Hot Springs National Park Custom Search Congress established Hot Springs Reservation on April 20, 1832 to protect hot springs flowing from the southwestern slope of Hot Springs Mountain. This makes it the oldest park currently in the National Park System--40 years older than Yellowstone National Park. People have used the hot spring water in therapeutic baths for more than two hundred years to treat rheumatism and other ailments. The reservation eventually developed into a well-known resort nicknamed 'The American Spa' because it attracted not only the wealthy but also indigent health seekers from around the world. Today the park protects eight historic bathhouses with the former luxurious Fordyce Bathhouse housing the park visitor center. The entire 'Bathhouse Row' area is a National Historic Landmark District that contains the grandest collection of bathhouses of its kind in North America. By protecting the 47 hot springs and their watershed, the National Park Service continues to provide visitors with historic leisure activities such as hiking, picnicking, and scenic drives. Hot Springs Reservation became Hot Springs National Park by a Congressional name change on March 4, 1921.     CONTACTS Email - HOSP_Interpretation@nps.gov Fax- 501-624-3458 Write to Hot Springs National Park P.O. Box 1860 Hot Springs, AR 71902 - or - Hot Springs National Park 369 Central Hot Springs, AR 71901 Phone Visitor Information - 501-624-2701 Visitor Information (TDD) - 501-624-2308 Superintendent's Office - 501-623-2824 TRAVEL BASICS Operating Hours, Seasons The park and Gulpha Gorge Campground are open year round. The visitor center is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Summer hours are effective May 28-August 12--9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. The visitor center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. Getting There PLANE - Hot Springs is serviced by a local airport, Hot Springs Memorial Field, or Little Rock National Airport (with shuttle service and rental cars.) CAR - Hot Springs National Park is in downtown Hot Springs; Bathhouse Row is on Central Avenue with the mountains of the park flanking the street. Visitors traveling north-south on I-30 take the Hot Springs US 70 West exit south of Benton, the Hot Springs US 270 West exit at Malvern, or the Hot Springs Ark. 7 North exit near Arkadelphia; visitors traveling south on Ark. 7 will come through downtown Hot Springs where the visitor center is located; visitors traveling south on US 71 from Fort Smith, or north on US 71 from Texarkana, take the US 270 East exit; visitors coming from Oklahoma on US 70 would take this route all the way into Hot Springs. When you get into the city you will see signs for the National Park. The Visitor Center is located downtown on Highway 7 North or Central Avenue. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Amtrak's Texas Eagle route serves Little Rock and Malvern, Arkansas, with shuttle services to Hot Springs. Greyhound Bus Lines also services Hot Springs with a station located at 229 West Grand Avenue. For fare and scheduling information, call 1-800-231-2222. Weather & Climate Central Arkansas has four seasons: mild in spring and fall with some humidity, a light jacket is recommended; hot and very humid in summer, wear comfortable clothing; winter: variable--temperatures may range from below freezing to the 60s, with some humidity. Be prepared for cold weather. Accessibility The Visitor Center is fully accessible with wheelchairs available for loan. There is a loading zone in front of the Visitor Center; parking is across the street in public lots or in a city lot at the south end of Bathhouse Row. A model of Bathhouse Row and other architectural features is available for blind and visually impaired visitors. The park brochure is available on cassette and large print park information can be obtained at the information desk. An American Sign Language interpreter can be provided for regularly scheduled tours with five days notice. Gulpha Gorge Campground has one accessible campsite. Getting Around For getting around in the park, you may use personal vehicle or bicycles on the roads. Some tour companies offer tours and the city of Hot Springs runs a trolley to the tower on Hot Springs Mountain May-October. Tour buses or other vehicles more than 30 feet long are prohibited on Hot Springs Mountain because the road has hairpin curves. CAMPING Gulpha Gorge Open All Year Sites are available on a first come, first served basis. No reservations can be taken. Campsites have a picnic table, pedistal grill, and water nearby. There are no electric or water hookups and no showers. Modern rest rooms and a dump station are available. Campgrounds with more amenities are available in the surrounding area. For more information on camping and backpacking in the Ouachita National Forest, camping at Lake Ouachita, Corps of Engineers, and Arkansas State Parks go to the links section. LODGING City of Hot Springs Hot Springs National Park surrounds the north end of the city of Hot Springs. Lodging abounds in the city just outside the park. For information on lodging in the surrounding area, go to the links section and link to the Hot Springs Advertising and Promotion site or the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism site. FACILITIES Visitor Centers HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK VISITOR CENTER Open All Year 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Phone - 501-624-3383, ext. 640 Location - The visitor center is located in the former Fordyce Bathhouse on Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs. Bathhouse Row is located on Arkansas Highway 7 or Central Avenue between Reserve and Fountain Streets. Parking is available in private lots and meters on all adjacent streets. Closures - January 1, Thanksgiving Day, December 25 Special Programs - During the summer, special family programs are being offered several afternoons and evenings each week. Call the visitor center for the daily program schedule. Exhibits - The Fordyce Bathhouse exhibits 24 rooms that are refurnished like they were when the building opened for baths in 1915. Modern exhibits on the second floor detail the use and development of the spa. The Fordyce Spring is also on display in the basement. Available Facilities - The visitor center in the former Fordyce Bathhouse is also a museum offering self-guided tours. Considered the most elegant bathhouse when completed in 1915, it contains lovely mosaic tile floors, marble, stained glass windows and ceilings, gymnasium, and routine bathing equipment. The park 15-minute orientation movie, 'Valley of Vapors,' offers a brief history of the area. 'Taking the Baths' is a 9-minute video showing the traditional bathing routine in the Hot Springs bathhouses. Eastern National has a bookstore with books and other items pertaining to the baths and the park. Rest rooms and water fountains are located in the basement.   Map Detailed Map Contact Info Phone, Email, Address, GPS coordinates Campgrounds Nearby List of Nearby Campgrounds Weather Local weather forecast These outdoors activities are available near Hot Springs National Park.   Campgrounds Near Hot Springs National Park: Cloud Nine Recreational Vehicle Park, Hot Springs, 1 miles away J&J RV Park, Hot Springs National Park, 1 miles away J and J RV Park, Hot Springs National Park, 1 miles away Gulpha Gorge Campground, Garland County, 1 miles away Hot Springs RV Park, Hot Springs, 2 miles away Hot Springs KOA Kampground, Hot Springs National Park, 2 miles away Western Village Mobile Home Park, Hot Springs National Park, 2 miles away   Marinas Near Hot Springs National Park: Hot Springs Marina, Hot Springs National Park , 4 miles away Power Boats, Hot Springs National Park , 5 miles away Rod's Marina, Royal , 9 miles away Sunset Cove Marina, Hot Springs National Park , 10 miles away Balboa Dam Stoarge, Hot Springs Village , 11 miles away   Hotels Near Hot Springs National Park: Travelier Inn, Hot Springs , 1 miles away Red Roof Inn Hot Springs, Hot Springs , 1 miles away Knights Inn Hot Springs, Hot Springs , 1 miles away Embassy Suites Hot Springs Hotel Spa, Hot Springs , 1 miles away Hilltop Manor Bed and Breakfas, Hot Springs , 2 miles away Hamilton House Estate, Hot Springs , 2 miles away The B Inn, Hot Springs , 2 miles away   Whitewater Near Hot Springs National Park: Gulpha Creek, Garland County , 2 miles away, Class II+ - 2.2 miles long (Ridgeway Road to Highway 270) Blakely Creek - North Fork, Hot Spring County , 10 miles away, Class II - 2.9 miles long (North Fork Road to Highway 84) Ouachita River, Hot Spring County , 11 miles away, Class I-II - 6 miles long (Remmel Dam to I-30 at Malvern) Ouachita River, Hot Spring County , 14 miles away, Class II - 0.1 miles long (Rockport Ledge) Saline River - Middle Fork, Garland County , 15 miles away, Class II(III) - 0.9 miles long (Iron Springs to Buffalo Gap Road)   Public Lands Near Hot Springs National Park: Lake Catherine State Park, Arkansas , 8 miles away Lake Ouachita State Park, Arkansas , 13 miles away DeGray Lake Resort State Park, Arkansas , 15 miles away Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas , 36 miles away   Golf Courses Near Hot Springs National Park: Hot Springs Golf & Country Club, Hot Springs National Park , 1 miles away Magic Hills Public Golf Course, Hot Springs National , 1 miles away Belvedere Golf Resort, Hot Springs National Park , 3 miles away Lakeview Golf Club, Hot Springs National , 4 miles away Lakeside Golf Club, Hot Springs , 4 miles away   Lakes Near Hot Springs National Park Sleepy Valley Lake, Garland County , 2 miles away Dillon Lake, Garland County , 3 miles away Lake Hamilton, Garland County , 3 miles away Bethel Lake, Garland County , 3 miles away Lake Catherine, Hot Spring County , 11 miles away