As far back in the mid 1800’s, people believed the healing powers of the hot springs could cure many things or at least rejuvenate our ailing bodies. Today, Hot Springs National Park is the only national park that encourages visitors to consume its resources.
We visited Hot Springs in September 2019
Getting There
Hot Springs was the third stop on our first lengthy Cousin Eddie voyage back in 2019. We were still pretty inexperienced at managing without reserved campgrounds and rolled into town after sunset. Luckily, we found the local KOA where we knew we’d have reliable power, ample water, and a level place to get situated in the dark. Getting to Hot Springs is easy and painless, as the town of Hot Springs actually sits within the park boundary. There are tons of lodging and restaurant options with plenty of activities outside the park.
Bathhouse
Row
The hot springs here are the reason it became a National Park back in 1921 and today, you can still take a dip in the waters, but only at two of the many places along Bathhouse Row (Buckstaff and Quapaw). We didn’t partake in the springs, but we did walk the entire row and checked out many of the historical baths. The architecture is stunning and there’s plenty to learn about the history of the park. And of course, many famous people have visited over the years including Al Capone, FDR, and Babe Ruth. Back in the day, it was a popular hangout for gangsters with plenty of gambling and brothels. Naturally, those are long gone, but it all makes for some interesting history. Our visit was in the fall and the weather was excellent. You can easily do this park in a day.
Up The Mountain
Hot Springs National Park is one of the smallest parks and is centered around the bathhouses that make the springs accessible. But you can still find some nature trails and the views in this area of Arkansas are nice. We rode Ruby Sue up a winding road to the top of Hot Springs Mountain where there is a 200’+ tower that both provides an excellent view of the surrounding area and has some neat historical exhibits. There is a small fee to enter ($14 in 2023), but it goes for a good cause and it’s easy to spend an hour or so there. There are exhibits about former President Bill Clinton (from Little Rock). We were particularly enamored by some of the baseball history of the area (remember Babe Ruth was a visitor). From the late 1800’s to the 1950’s, many teams would train in Hot Springs before the season began (not sure if it was called Spring Training back then). Pitchers were known to soothe their sore arms in the mineral baths. Even Cy Young spent time here. There are many stories told about baseball in Hot Springs (can’t verify accuracy, but they are fun stories). Babe Ruth was originally a pitcher for the Red Sox and it’s told that he played first base at an exhibition in Hot Springs where he hit two home runs, one of them so prodigious (500’) that it prompted the initial exploration to move him off the mound to become an everyday player. The rest is history. There’s a Baseball Trail that winds through town that is fun too.
We love our National Parks. Hot Springs doesn’t measure up to the grand parks of the west, but it’s still a fun and educational day. It’s an easy one to visit if you’re passing through Arkansas and the local area is quite beautiful.
