Is an entrance pass needed?

No. Hot Springs National Park has no entrance fee and requires no entrance pass. Camping at Gulpha Gorge is charged separately.

Where can visitors camp overnight?

Overnight stays are allowed only in designated Gulpha Gorge Campground sites. Reserve through Recreation.gov before occupying a site. The campground is off US Highway 70B on the east side of Hot Springs.

What facilities do campsites provide?

All 40 sites have 30- and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups, plus a picnic table and pedestal grill. Sites are not pull-through. Flush toilets and hot showers operate year-round; showers are for registered campers only.

What are the campsite occupancy and arrival rules?

Each site allows up to eight people and two vehicles, with one RV and one tent or two tents. Check-in is 2 p.m.; checkout is noon. Quiet hours run from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m., with no generator use or loud music.

Is the campground accessible after sunset?

Registered campers have 24-hour access. Public access to Gulpha Gorge Campground, Picnic Area, and Amphitheater is limited to sunrise through sunset.

Can supplies and internet access be found at the campground?

Cell coverage is available, but public Wi-Fi is not. There is no camp store, ice or firewood sales, laundry, or food-storage lockers. Bring needed supplies and save reservation details before arrival.

Hot Springs National Park

Historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs — thermal springs protected since 1832, with hiking in the surrounding Ouachita hills.

Plan a trip to Hot Springs National Park

Where on earth

Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Hot Springs National Park, United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.

Region: Arkansas, USA
Country: United States
Biome: Ouachita Mountain forest + thermal springs
Best season: Year-round
Difficulty: moderate

Known for

Backpacking
Hiking
Mountaineering
Wildlife Viewing
Hot Springs

Key takeaways

Biome: Ouachita Mountain forest + thermal springs
Best season: Year-round
Difficulty: moderate
Top activity: hiking

Loading live weather & climate for Hot Springs National Park…

Topic summary

Historic Bathhouse Row in downtown Hot Springs — thermal springs protected since 1832, with hiking in the surrounding Ouachita hills.

Key takeaways

Difficulty: moderate
Best season: Year-round

Intended uses

hiking
camping
backpacking

Climate suitability

Ouachita Mountain forest + thermal springs

Verification notes

Last verified January 1, 1970.

Region

United States

Biome

Ouachita Mountain forest + thermal springs

Difficulty

moderate

Tools for a trip here

Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.

hikingcampingbackpacking

Plan with verified data

Hot Springs National Park trip tools

Month by month Weather & climate Routes & trails Itineraries Wildlife Photos Plan a trip here

How to get there

Hot Springs National Park is in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Gulpha Gorge Campground is off US Highway 70B on the east side of town. For GPS navigation, use 305 Gorge Road, Hot Springs, AR 71901.

Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum
A starting point for a museum-focused visit, including the third-floor Assembly Room. Confirm ranger-led tour availability with the park.
Gulpha Gorge Campground
Located off US Highway 70B on the east side of Hot Springs. Registered campers have 24-hour access; public access is from sunrise to sunset.
Gulpha Gorge Picnic Area
A daytime destination open from sunrise to sunset, with designated sites where fires are permitted in provided grills.

Sources: nps.gov · Wikipedia · Wikivoyage. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.

Driving directions ↗Open on a map ↗Plan the drive in the Trip Planner

Popular pursuits at Hot Springs National Park

Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
Mountaineering
Glacier and high-route objectives with real consequence.
Wildlife Viewing
Best light, best season, and where animals move.
Hot Springs
Soakable water and the etiquette that keeps it open.

Animals around Hot Springs National Park

Browse all wildlife guides →

Maps, GPS & compass for this trip

Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.

Waterproof topo maps

GPS picks

See all 10 handheld GPS picks →

Compass picks

See all 10 compass picks →

Fishing at Hot Springs National Park

Planning to fish Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas? Fishing licenses, open seasons and catch limits in Arkansas are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.

Do I need a fishing license at Hot Springs National Park?

A Arkansas fishing license is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
Read the current Arkansas fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.
Hot Springs National Park may add its own fishing rules on top of Arkansas law — check the managing agency too.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission — official Arkansas licenses & regulations

The Fishing Guide — species, best times & gear Wild10 fishing guides, knots & lure planner

Hunting near Hot Springs National Park

Thinking about hunting Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in Arkansas are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.

Is hunting allowed at Hot Springs National Park?

Hunting is prohibited or heavily restricted in many national parks, wilderness and protected areas — confirm with the Hot Springs National Park land manager before planning a hunt, and look to surrounding public land.

What do I need to hunt in Arkansas?

A Arkansas hunting license — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission — official Arkansas licenses & regulations

The Hunting Guide — gear, permits & seasons Wild10 hunting guides & season calendars Best deer hunting broadheads Deer archery season gear list

A visit centered on Fordyce Bathhouse

Hot Springs National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, offers a straightforward starting point at the Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum. Its third-floor Assembly Room has a grand piano, white lounge chairs, and a decorative stained-glass ceiling, giving visitors a look at a bathhouse party room. Pair a museum visit with a ranger-led tour for a history-focused outing; confirm tour availability with the park before arranging the day around one. Park admission is free, and no entrance pass is required. The park brochure, junior ranger program, and ranger-led tours also carry no additional charge. That makes a daytime visit distinct from an overnight stay at Gulpha Gorge, where camping requires a paid reservation.

Staying at Gulpha Gorge

Gulpha Gorge Campground is the park's designated overnight base, on the east side of Hot Springs. Its 40 sites cost $34 per night each and require reservations through Recreation.gov before occupancy. All sites have water, sewer, and 30- and 50-amp electric hookups, plus a picnic table and pedestal grill; none are pull-through. Flush toilets and hot showers are available year-round, though showers are restricted to registered campers. The campground has potable water and cell coverage but no public Wi-Fi, camp store, laundry, or firewood and ice sales. Bring needed supplies rather than counting on buying them at camp. Camping or staying overnight elsewhere in the park is not permitted; overnight use is limited to designated Gulpha Gorge campsites.

Planning a campground or picnic visit

Gulpha Gorge combines a campground, picnic area, and amphitheater, but access differs for day visitors and overnight guests. These areas are open to the public from sunrise to sunset; registered campers have campground access around the clock. The campground operates year-round. For an overnight visit, plan around the 2 p.m. check-in and noon checkout, and keep noise down during quiet hours from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m. Use the provided grills or permitted fire rings rather than making a ground fire. Portable stoves and grills must be kept off the ground and away from overhanging vegetation. The amphitheater's group fire ring requires a valid permit. A picnic visit is a separate option that does not require planning an overnight stay.

Route options

Fordyce Bathhouse museum visit
Choose a museum-centered outing at Fordyce Bathhouse, with the third-floor Assembly Room as a specific point of interest. Add a ranger-led tour if available. This is a sightseeing option rather than a mapped hiking route.
Gulpha Gorge picnic outing
Plan a daytime visit to Gulpha Gorge Picnic Area within its sunrise-to-sunset public access hours. Use designated grills if cooking with a fire. This is a picnic outing rather than a specified trail route.

Sample itineraries

Fordyce Bathhouse and Gulpha Gorge · 1 day
Visit the Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum, including its third-floor Assembly Room. Ask about ranger-led tours and the junior ranger program, both free. Spend part of the day at Gulpha Gorge Picnic Area, which is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Gulpha Gorge Camping Weekend · 2 days
Reserve a designated campsite at Gulpha Gorge before arrival. Visit the Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum on one day and spend time at the picnic area on the other. Campsites have picnic tables, pedestal grills, water, and full hookups; registered campers have access to hot showers.

Seasonal conditions

Spring

Throughout spring

Gulpha Gorge Campground operates year-round, with potable water, flush toilets, and hot showers for registered campers. Check the local forecast before packing; public access to the campground, picnic area, and amphitheater is sunrise to sunset.

Summer

Throughout summer

Year-round camping facilities remain available. Plan outdoor time around the current forecast and carry drinking water. Registered campers can access the campground around the clock; other visitors should plan around sunrise-to-sunset access.

Fall

Throughout fall

Gulpha Gorge remains open for camping, with reservations required. Check the forecast before choosing clothing and sleeping gear. Combine time outdoors with a visit to the Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum.

Winter

Throughout winter

The campground operates year-round, including flush toilets and hot showers for registered campers. Choose sleeping gear for the forecast. The visitor center and Recreation.gov phone lines are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Season	Window	Conditions
Spring	Throughout spring	Gulpha Gorge Campground operates year-round, with potable water, flush toilets, and hot showers for registered campers. Check the local forecast before packing; public access to the campground, picnic area, and amphitheater is sunrise to sunset.
Summer	Throughout summer	Year-round camping facilities remain available. Plan outdoor time around the current forecast and carry drinking water. Registered campers can access the campground around the clock; other visitors should plan around sunrise-to-sunset access.
Fall	Throughout fall	Gulpha Gorge remains open for camping, with reservations required. Check the forecast before choosing clothing and sleeping gear. Combine time outdoors with a visit to the Fordyce Bathhouse and Museum.
Winter	Throughout winter	The campground operates year-round, including flush toilets and hot showers for registered campers. Choose sleeping gear for the forecast. The visitor center and Recreation.gov phone lines are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Permits, fees & closures

No entrance pass is required. Overnight stays are permitted only in designated Gulpha Gorge campsites. Fires in the campground amphitheater's group fire ring require a valid permit. Confirm requirements for weddings, special uses, and First Amendment activities with the park.

Fees: Park entrance, brochures, the junior ranger program, and ranger-led tours are free. Gulpha Gorge campsites cost $34 per night. Senior or Access Pass owners may receive a 50% discount on the campsite they physically occupy.

Reservations: Reserve and pay for Gulpha Gorge camping through Recreation.gov before occupying a site. Stays are limited to 14 consecutive days and 30 days per calendar year, with at least a seven-day break after each 14-day consecutive stay.

Official source: Fees & Passes - Hot Springs National Park (U.S. National Park Service) · Verified October 18, 2026

Hazards & regulations

Uncontained fires can spread. Ground fires are prohibited except in provided campground fire rings; use designated grills or permitted fire facilities.
Portable stoves and grills can ignite nearby vegetation. Keep self-contained units off the ground and away from overhanging vegetation.
Do not assume a cooking fire is allowed in every shared space. The Gulpha Gorge Amphitheater group fire ring requires a valid permit.

What to pack for Hot Springs National Park

Day visits

Refillable drinking-water bottle
Comfortable walking shoes
Layers selected for the local forecast

Camping

Tent or RV setup
Sleeping gear suited to the forecast
Food and cooking supplies; no campground store
Self-contained stove suitable for use off the ground

Campground logistics

Saved reservation confirmation and shower building code
Towel and shower supplies
Downloaded trip information; no public campground Wi-Fi

Build this list in the gear builder →

Hot Springs National Park FAQ

Is an entrance pass needed?: No. Hot Springs National Park has no entrance fee and requires no entrance pass. Camping at Gulpha Gorge is charged separately.
Where can visitors camp overnight?: Overnight stays are allowed only in designated Gulpha Gorge Campground sites. Reserve through Recreation.gov before occupying a site. The campground is off US Highway 70B on the east side of Hot Springs.
What facilities do campsites provide?: All 40 sites have 30- and 50-amp electric, water, and sewer hookups, plus a picnic table and pedestal grill. Sites are not pull-through. Flush toilets and hot showers operate year-round; showers are for registered campers only.
What are the campsite occupancy and arrival rules?: Each site allows up to eight people and two vehicles, with one RV and one tent or two tents. Check-in is 2 p.m.; checkout is noon. Quiet hours run from 8 p.m. to 9 a.m., with no generator use or loud music.
Is the campground accessible after sunset?: Registered campers have 24-hour access. Public access to Gulpha Gorge Campground, Picnic Area, and Amphitheater is limited to sunrise through sunset.
Can supplies and internet access be found at the campground?: Cell coverage is available, but public Wi-Fi is not. There is no camp store, ice or firewood sales, laundry, or food-storage lockers. Bring needed supplies and save reservation details before arrival.