What To Do in Hot Springs National Park with Kids

Hot Springs National Park is one of the most unique National Parks in the U.S. While it does protect many acres of nature, the feature attraction of the park is located in the center of Hot Springs, Arkansas: a row of 8 historical bathhouse buildings built in the late 1800s to early 1900s.

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Where is Hot Springs National Park?

Hot Springs National Park is located in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which is about an hour west of Little Rock, Arkansas.

How to Get to Hot Springs National Park

If you’re flying to Hot Springs National Park with kids, you’ll probably want to fly into Memphis International Airport. From there, you’ll have a 3 hour drive to visit Hot Springs National Park. You’ll pass through Little Rock on the way, so families with kids might enjoy visiting the Little Rock Zoo, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Museum of Discovery, the Margaret Clark Adventure Park, or the William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum.

How Big is Hot Springs National Park?

Hot Springs National Park is actually the smallest of the 63 feature National Parks in the United States. It covers 5,550 acres, both wooded area protecting the thermal springs and the historic Bathhouse Row.

Where to Stay in Hot Springs National Park?

If you enjoy staying in historic lodges inside the National Parks, you’ll love visiting Hot Springs National Park, because you can stay in a historic bathhouse! Hotel Hale pairs modern furnishings with historic brick walls and a soaking tub in every room.

Other historic options for hotels near Hot Springs National Park include 1890 Williams House Bed & Breakfast, Park Hotel of Hot Springs, The Gables Inn Bed & Breakfast, and the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa. If you’re looking for more modern hotels near Hot Springs National Park, The Waters Hot Springs by Hilton is a great choice located right across the street from Bathhouse Row.

If you’re interested in Hot Springs National Park camping, check out the Gulpha Gorge Campground (inside the National Park) and Hot Springs National Park KOA.

Things To Do in Hot Springs National Park with Kids

Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center

Explore the 3 floors of this visitor center museum in a self-guided tour to see both men’s and women’s bath halls, social rooms, gymnasium, and educational exhibits about this period of history. Make sure to notice the small details, like the stained glass, the historic elevator, and the differences between the men’s and women’s areas. This free museum is one of the best things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas and a great place to start your visit. No Hot Springs National Park tickets necessary! You can also get trail maps here if you’d like to do any hiking in Hot Springs National Park.

Bathhouse Row

The row of 8 historical buildings that operated as bathhouses in the early 1900s. While Bathhouse Row has been preserved as part of Hot Springs National Park, not all the historic buildings still operate as bathhouses.

Superior Bathhouse Brewery and Distillery – Enjoy beer (and root beer) made on site with thermal spring water.

Buckstaff Bathhouse – Offers the traditional hydrotherapy experience just like you would have experienced it a hundred years ago! Spa services are available to adults and children 10+.

Quapaw Baths and Spa – This historic bathhouse offers public thermal pools and private mineral baths as well as massages, facials, and other modern spa services. Spa services are available to adults and children 14+.

Ozark Bathhouse – Houses the Hot Springs National Park Cultural Center with artwork and other gallery space.

Lamar Bathhouse Emporium – Serves as the Hot Springs National Park gift shop.

Hale Bathhouse – Now operating as Hotel Hale.

Other buildings including the Libbey Bathhouse and the Maurice Bathhouse remain closed, although their historic exteriors add to the charm of walking Bathhouse Row. Bathhouse Row is a great spot for Hot Springs National Park photos!

Grand Promenade

This bricked walkway runs behind the bathhouses, connecting Display Springs and Arlington Lawn to Bathhouse Row. This beautiful walkway is another great spot for Hot Springs National Park photos.

Water Fountains

One of the best things to do at Hot Springs National Park is fill a bottle with mineral water to take home! If you bring your own bottle, you can fill it for free at one of the hot mineral water fountains. Libbey Jug Fountain and Noble Fountain are both located outside along Reserve Street. Empty branded bottles and jugs can also be purchased at the Lamar Bathhouse Emporium.

Display Springs

Located behind Fordyce Visitor Center, Display Springs is one of the only open-air springs available for viewing and a great spot for Hot Springs National Park photos. Most springs are covered to keep the water source protected and clean for use. Hot Water Cascade can be viewed in the Arlington Lawn at the intersection of Central Avenue and Fountain Street.

Hot Springs Mountain Tower

Take an elevator up to the observation deck and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.

Ranger Tours

Daily ranger tours are given through the Fordyce Bathhouse museum and during the peak season, an outdoor walking tour and hands on Junior Ranger activities are also offered. The NPS app also has two free tours for visitors to learn more as well as a cell phone tour option.

Junior Ranger Program

If you’re visiting Hot Springs National Park with kids, you’ll definitely want to get the Junior Ranger books at the Visitor Center. These books kept my children engaged as we wandered through the bathhouse museum.

Scenic Mountain Drives

Take a scenic drive in Hot Springs National Park with kids to see the surrounding mountains. West Mountain Summit Drive leads to a couple of trails and overlooks. Hot Springs Mountain Drive is where you’ll find the observation tower, but there are free overlooks available as well. Goat Rock Trail is another popular viewpoint nearby.

Best Time to Visit Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs National Park is a great place to explore with kids at any time of the year. Hot Springs, Arkansas usually experiences a mild winter, although not all the guided tours and ranger activities will be available during the colder months. Summer temperatures can be quite warm, but many of the best things to do in Hot Springs National Park are indoors and out of the heat. The best time to visit Hot Springs National Park is a pretty wide window between spring, summer, and fall.

Tips for a Hot Springs National Park Family Vacation

When to Book a Trip to Hot Springs National Park

When planning a family trip to Hot Springs National Park with kids, you’ll want to book your hotel room as soon as you can. The Hale has a 4 month reservation window, so you don’t have to plan too far in advance, but popular dates can sell out quickly. You’ll also want to book your spa services a few months in advance to make sure they have availability.

Where to Park at Hot Springs National Park

There is limited parking near Hot Springs National Park because of its urban nature. We have an oversized truck which doesn’t fit in most parking garages, so we paid for metered street parking, but there is also a free parking garage at 128 Exchange Street.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Hot Springs National Park

Nothing! Visiting Hot Springs National Park is free! The park has no entrance fee and no additional charges for ranger-led tours or the junior ranger program. No Hot Springs National Park tickets needed! Visit the Fordyce Visitor Center Museum, walk the promenade, and fill jugs with thermal water all for free. Additional charges apply to privately operated businesses inside the park, like Hot Springs Mountain Tower and the converted bathhouses.

What to Bring to Hot Springs National Park:

On nearly every National Park family trip itinerary that I write, I tell people to bring a carload of groceries and all the gear they need to visit the National Park. But at Hot Springs National Park, that’s not an issue! The historic baths are right downtown in the middle of Hot Springs, Arkansas and the wooded trails are not much farther away. We recommend packing hiking gear, empty jugs for collecting mineral water, and a swimsuit if you’ll be enjoying one of the still-functioning bathhouses (or the nearby waterpark). Check out this blog post for other tips for your first visit to a National Park.

How Many Waterfalls Are in Hot Springs National Park

None! Well, at least not any named waterfalls that you can hike to. (After all, some people consider a 2 foot drop in a stream to be a waterfall.) Hot Springs National Park was created to preserve the natural underground thermal mineral springs that come up from the ground. Many of these springs are covered to protect the water source, but the one that most resembles a waterfall is Hot Water Cascade on the Arlington Lawn.

Things To Do in Hot Springs, Arkansas with Kids

Since Hot Springs National Park is located right in the center of Hot Springs, Arkansas, there’s a lot more to do than just National Park stuff! Here are some of the most fun things to do in Hot Springs AR with kids:

Hot Springs Trolley – Take a 90 minute trolley tour of Hot Springs historical sites.

Garvan Woodland Gardens – The children’s garden here is one of the best things to do in Hot Springs Arkansas!

Anthony Chapel – If you’re visiting Garvan Woodland Gardens, this beautiful glass chapel is right next door.

Lake Catherine State Park – Take the Falls Branch Trail to a beautiful waterfall.

Mid-America Science Museum – Exhibits include the conical Tesla coil, underground exploration, and an interactive Skywalk in the treetops.

Gangster Museum of America – Learn more about the 20s, 30s, and 40s when people were enjoying more than just mineral water in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The Galaxy Connection – Star Wars fans will love seeing this collection of props and toys from the popular film series.

Magic Springs Theme and Water Park – Balance a day of educational museum visits with a day at this fun theme park!