Hot Springs National Park — Visitor Info

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Hot Springs National Park is unlike any other unit in the system — a collection of historic bathhouses and natural thermal springs woven directly into the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas. There's no gate, no entrance fee, and no wilderness backcountry; it's a walkable urban park built around a 143°F natural hot spring.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Check current conditions before you go: Bathhouse Row's individual bathhouses operate on different schedules — some are museums, some are still working bathhouses, and one is a brewery. Confirm which are open for tours or soaking before you go. Always check the official Hot Springs Alerts & Conditions page first.
Quick Facts
Location
Downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas
Entrance Fee
None — free entrance, free museum, free guided tours
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No
Permit Needed For
Special events/weddings, commercial filming — not needed for day visits
Lodging
Gulpha Gorge Campground; hotels throughout the city
Managed By
National Park Service

Visitor Centers

Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center & Museum
On Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs. A restored 1915 bathhouse, now the park's free museum and main visitor center; free guided tours are offered.

Confirm current hours on the official NPS hours & visitor centers page before you go.

Entrance Fees & Passes

Hot Springs National Park has no entrance fee. The Fordyce Bathhouse Museum and its guided tours are also free. Actually soaking in the thermal water — at one of the still-operating bathhouses on Bathhouse Row — is a separately priced service run by private/concession operators, not an NPS fee.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

Since Hot Springs doesn't charge an entrance fee, the Every Kid Outdoors pass isn't needed here, but it's good for free entry at fee-charging parks elsewhere in the system.

Bathhouse Row

The eight historic bathhouses along Bathhouse Row each have a different life today: the Fordyce is the free NPS museum and visitor center; the Buckstaff and Quapaw are still operating bathhouses where you can pay to soak in the thermal water; the Superior Bathhouse now houses a brewery that brews with the thermal spring water; others rotate between park offices, galleries, and seasonal exhibits. Check current status before planning around a specific bathhouse.

Permits & Reservations

You do not need a permit for a typical day visit, hike, or soak. Permits apply only to special uses:

Campgrounds & RV Options

Gulpha Gorge Campground
The park's only campground, a short drive from downtown and Bathhouse Row. All sites take RVs and trailers, with full hookups (30/50-amp electric, water, sewer) and paved parking; maximum combined vehicle length around 60ft. All sites are reservation-only through Recreation.gov, up to 6 months ahead.

Beyond Gulpha Gorge, the city of Hot Springs has a full range of hotels and private RV parks within a few minutes of the park.

Good to Know

  • It's a walkable city park: most of Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade behind it can be seen on foot in a few hours — no car needed once you're downtown.
  • Free public fountains along the Row let you fill jugs with the hot spring water (cooled) or cold spring water to take home.
  • The park includes hiking trails in the surrounding hills (Hot Springs Mountain, West Mountain, Sunset Trail) beyond the historic downtown core.
  • Combine with the city: downtown Hot Springs' restaurants, galleries, and Oaklawn Racing sit right alongside the park boundary.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Hot Springs National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Gulpha Gorge Campground · Recreation.gov – Gulpha Gorge Campground · NPS – Alerts & Conditions