Things To Do
Hot Springs National Park
This small town is located next to the nation’s oldest and smallest national park, though those monikers belie the big fun that can be found here. Home to thermal springs that release water at an average of 147 degrees Fahrenheit, the park has long beckoned visitors to visit the area bathhouses and soak in the storied spring water. To see the scope of the park and the beauty of the landscape, ride the elevator to the top of Hot Springs Mountain Tower (216 feet high!) and take a look at the spectacular scenery.
Superior Bathhouse Brewery
Another bathhouse with an innovative new use is located at the north end of Bathhouse Row. There, you’ll find Superior Bathhouse Brewery, where founder Rose Schweikhart and her team brew beer using the park’s thermal spring waters. (They’re only brewery in the world to do so!) Order a flight of Superior’s creatively named beers, and find a seat on the breezy patio to take in the sights and sounds of this corner of the park.
Garvan Woodland Gardens Childrens Garden Treehouse
South of town is Garvan Woodland Gardens, a wooded botanical garden that stretches over 210 acres along Lake Hamilton. In addition to outdoor sculptures and walking trails, the gardens are home to the breathtaking Anthony Chapel, a wood-and-glass structure that’s ideal for quiet moments of contemplation and has also become a popular venue for weddings.
Morrison's Fried Pies
Arkansas is famous for its fried pies, and some of the best of the best can be found at Morrison’s Fried Pies, a food truck-turned-Hot Springs institution. The retirement project of Edgar Morrison, the food truck turns out deliciously golden and crisp pastries filled with a lineup of delectable fillings ranging from savory to sweet. When you see the blue-and-white checked flags flying, pull over and order yourself a fried pie.
Northwoods Trail
Hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts, rejoice! Hot Springs National Park's Northwoods Trails system offers more than 31.5 miles of trails for biking, hiking, trail running, and nature viewing, all while letting visitors criss-cross their way through spectacular forest scenery. Choose from green, blue, or black single tracks, jump lines, and flow trails — then, show off your bike skills at nearby Cedar Glades Park, which also has a climbing wall, a three-story tree house for kids to check out, and 18 holes of disc golf.
Western Mountain Scenic Drive
On the other side of the national park, the Western Mountain Scenic Drive takes visitors from Whittington Avenue or Prospect Avenue up to the Summit Loop, which features three scenic overlooks. Enjoy views of Bathhouse Row and the old Army–Navy Hospital from the lower overlook, and Lake Hamilton and the Trap Mountains from the Summit Overlook; the Western Mountain Picnic Overlook is also home to a historic trail shelter house that dates back to 1924. Keep an eye out for Arkansas Novaculite once you reach the top, a type of silica stone once used by Indigenous Americans to make tools (Europeans later used them for whetstones).
Bathhouse Row
n addition to its forested acres, Hot Springs National Park is home to Bathhouse Row, a collection of eight bathhouses along a magnolia-shaded sidewalk. Each has its own architectural style. Today, two are still bathhouses, while the others have been repurposed through a historic leasing program. You can visit the grandest of them all, Fordyce Bathhouse, to see what the row was like in its heyday, as Fordyce is now a visitor center for the park.
Oaklawn Casino
MORE WINNING, MORE EXCITEMENT Our 24/7, smoke-free, state-of-the art casino offers live craps, live blackjack, popular slot games, live music and the award-winning Silks Bar & Grill. Plus, a sportsbook area that’s great for watching and wagering on sports of all kinds.