Fordyce Bathhouse
The park's visitor center, with its stained glass and old treatment rooms.
Hot Springs National Park
America's old spa town, where a row of grand bathhouses is the national park. You can still take the waters.
Thermal water has flowed here for millennia, and Congress protected it in 1832, 40 years before Yellowstone. In the 1920s, gangsters such as Al Capone and baseball teams came here. Bathhouse Row's eight buildings still stand, one a museum, another a brewery, and two offer soaks.
- Best Time
- March–May and October–November
- Time Needed
- 1–2 days
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Check before you go; hours vary by season
- Getting There
- About an hour by car southwest of Little Rock.
What to See
2 of 4 are freeA Soak at Buckstaff
A traditional bath, in operation since 1912.
Grand Promenade and Mountain Tower
A brick walk above the row, and a tower with a view.
The Gangster Museum
When Hot Springs was a gambling and mob resort.
Know Before You Go
- You can fill a jug with spring water for free at the fountains.
Where to Stay
Stay downtown.
Where to Eat
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Go Next
If You're NearbyLittle Rock
Arkansas
Where nine Black students integrated Central High School in 1957, with Bill Clinton's presidential library and the Arkansas River running through town.
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If You're NearbyEureka Springs
Arkansas
A Victorian spa town in the Ozarks, with winding streets, hanging hotels and a famous stone chapel nearby.
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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Southeast list.