Hot Springs National Park: One of America’s Oldest Protected Thermal Treasures

Aerial view of buildings surrounded by forested hills in sunlight.

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America's first spa city still welcomes visitors to its thermal waters, historic bathhouses and mountain trails.

For more than a century, people have traveled from across the nation to enjoy the thermal waters of Hot Springs National Park. During the park’s heyday, all the bathhouses on Bathhouse Row were open, and many visitors came under doctor’s orders to soak in — and even drink — the spring water for relief from various health conditions.

Today, two of the bathhouses continue to offer thermal baths, and visitors still come to unwind in the thermal waters and take in the beauty of the Ouachita Mountains.

A Park Older Than Yellowstone?

Hot Springs National Park officially became a national park in 1921, but its federal protection goes back much further. In 1832, Congress designated the area as the Hot Springs Reservation, nearly 40 years before Yellowstone was designated the nation’s first national park (1872) and decades before the National Park Service was created (1916). That makes Hot Springs the oldest federally protected unit in the National Park Service system. It's also the second smallest national park, after Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis.

The Springs that Made the City

While thermal springs exist elsewhere in the U.S., especially in areas with recent volcanic activity, Hot Springs' waters are geologically unique. Rainfall on the nearby Ouachita Mountains slowly seeps underground, travels about 6,000 feet deep and takes roughly 4,400 years before resurfacing at 143 degrees Fahrenheit. The park’s 47 hot springs are the only federally controlled hot springs in the nation, managed for both public health and consumption. You can taste the water at jug fountains throughout the park and fill vessels to take home.

Three children looking into a stone pond surrounded by greenery.

5,500 Acres to Explore

Hot Springs National Park covers 5,500 acres, has free admission and has more than 25 miles of hiking trails. These paths lead to scenic overlooks and landmarks like the Hot Springs Mountain Tower, which provides panoramic views of downtown Hot Springs and the surrounding Ouachita National Forest. Pets are welcome throughout the park and on all trails, but not inside federal buildings.

Grand building with blue awnings, sunny day, surrounded by greenery.

Bathhouse Row: A Living Landmark

Bathhouse Row is now a National Historic Landmark District, with eight preserved bathhouses, most built in the early 20th century.

The Fordyce Bathhouse, which opened in 1915, now serves as the park’s visitor center. It was once considered the most luxurious bathhouse in town, built by Col. Samuel Fordyce at a cost of more than $200,000. President Franklin D. Roosevelt even visited the Fordyce in 1936 during Arkansas’ Centennial celebration.

The Buckstaff Bathhouse, open since 1912, and the Quapaw Bathhouse still operate today, offering traditional thermal spa services. The Superior Bathhouse Brewery, which uses thermal water in its beer, holds the distinction of being the first brewery located inside a national park.

Other historic buildings on the row have found new life:

The Hale Bathhouse is now Hotel Hale, a boutique hotel.
The Lamar Bathhouse is home to the Bathhouse Row Emporium, the park store.
The Ozark Bathhouse houses an immersive family attraction with four themed, hands-on science environments filled with flowing water, dynamic lighting and vibrant soundscapes.
The Maurice Bathhouse is currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Note that the springs themselves are not meant for soaking, as the water is far too hot at 143 degrees.

A Park in the Heart of a City

Hot Springs National Park is unusual among national parks in that it’s embedded in an urban setting. You’ll find plenty of places to stay, eat and explore — all within walking distance in downtown Hot Springs. For camping, the park’s Gulpha Gorge Campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details on the national park, visit nps.gov/hosp.