Hot Springs

Spa-town culture, Ouachita mountain trails, sparkling lakes and Oaklawn’s horse racing excitement create the spirit of this mountain-meets-city getaway.

Hot Springs blends healing thermal waters with mountain ruggedness, all with a fascinating undercurrent of gambling, gangsters, and baseball history.

In the early 1800s, settlers moved into the Ouachita Mountains, drawn by thermal springs that had attracted Native American tribes for thousands of years. The springs drew so much attention that in 1832, Congress set aside the land as Hot Springs Reservation — the first federally protected area in the nation's history, a full 40 years before Yellowstone.

The town grew up around 47 thermal springs, evolving into a glamorous resort destination. By the late 19th century, grand bathhouses lined Bathhouse Row, offering mineral soaks to visitors from across the country. The city soon attracted gamblers and gangsters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano, who found safe haven in the mountain town. Hot Springs also became the birthplace of baseball’s spring training. Professional teams arrived annually starting in the 1880s, with players like Babe Ruth soaking in thermal waters between practices. At its peak, 250 players trained here each spring. With the city flourishing around the springs, the reservation became Hot Springs National Park in 1921.

EXPLORE

Today, 5,550-acre Hot Springs National Park offers 26 miles of trails, 40 sites at Gulpha Gorge Campground, a mountain tower, and recreation areas for birding, fishing and photography. Along Central Avenue, Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade remain the heart of the experience. Two bathhouses, the Buckstaff and the Quapaw, still offer spa treatments in the thermal waters, while others serve as the park visitor center, a boutique hotel, a brewery and other attractions.

It remains the only national park centered in a city, anchoring this vibrant downtown full of art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars and live music. Walk the streets and you’ll see artists, retirees, tourists and locals sharing the experience. High-end cocktail bars and steakhouses mix with dive bars and burger joints on the same blocks.

Venture beyond downtown and you'll find Garvan Woodland Gardens, a 210-acre botanical paradise, and the Mid-America Science Museum, where kids (and adults) can explore hands-on exhibits. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort brings the energy with its casino, restaurants, hotel, Arkansas’ only Forbes Four-Star rated spa, and live thoroughbred racing from December through May. The track's marquee event, the Arkansas Derby, is one of America’s premier Kentucky Derby prep races, drawing tens of thousands of fans and top contenders from across the country.

The city's quirky side surfaces in attractions like the Gangster Museum of America, Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum, the Arkansas Alligator Farm & Petting Zoo, and Tiny Town. Lively festivals like the World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the World Championship Running of the Tubs are hard to beat for entertainment.

OUTDOORS

Outdoor adventure extends well beyond the national park. Hit Cedar Glades Park and Northwoods Trail System, which are directly accessible from downtown, for mountain biking to disc golf and playgrounds. Lake lovers can head to Lake Hamilton or Lake Catherine for kayaking, fishing, and watersports just minutes from downtown, while Lake Ouachita’s vast clear waters offer houseboating and hidden coves a short drive away. The surrounding Ouachita Mountains and Ouachita National Forest offer some of the state’s best trails for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking, including the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) and the Womble Trail, both recognized as IMBA Epic rides.

Hot Springs is an easy getaway—just about five hours from Dallas and only three hours from Memphis, making it a perfect road trip destination from either city.