We headed to downtown Hot Springs to check out the Visitor Center, see the historic Bathhouse Row and hike Hot Springs National Park to Hot Springs Mountain Tower. If hiking is not your thing you can also drive up to Hot Springs Mountain Tower. We like a challenge so we hiked it. The view from the Hot Springs Mountain Tower observation deck is beautiful! Don’t have time to read this now? Pin it for later!

Bathhouse Row Free Parking

There is a free parking garage on Exchange Street, one block west of the Hot Springs National Park visitor center. Just follow the signs once you are in downtown Hot Springs. I was surprised to see how many people were paying to park in the lot right in front of the free parking garage. Maybe they didn’t see the free parking signs?

Fordyce Bathhouse

Our first stop was the Fordyce Bathhouse. Per the NPS website, the Fordyce Bathhouse “was considered to be the best.” It is now the Hot Springs National Park visitor center and gives visitors a glimpse into what this bathhouse was like during its operation from 1915 to 1962.

I recommend walking through the Fordyce Bathhouse as it is very interesting to see how things were and imagine spending the day at the bathhouse.

My favorites included the Fordyce Spring in the basement where you can actually see the hot water spring and the fact that quartz crystals were added to this feature to give it more sparkle, the intimidating machines used for therapeutic exercise and the Gymnasium. I didn’t expect a bathhouse to have a Gymnasium.

Hot Springs National Park Map

In case you are wondering where you can find the Hot Springs National Park map, you can pick up the trail map at the front desk of the Fordyce Bathhouse\Visitor Center and then plan your hike to Hot Springs Mountain Tower.

Hike to Hot Springs Mountain Tower

View of downtown Hot Springs from Hot Springs Mountain Tower observation deck

The trails through Hot Springs National Park begin right behind the visitor center. It was a tough hike but we made it to Hot Springs Mountain Tower. Our NPS pass got us a discount so don’t forget your NPS pass! It was only $5/ea to go up to the observation deck with the discount.

We took the elevator up and the view of downtown Hot Springs was picturesque. You can check out our video here. It was breezy and cool on the outside observation deck and that was a nice surprise as we were pretty hot and sweaty from our hike.

We decided we would get some extra steps and take the stairs down. The stairs were outside which was unexpected but really nice because you got to see Hot Springs in the background as you hiked down and a cool breeze.

After Hot Springs Mountain Tower we decided we wanted to do some more hiking so we hiked Hot Springs Mountain Trail to Honeysuckle Trail. It was definitely worth it.

Hot Springs National Park Camping

So where did we stay as we explored Hot Springs National Park? We found another good deal through Passport America so we stayed at Treasure Isle RV Park.

This park was on the Ouachita River and there were some very nice RV spots right on the river but we didn’t splurge for one of those. This RV park also had a pool which always makes Penguin happy. We would stay at Treasure Isle RV Park again.

Treasure Isle RV Park Review

Treasure Isle RV Park is on the Ouachita River

Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Cost: $16.25/day with Passport America
Site: C14, table only
Entry/Exit: No problems
Pros: Pool, Lake/River
Cons: Gravel roads might get muddy if it rains
Comments: Less than 10 minutes from historic Bathhouse row. Picnic tables near the lake\river where you can enjoy your coffee, lunch or dinner.

Interested in a thermal mineral bath? Are you sore from hiking? Read about our traditional bath experience in our Hot Springs Arkansas Bath Houses article. Looking for things to do in Arkansas? Take a look at our Arkansas articles. Where are we going next? Don’t miss an adventure, subscribe today.