future natural treasures. Sadly, however, its establishment came in the wake of forced relocation of Native American tribes — a darker chapter of American history.
Today, Hot Springs is fundamentally an urban park, offering healing in different ways than most national parks call to mind. After soaking in these healing waters at a spa along Bathhouse Row and drinking from the spring fed fountains, take the time to enjoy beautiful hiking trails leading to panoramic mountain views. All around, there is fascinating geology, old growth forests, and abundant creeks. Hot Springs National Park is a small, unique, and beautiful destination in the South – and Arkansas’s only national park.
Fun Fact! Why is the water considered to be 4,000 years old? The thermal water today originated as rain water that fell over 4,000 years ago, soaking into these mountains, and funneling back up at high speeds and hot temperatures.
Scenic Drives
With two scenic drives and five scenic overlooks accessible by RV, there’s plenty to explore in this small national park beyond its famed waters. Bring a picnic and enjoy the views!
North Mountain Scenic Drive and Overlooks
- Hot Springs Mountain Scenic Drive. This route begins at the end of Fountain Street in downtown. Built as a carriage road in the 1880s, its switchbacks will take you to a picnic area at the top, the Pagoda overlook, and the Hot Springs Mountain Tower. You can continue on to North Mountain Loop and then back down to Fountain Street.
- Hot Springs Mountain Lookout Point. This includes the historic Hot Springs Mountain Pagoda. Looking out from the pagoda is the city of Hot Springs with the Ouachita Mountains in the distance.
- Goat Rock Overlook. The overlook is located on top of North Mountain overlooking the Zigzag Mountains (which serve as the recharge zone for the thermal springs) and Indian Mountain (which is rich in Novaculite and was highly valued by the Native Americans for making tools).
West Mountain Scenic Drive and Overlooks
- West Mountain Scenic Drive. This drive has entrances on Prospect Avenue and Whittington Avenue. It is a two-way road that leads to the Summit Loop where you will find three beautiful overlooks.
- West Mountain Lower Overlook. From here, you get a great aerial view of Bathhouse Row and downtown Hot Springs. Additionally, Hot Springs Mountain Tower can be seen standing tall on top of Hot Springs Mountain along with the Army-Navy Hospital standing tall below.
- West Mountain Picnic Overlook. This remains one of the best places to picnic in Hot Springs. This overlook hangs high up on West Mountain overlooking the city of Hot Springs. In addition to picnic tables, a historic mountain shelter built in 1924 provides a place to relax and enjoy the view.
- West Mountain Loop Overlook. This site offers views of the Trap Mountains with Lake Hamilton visible far in the distance. You’ll also find an outcrop of Arkansas Novaculite at the top which was used by the Caddo Indians for making tools and weapons and later by European settlers for whetstones.
Must-Hike Trails
Walking paths have long been a part of the park’s history and the preceding Hot Springs Reservation. Today, there are 26 miles of maintained paths within the park’s trail system. This includes two main networks of hiking trails — the Hot Springs and North Mountain Trails and the West Mountain Trails. Both areas are composed of relatively short, interconnected trails.
Note: Good news for pet owners! Unlike most national parks, pets are allowed throughout the park and on all trails. So, bring the family pooch with you. The only exception is they are not allowed inside any federal buildings.
Easy to Moderate Trails
Hot Springs and North Mountain Trail Network
This popular network of trails is easy-to-reach and provides scenic views. Trails are accessible via the North Mountain Scenic Drive or by hiking short, steep trails up from the city below.
- Tufa Terrace Trail. This paved trail is accessible from downtown along the Grand Promenade or the Arlington Lawn. While a bit steep, it is just over quarter mile in length. This trail gets its name from the tufa deposits, a type of limestone formed by the precipitation of carbonate minerals from ambient temperature water. Distance: 0.3 miles, one way
- Hot Springs Mountain Trail. Stroll along this easy trail and enjoy the numerous overlooks from the top of the park. Distance: 1.7-mile loop (For an added challenge, start from the Gulpha Gorge Campground for a short but steep climb up the Hot Springs Mountain Trail and/or climb to the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower for stunning panoramic views of the park and surrounding region. This 216-foot tower with enclosed observation decks sits 1,256 feet above sea level. Originally made wood in 1877, it was rebuilt with steel and an elevator in 1982.)
- Goat Rock Trail. This trail starts below the North Mountain Overlook, with several switchbacks leading to views of Indian Mountain and Hot Springs. It becomes rocky and uneven for several hundred feet, then passes beneath the huge novaculite boulders, with Goat Rock Overlook 40 feet above. Distance: 2.6 miles, roundtrip (For some added challenge, start from the Gulpha Gorge Campground for a short but steep climb up to the Goat Rock Trail. And, once on the Goat Rock Trail, take the stone steps that rise 240 feet to the Goat Rock summit, offering spectacular views of Indian Mountain.)
West Mountain Trail Network
The West Mountain trail network is less traveled, providing greater opportunities for wildlife sightings. You can get to these trails via the West Mountain Scenic Drive or by hiking short, steep trails up from the city.
West Mountain Loop. While moderate inclines can be found along the trail, overall it’s a comfortable hike. Along this loop, you’ll come across the oldest shelter in the park (West Mountain Shelter) which is a great place to take a break and relax in the shade. Distance: 2.3-mile loop (For some added challenge, start from either Whittington Park and take the Mountain Top Trail — approximately .6 miles — or start from Central Avenue and take the Canyon Trail — approximately 0.7 miles — to connect with the West Mountain Loop.)
Challenging Trail*
*Includes optional moderate sections
Sunset Trail. Crossing many types of terrain, the trail makes its way through the most remote areas of the park. While adventurous folks hike the entire trail, it can be broken up into three separate sections: West Mountain (2.8 miles), Sugarloaf Mountain (2.6 miles), and Stonebridge Road (3.8 miles). The Sunset Trail can be combined with Hot Springs Mountain trails, North Mountain trails, and West Mountain trails to complete a strenuous 15-to-17-mile-loop hike. Located along the ridge of Sugarloaf Mountain is an outcrop of Novaculite, known as Balanced Rock Overlook. Overall distance: 10 miles, one-way or 15-to-17-mile loop
RV Parks & Campgrounds
NPS Campground: Gulpha Gorge Campground
There is one small campground in Hot Springs National Park with 40 sites. Campsites at Gulpha Gorge Campground can accommodate RVs, with several back-in sites that can accommodate vehicles of 40-plus feet. Not typical of most national parks, and representative of this park’s urban location, all campsites have full hook-ups: 30- and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer connections. Each site has a picnic table, pedestal grill, and water, and there are modern restrooms with showers. Accessible campsites are made available a week in advance if not reserved.
Private Campgrounds
There are several private campgrounds within 10 minutes of Hot Springs National Park – from the Hot Springs KOA to private camping resorts. The Dyrt PRO is a helpful campground locator app to explore the local camping options.
Seasonal Advice
The weather in Hot Springs National Park is generally fairly mild throughout most of the year, except during the summer months.
Spring & Fall
Spring (March to May) and Fall (September-November) are moderate and comfortable temperatures, ranging from lows between 40 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit and highs between 63 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. The most rainfall typically occurs during these two seasons.
Summer
Daytime temperatures are usually in the 80 to 90s, and highs can reach the triple digits with stifling humidity of 70 to 90 percent in July and August. Average temperatures in June, July, and August range from 70 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
Winter
While the temperature usually ranges between 32 and 56 degrees Fahrenheit (with some ice or snow), wind chills in December, January, and February can make temperatures feel much colder, as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit on occasion.
Note on Severe Weather
This region can experience severe weather any time of year. Calm, sunny mornings can abruptly turn into fierce, stormy days. Heavy rain and lightning are common during the spring and summer. Springtime also has the highest potential for tornadoes.
Unique Programs & Opportunities
Getting the Full Spring Experience
Soak in the Springs
While there are no outdoor soaking pools in the park, Bathhouse Row offers two indoor facilities where you can fully submerge and relax in the thermal water. The thermal springs are piped directly into both of these bathhouses, offering an authentic bathing experience.
- Buckstaff Bathhouse. Offering a traditional bathing experience, this is the only facility on the Row that has kept its doors open to the public since it first started offering baths in 1912. Children must be 10 years of age or older to partake in this historic experience.
- Quapaw Bathhouse. Offering modern-day spa services with amenities like roman-style open thermal pools, private baths, massages, facials, and other services for people 14 years and older.
Drink from the Springs
Is the water from hot springs good to drink? Go ahead, “quaff the elixir,” as they used to say in the heyday of the spa era! There are several thermal springs and cold springs throughout the park where you can not only drink the water, you can fill bottles to take home.
Touch the Springs
Even though the water comes out of the ground at 143 degrees Fahrenheit, it is cool enough to touch by the time it reaches the pools. There are several small pools throughout the park where you can experience the thermal waters that come to the surface.
Cycling
Cyclists are welcome to ride on any paved roads in the park. The roads up to North Mountain and West Mountain offer a progressive incline with moderate traffic. The 0.8-mile Pullman Trail is the only trail in the park that allows bicycles. E-bikes are allowed any where traditional bicycles are allowed. (Note: Bicycles are not allowed on the Grand Promenade or on the sidewalk in front of Bathhouse Row.) The City of Hot Springs also provides ample opportunities for bikers of all levels. Visit Bike Hot Springs for more detailed information including maps, trail lengths, and other tips.
Fishing
The park allows fishing as a means of public enjoyment, as well as customary and traditional use. As always, you should check the current fishing regulations. Visitors fishing within Hot Springs National Park must follow the fishing license requirements and regulations of the state of Arkansas.
Hot Springs Freedom 250 Events
Join local opportunities to celebrate our nation’s story at America’s oldest federal park! As part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, the park will offer a variety of programs and events, particularly on federal holidays and the annual National Park Week in April. All programs will be free to the public and many will be cosponsored by local groups and organizations.
Ranger-Led Programs & Self-Guided Tours
Ranging from Fordyce Bathhouse tours to outdoor walks to pop-up programs, guided tours are always a great way to learn about the park. Tours are offered year-round, with programs differing between winter/spring (Nov through May) and summer/fall (June through October). Or take a self-guided historic walk down the Grand Promenade to see Bathhouse Row. There you can explore the Park’s complex history. (Just follow the Hidden Hot Springs tour via the NPS app for details at each stop.)
Iron Ranger Challenge
Complete 100 miles of physical activity on any public lands within the state of Arkansas and you are eligible to become an Iron Ranger! This means any activity you do in a site in the Arkansas National Park, Arkansas State Park, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, US Forest Service, National Wildlife Refuge, Army Corps of Engineers, or city park can be counted. Activities should be human powered, so things like walking, running, hiking, biking, swimming, and paddling all count towards the 100-mile goal!
City of Hot Springs Events
From moonlit bike rides to bathtub races to art walks and everything in between, there’s always something fun happening in town. Check out the city’s upcoming events for details.
*****
While this unique park is small by national park standards, there are also some fascinating things to see and do around the Natural State. When planning a road trip to this region, be sure to include a visit to a few of the seven other NPS units in Arkansas as well as some of the 52 Arkansas State Parks. Time your visit wisely, come prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings your way, and you’ll have a wonderful time exploring this beautiful region!
Freedom in a Can
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