This is a national park built around a city block, not wilderness - Bathhouse Row is a line of early-1900s bathhouses along Central Avenue, several of which still function using the thermal spring water the park protects. The novelty is soaking in naturally hot water in the middle of a small downtown, then walking a wooded mountain trail a few blocks later. It suits a day trip well because the bathhouse experience and the surrounding downtown can both be done without a car once you've parked.
| Distance | 55 miles from Little Rock |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 55 minutes from Little Rock |
| Getting there | Car; no direct public transit from Little Rock |
| Address | Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, 369 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901 |
How to get there
- Mode
- Car
- Duration
- 55 min via US-70 W
- Mode
- Ride-share
- Duration
- 55–65 min; approx. $55–$70 one-way USD
Location
Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center, 369 Central Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901
34.5161, -93.0533 View on map
Highlights
- Buckstaff Bathhouse - the one bathhouse on the Row that has operated continuously since 1912, offering the traditional thermal bath and massage experience
- Fordyce Bathhouse - now the park's visitor center, restored to show what a 1915 bathhouse actually looked like inside
- Hot Springs Mountain Tower - an observation tower reachable by a short drive or hike above downtown, giving a view over the Ouachita Mountains
- Grand Promenade - a walkway behind Bathhouse Row where you can see the hot spring water surfacing naturally along the hillside