Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs, Arkansas · National Park · Accessibility score 1.4/5
Address: 101 Reserve Street Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: (501) 620-6715
About
Hot Springs National Park is unlike any other in the national park system. Located in central Arkansas, it protects 47 natural thermal springs that flow from the western slope of Hot Springs Mountain at an average temperature of 143 degrees Fahrenheit. The park's famous Bathhouse Row, a collection of eight ornate bathhouses built between 1892 and 1923, is a National Historic Landmark District and one of the most architecturally striking stretches in any national park.
Visitors can explore the elegant Fordyce Bathhouse, which now serves as the park's visitor center, complete with stained glass, statuary, and exhibits about the bathing traditions that drew people here for centuries. Two bathhouses on the row still offer traditional thermal baths - the Buckstaff and Quapaw - giving visitors a chance to soak in the same waters that Indigenous peoples, Spanish explorers, and early American settlers prized for their healing properties.
Beyond the bathhouses, the park offers 26 miles of hiking trails through the Ouachita Mountains, scenic drives with mountain overlooks, and the Grand Promenade - a half-mile brick walkway that winds along the hillside above Bathhouse Row. Several jug fountains throughout the park let visitors collect thermal spring water to drink or take home.
The surrounding city of Hot Springs adds to the experience with a vibrant downtown, local restaurants, galleries, and easy access to nearby lakes. It's a compact, walkable destination where nature, history, and relaxation come together in a way that feels both grand and approachable.
Hot Springs National Park is open year-round with no entrance fee, making it one of the most accessible national parks in every sense of the word. Whether you're here for the history, the trails, or simply to feel the warm water flowing from ancient stone, this park delivers a genuinely unique experience.
Accessibility
Hot Springs National Park offers strong accessibility throughout its most popular areas. Every building on Bathhouse Row is wheelchair accessible, and the Fordyce Visitor Center has functional ramps at its entrance. The visitor center is approximately a quarter mile from the nearest parking garage at 128 Exchange Street.
Bathhouse Row features a maintained, paved walkway that is four to five feet wide and creates a circular loop around the block, suitable for wheelchairs and mobility devices. Benches with backs are available along Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade for resting.
The Grand Promenade offers ramp access directly behind the Fordyce Bathhouse and on the northern end of the block adjacent to Fountain Street. Note that there is no ramp access on the southern end near Reserve Street.
Gulpha Gorge Campground, other park buildings, and all park restrooms have functional ramps and are accessible. The park brochure is available in braille, audio description, and text-only formats for visitors with visual impairments.
Some trails in the park are accessible for visitors using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers, though certain paths with gravel surfaces may require all-terrain tires or adaptive motorized equipment. Several scenic overlooks offer mountain views from wheelchair-accessible vantage points.
The city of Hot Springs provides ADA-accessible parking with properly marked access aisles adjacent to designated spaces. Contact the park directly at 101 Reserve Street, Hot Springs, AR 71901 for the most current information on specific trail conditions and seasonal accessibility updates.
More accessible places in Arkansas
- Mid‑America Science Museum (Hot Springs)
- The Gangster Museum of America (Hot Springs)
- Garvan Woodland Gardens (Hot Springs)
- Oaklawn Racing & Gaming (Hot Springs)
- Arkansas Post National Memorial (Gillett)
- Buffalo National River (St. Joe)
Photo credits
- Hot Springs National Park - main view of accessible destination: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)
- Hot Springs National Park - view 2 of accessible destination: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)
- Hot Springs National Park - view 3 of accessible destination: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)