Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is a national park of the United States in central Garland County, Arkansas, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs.
A national park inside Hot Springs
June is the busiest month
June averages about 341,923 visitors, 2.8 times September. When to go ↓
You can sleep inside the park
4 places to stay are inside the park: Park Hotel and Spring Street Inn. The nearest town with more is Hot Springs. Where to stay ↓
Summers are hot
July and August highs run 92–92°, and about 77 days a year reach 90°. When to go ↓
Best months: May, Oct and Nov
May, October and November are mild and quieter than average, with highs of 63–81°. When to go ↓
An airport 3 miles away
Memorial Field (HOT) has airline service, about 3 miles from Hot Springs National Park.
Written from National Park Service visitor counts, NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia. Updated when the Park Service posts a new month.
Crowds and weather, month by month
Bars: average monthly visitors, 2022–2025. Line: the typical afternoon high. Green months are mild and quieter than average.
Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is a national park of the United States in central Garland County, Arkansas, adjacent to the city of Hot Springs. Hot Springs Reservation was initially created by an act of the United States Congress on April 20, 1832, to be preserved for future recreation. Established before the concept of a national park existed, it was the first time that land had been set aside by the federal government to preserve its use as an area for recreation. Part of the natural area is old-growth forest and recognized by the Old-Growth Forest Network. The hot spring water has been popularly believed for centuries to possess medicinal properties, and was a subject of legend among several Native American tribes. Following federal protection in 1832, the city developed into a successful spa town.
- Type
- National Park
- Established
- 1921
- Area
- 5,560 acres
- Run by
- National Park Service
- Wikipedia readers
- 43K a year
- Official site
- nps.gov/hosp
Before you go
Where to stay near Hot Springs National Park
You can sleep inside the park (4 places). The closest towns with hotels, motels or campgrounds are Hot Springs (83) and Lake Hamilton (13).
Stay in the park
- Park Hotel hotel
- Spring Street Inn inn or B&B
- The Happy Hollow motel
- Gulpha Gorge Campground campground
Lake Hamilton
2,127 people · 40% vacation homes
6 mi south of Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum · 5 mi to the park
Piney
4,458 people
5 mi west of Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center and Museum · at the park edge
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From the visitor center | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs | in town | — | 83 49 hotels · 14 motels · 8 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 4 RV parks | 37,979 | $166K | D |
| Lake Hamilton 40% vacation homes | 6 mi south | 10 min | 13 6 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 3 lodges & cabins · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 2,127 | $406K | — |
| Piney | 5 mi west | 10 min | 9 1 hotel · 5 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 4,458 | $134K | — |
| Mountain Pine | 8 mi northwest | 10 min | 7 1 hotel · 2 lodges & cabins · 2 campgrounds · 2 RV parks | 586 | — | — |
| Diamondhead | 8 mi southeast | 10 min | 6 1 hotel · 1 lodge or cabins · 3 campgrounds · 1 RV park | 893 | — | — |
| Malvern | 16 mi southeast | 25 min | 8 3 hotels · 2 motels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins | 11,144 | $105K | D |
| Jones Mills | 10 mi southeast | 15 min | 3 2 lodges & cabins · 1 RV park | 230 | $156K | — |
| Hot Springs Village | 11 mi northeast | 15 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 campground · 1 RV park | 16,327 | $272K | — |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service, from the visitor center
Also near Hot Springs
Other well-known places within 57 miles. Numbered ones are on the map above.
48 mi State parkCrater of Diamonds State Park
46 mi National Historic SiteLittle Rock Central High School National Historic Site49K visitors a year
48 mi MuseumClinton Presidential Center
56 mi MountainMount Magazine
42 mi State parkPetit Jean State Park
25 mi GardenGarvan Woodland Gardens
48 mi Stadium & arenaSimmons Bank ArenaPhoto credits
Crater of Diamonds State Park: Doug Wertman from Rogers, AR, USA, CC BY 2.0 · Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site: Adam Jones, Ph.D., CC BY-SA 3.0 · Clinton Presidential Center: Archipreneur, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mount Magazine: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Petit Jean State Park: ErgoSum88, Public domain · Garvan Woodland Gardens: Nngowen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Simmons Bank Arena: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
2,494,611 visitors in 2025
Every full year the Park Service has counted. 2020 (gold) was the pandemic year. Green is the record (2022).
Visiting Hot Springs
Is Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs?
Yes. It’s inside Hot Springs, AR. The address is 369 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs National Park?
May, October and November, with highs of 63–81°. June is the busiest month (about 341,923 visitors).
How many people visit Hot Springs National Park each year?
2,494,611 in 2025, according to the National Park Service. The record is 2,646,133, set in 2022.
What is the closest airport to Hot Springs National Park?
Memorial Field (HOT), about 3 miles away. The nearest big hub is Frederick W. Smith (MEM), about 178 miles.
Where should I stay near Hot Springs National Park?
Inside the park: Park Hotel, Spring Street Inn and The Happy Hollow. Nearby: Hot Springs (in town, 83 places to stay), Lake Hamilton (6 mi, 13 places to stay) and Piney (5 mi, 9 places to stay).
Tips from people in Hot Springs
No tips yet. Ask, or answer, in Hot Springs’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · National Park Service visitor use statistics · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.