Detour to Hot Springs National Park

You’re planning on heading to Hot Springs National Park?! Ahhhh there is something about National Parks that free my spirit and feed my soul. While most of the National Parks are out west, one lies not too far from the Mississippi River: Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. If you live close by or are passing through, here are a few things to keep in mind while exploring the park:

1. Not Your Typical National Park

We took a detour on our trip home after the holidays in December to explore Hot Springs NP and I’m glad we did! However, Hot Springs NP is not your typical NP. There is no “entrance” and “now existing” the park like you experience in most of the other NP. That means there is no entry fee to the park (huge plus right?). The whole downtown area of Hot Springs is considered and protected as a National Park. That is because the town was built up around the natural springs before it was inducted into the National Park system in 1921. While several National Parks were created to preserve the natural beauty of landscapes, wildlife, etc. Hot Springs National Park was established as a NP to preserve the springs, which flow right through downtown. Except you cannot see them because they are covered and protected underground. So don’t go and expect the scenery that you will get when you visit Yellowstone or Zion NP – the phenomenon here is you are experiencing one of the only natural hot springs in this part of the United States.

2. Bathhouse Row

The bathhouses are how people historically and currently experience the hot springs. The history behind the bathhouses is very interesting; since the 1800s people have believed bathing in the hot spring water has miraculous healing powers that people travel from miles around to heal numerous health concerns. Bathhouse Row consists of eight bathhouses that line the main street which were built between 1892 and 1923. Several of the bathhouses still allow bathing in the natural hot springs so bring your swimsuit! The other bathhouses have been made into museums and the National Park visitor center. However, I do have to say my favorite bathhouse was The Superior Bathhouse, which is now home to the only brewery in a United States National Park, and the only brewery in the world to utilize thermal spring water to make their beer (or root beer for the little ones) and it was delicious!

Bring Water Jugs

Something else super cool about this National Park: bathhouse row is lined with multiple jug fountains that pull water straight from the spring that people are encouraged to drink from. Often there will be a line of people waiting to fill up a trunk-load of water jugs with what many say is a healthy dose of medicine. The city claims the water is some of the cleanest and purest in the world. I can tell you it is certainly some of the tastiest I’ve ever had. So do not forget your water jugs when heading to Hot Springs, Arkansas. I was not aware these fountains existed and was acting crazy trying to find every bottle or contraption we had in our car that I could stockpile the water in!

Stay Close to the Park

My last tip to incorporate into your plans for visiting the park is where to stay. I would highly recommend staying as close to the park as possible. Downtown Hot Springs is a super cute midwestern town with lots of shops and restaurants. If we go back again we will most likely stay at the Arlington Resort Hotel which is right at the end of Bathhouse Row! However, we decided to use Hotwire (which we use often) and selected the cheapest hotel possible. (Do you already know where this is going?)…..While we were only a couple miles from downtown – it wasn’t all that nice of an area or hotel (that should have been common sense for the $30 we paid for it). I just wouldn’t recommend the area we stayed in – so downtown is where it’s at!

While I like to focus on positivity – I value honesty more, so I do want to mention that I am on a mission to fill up my National Park passport book. That was the motive for detouring our trip to Hot Springs National Park. I’m glad we didn’t make a special trip there because it wasn’t the life-changing experience I’ve got out of all the other national parks that I have visited. However, I would highly recommend experiencing it if you are driving through the area or live close by. Even if its just to fill up jugs of that delicious water to take home.