Hot Springs National Park, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, has no entrance fee. You can walk Bathhouse Row, drink from the spring fountains and see the Hot Water Cascade for free, and you only pay if you take a bath. We read each official page on 17 October 2026.
The short answer for first-time visitors
The park is the town. Bathhouse Row is a line of old bathhouses on Central Avenue, with a hillside behind them. The spring water comes out of the ground in several places, and the National Park Service (NPS) caps it and pipes it to fountains and baths. Most people spend half a day: a walk along the row, a stop at the visitor center, a drink from a fountain and, if they want, a bath.
Note: Entrance: no fee. "An entrance pass is not required to access Hot Springs National Park." The brochure, junior ranger program and ranger-led tours are free (NPS, fees page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Note: Camping: Gulpha Gorge campground charges a fee and needs a reservation. The NPS page did not show the amount (same page)
Note: Phone: 501-620-6715 (NPS, Fordyce Bathhouse and tours pages, read 17 Oct 2026)
Bathhouse Row
Eight grand bathhouses stand on the row. The NPS says Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade were made a National Historic Landmark District in 1987. Only two of the eight still give baths. The others are used as follows, says the NPS (Bathhouse Row Today, read 17 Oct 2026).
| Bathhouse | Today |
|---|---|
| Fordyce | The park visitor center |
| Buckstaff | Still gives baths. The NPS says it is the only bathhouse on the row to operate for over a century without a break |
| Quapaw | Spa and thermal pools |
| Lamar | The Bathhouse Emporium, the park bookstore |
| Superior | A brewery |
| Hale | Not stated. The NPS says it has a sauna in a thermal cave cut into the mountainside |
| Ozark | Not stated on the NPS page |
| Maurice | Closed for renovations, says the NPS hours page |
The Lamar Bathhouse Emporium is open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (NPS, hours page, read 17 Oct 2026). Other businesses on the row set their own hours.
Fordyce Bathhouse and visitor center
Address: 369 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901, inside the Fordyce Bathhouse (NPS, directions page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Hours: Not confirmed. A 2021 NPS news release said the interior would be "open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm" from 4 May 2021. The park's current hours page and basic information page list no visitor center times, so check with the park (NPS news release of 27 April 2021, read 17 Oct 2026)
Note: Fordyce tours last 20 to 30 minutes and need no reservation. Spring: daily at 2:00 p.m. Summer: daily at 10:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Winter: daily at 10:30 a.m., plus Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The page lists March under both spring and winter, and says tours may be cancelled when staff is short (NPS, guided tours page, read 17 Oct 2026)
The two bathhouses that give baths
The NPS says: "Soaking in the springs is only permitted in two of the bathhouses, the Buckstaff and the Quapaw." Both set their own prices, and prices change. The figures below are from each bathhouse's own site.
Buckstaff Bathhouse
Address: 509 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Phone 501-623-2308 (Buckstaff website, read 17 Oct 2026)
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 8:00 to 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 8:00 to 11:45 a.m. only. Last bath: arrive by 11:30 a.m. for the morning session and 2:45 p.m. for the afternoon. On federal holidays not listed, admissions stop at 10:30 a.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday (Buckstaff, appointments and hours page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Price: Whirlpool Mineral Bath Package $45. Traditional Bathing Package $101, which includes a private whirlpool tub bath (15 to 20 minutes), sitz tub, steam cabinet, hot towel packs, loofah mitt and a 20-minute Swedish massage. Deluxe Bathing Package $116, which adds a paraffin hand treatment. A Swedish massage alone is $50. Spa slippers $5. The page says rates may change (Buckstaff, services page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Note: Walk-in only, first come, first served, for baths and massages. Age 10 and up. Swimsuits are optional. Towels are provided (Buckstaff, FAQ page, read 17 Oct 2026)
The Buckstaff books facials, manicures and pedicures online. A late arrival of more than 15 minutes cancels the appointment, says its FAQ.
Quapaw Baths and Spa
Address: 413 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901. Phone 501-609-9822 (Quapaw website, read 17 Oct 2026)
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Closed Tuesday. The pools take no one after 5:00 p.m. The site says hours may vary (Quapaw, baths page and FAQ, read 17 Oct 2026)
Price: Public thermal pools: "just $30". The page gives no time limit. Private thermal mineral bath $40 or $55 for 20 minutes. Aromatherapy bath $46 or $61. MicroSilk hydrotherapy $50 or $65. The page shows two prices for each bath and does not say why (Quapaw, baths page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Note: Age 14 and up. Guests from 14 to 18 must be with an adult. Public pools: no one with a pacemaker, defibrillator or pregnancy, and no one who is menstruating. Proper swimwear is required, and slip-on rubber or plastic shoes. Shoes are sold at the desk for $7 plus tax (Quapaw, FAQ and baths pages, read 17 Oct 2026)
Booking: Walk-ins are taken for the public pools. Spa services and private baths need a reservation, and the FAQ says to cancel at least 24 hours ahead (Quapaw, FAQ page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Free spring water fountains
The park gives spring water away. "The park provides spring water free of charge at all of its jug fountains," says the NPS. The fountains run all year and are available 24 hours a day, unless a sign says otherwise (NPS, Drink the Water page, read 17 Oct 2026).
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Thermal fountains: along Reserve Street and Bathhouse Row. The NPS names the Noble Fountain, the Dripping Spring and the Shell Fountain. The Noble Fountain is on Reserve Street at the south entrance of the Grand Promenade.
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Cold spring fountains: Happy Hollow and Whittington Spring.
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Jug filling: in front of the NPS Administration Building on Reserve Street.
The page gives no water temperature. It says the cold spring water is treated with ozone and has no "treated" taste. We did not taste the water.
Grand Promenade
The Grand Promenade is a brick path of about half a mile, says the NPS. It runs behind Bathhouse Row, on the hillside above the buildings. The NPS lists it as wheelchair accessible (NPS, Grand Promenade page, read 17 Oct 2026). The NPS pages we read do not name the entrances or give the slope, so we leave those out.
Hot Water Cascade
Address: Arlington Lawn, against the hillside, near the Grand Promenade (NPS, Hot Water Cascade page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Hours: Arlington Lawn is open 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. No reservation is needed (same page)
Note: The water comes out of the ground at 143 degrees F in the page's intro and 147 degrees F in its detail section. It is cool enough to touch by the time it reaches the two pools. Take care with children. Keep pets on a leash (same page)
The NPS calls it the largest visible spring in the park. The water flows under the path and down a steep cliff into two pools. The place has benches and is listed as wheelchair accessible.
How to get to Hot Springs National Park
Getting there: By road from Little Rock: 54 miles, about 1 hour. Take Interstate 30 west toward Texarkana, then exit 111 onto US 70 west. Follow it into town, turn right onto Spring Street (which becomes Reserve Street), then right onto Central Avenue (NPS, directions page, read 17 Oct 2026)
Getting there: Airports: Little Rock National Airport is about 60 miles away, with shuttle service and rental cars. Hot Springs Memorial Field is a local airport in the town. The NPS page does not say whether airlines fly there (same page)
Getting there: Parking: metered street parking all over downtown, and the Exchange Street Parking Garage at 128 Exchange Street (NPS, FAQ page, read 17 Oct 2026)
We found no train or intercity bus listed on the NPS pages. We did not check bus companies for this guide.
What we checked and what can change
Read on 17 October 2026: the NPS pages for fees, directions, hours, basic information, Fordyce Bathhouse tours, thermal springs, Drink the Water, Bathhouse Row and Bathhouse Row Today, the Hot Water Cascade, the Grand Promenade, the frequently asked questions and the 2021 news release on the Fordyce Visitor Center. Also the Buckstaff Bathhouse site (home, services, FAQ, appointments and hours pages) and the Quapaw Baths site (baths and FAQ pages).
Not confirmed: the visitor center's current hours, the Gulpha Gorge camping fee, the Buckstaff's content for its $45 package, why the Quapaw lists two prices for each private bath, how long a Quapaw pool visit lasts, the entrances to the Grand Promenade, and whether airlines fly into Hot Springs Memorial Field. The NPS gives two temperatures for the cascade. Baths and hours change, so check the bathhouse before you go. We did not visit for this page.
