I am on a journey to see each National Park in the United States. Due to my extensive travel as a child with my family and living on the west coast for many years, I’ve made quite a dent into the 63 National Parks currently designated by the United States. This Spring I decided to zig zag across the country to visit some of those I had previously missed which brought me to Hot Springs Arkansas in April of 2026. I traveled there in my motorhome named, Abeona, and although the weather wasn’t great, I still had a lovely time exploring this historic park.

Anytime I’m visiting a small town in Abeona, I am apprehensive about parking in the downtown area. I once parked Abeona (she is 25 feet long) in Key West and it was quite nerve racking to try and park in a town with narrow streets and overrun with tourists.  I’m still not sure how I ended up street parking her and not getting a scratch but if I can avoid trying to park on city streets, I do avoid it. I was camped at Gupha Gorge Campground which is part of the National Park but it was still several miles from the center of the National Park.  I decided to take a ride share so that I wouldn’t have to maneuver Abeona around unknown narrow streets.

Hot Springs was known as the “Valley of Vapors” and for good reason.  Every fountain on the street had springs gurgling out of the steaming rocks. .  It’s quite wild and, of course, I had to touch it to make sure it really was hot (143 degrees). Native American Tribes were the first to take in the waters.  Federal protection started in 1832 (predating Yellowstone by 40 years) by President Andrew Jackson for its 47 thermal springs. The area was developed in the late 1800’s and hit its peak in the 1940’s inclusive of gangsters and baseball spring training. 

The main attraction at Hot Springs National Park is the main thoroughfare called Bathhouse Row. This is in downtown Hot Springs and there are 8 bathhouses that are still proudly standing on Central Avenue.  One of these bathhouses is called Fordyce Bathhouse and is the Visitor Center for the National Park.  It is free to tour three floors of this structure which was originally opened in 1915 and closed its doors as a bathhouse in 1962.  The National Park has restored the bathhouse to its original glory including lovely mahogany paneled  men’s and women’s locker rooms, beauty salons, steam showers, and state rooms. There is a gymnasium on the third floor which has early 20th century gym equipment including a pommel horse for some bizarre reason and ropes to climb. The piece de rescue de resistance is the stain glass ceiling of the Men’s Bath Hall.  You can truly imagine how opulent it was to visit these establishments in the early 1900’s.

The other bathhouses on Bathhouse Row have been developed into other uses like a brewery, a restaurant, a gift shop and two of the bathhouses continue to operate.  I actually went to the Quapaw Bathhouse where it’s $30 to go ahead and take in four different temperature baths. They provide a towel and locker and all you need is a bathing suit and sandals. There is no need for a reservation and the day I went there about 10 people in the baths.  It’s interesting to test the different water temperatures and relax either in the baths or on a chaise lounge.  They also provide cold water to drink. The Buckstaff Bathhouse also has baths although I didn’t try that one. 

In addition to Bathhouse Row, there is the Promenade that is a wide path that goes behind Central Avenue and its historic buildings.  Along this Promenade they have several historical markers and you can actually see some of the springs gurgling out of the rocks. There is also the park land which has trails and Hot Springs Mountain Tower which provides a 360 view of the park and town below. 

It’s interesting to go to a National Park that is not about rock formations, caves or tall trees but more about the thermal waters and the history and infrastructure that was built around it. I’m really glad I got to experience the waters that created this natural wonder.