Barks and Blooms: Everything You Need to Know About Dog-friendly Garvan Woodland Gardens

Did you know that there’s a beautiful, botanical oasis about 10 miles south of Hot Springs National Park that you can enjoy with your furry friend? Complete with winding trails, gorgeous flower displays, and relaxing water features, dog-friendly Garvan Woodland Gardens is the real-life deep breath that your busy life needs.

No matter if you‘re a local looking for a new spot to walk your dog, or preparing for a future vacation to the “Natural State,”  I’m here to help take the stress out of planning your canine adventure. 

Get ready to learn everything you need to know so you and your pup can enjoy your trip to these gardens. From pet policies and what to expect to tips to keep everyone safe and comfortable, I’ve got you covered.

If you love botanical gardens, there’s also one in South Carolina that is dog-friendly!

Is Garvan Woodland Gardens Dog Friendly?

Yes! You can bring your dog to Garvan Woodland Gardens, but be aware that there are some restrictions. Like most places, your pup needs to be on a 6 ft or less non-retractable leash at all times and be well-behaved (no excessive barking). 

Multi-dog owners beware! You are only allowed one dog per person, and there’s an extra $5 fee per pup if you are not a member. While in the gardens, they ask that you prevent your four-legged friend from ‘watering’ the plants. 

Dogs are not allowed in the Chapel, Treehouse, or the ponds. Pets are also not allowed at the Holiday Lights event.

What to Expect When You Visit Garven Woodland Gardens

If you are looking for a relaxing stroll through winding garden paths with beautiful flowers and soothing water features, this is the place for you. You can easily spend the day here if you enjoy taking your time to admire the scenery. 

There are plenty of places throughout the gardens to sit, unwind, and reflect. There’s even an additional trail that you can take through the Hixon Nature Preserve. Like any botanical garden, the time of year that you go will largely influence what you see and how hot you get. 

Garvan Woodland Gardens Price and Hours

Garvan Woodlands Gardens is typically open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Some areas may close early for special events (like the chapel), but they will let you know that when you enter through the front gates. The Gardens are completely closed during the month of January and on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

You can purchase tickets onsite or online; however, if you buy them online, you’ll save $5 per human ticket. Adults are $20 a person online, and kids 3 – 12 are $10.  Dog tickets are an additional $5 per pup, no matter how you buy them. They also provide golf cart tours for an extra fee; however, these are not dog-friendly.

Parking at Garvan Woodland Gardens

There is plenty of free parking at Woodland Gardens. Depending on how full the lots are, you may have a decent walk to get to the front gate.

Are there Bathrooms at Garvan Woodland Gardens?

Garvan Gardens has several bathrooms spread throughout the property.  They are just far enough apart from each other that if you have small kids or a small bladder, you’ll want to know where they are before starting out.

Where to Stay When Visiting Garvan Woodland Gardens

Hot Springs is full of dog-friendly accommodations. Campgrounds, hotels, vacation rentals, etc. Figure out what will work best for your pack and your budget, and take your pick!

Visiting Dog-friendly Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Gardens is just one of the many places around Hot Springs that you can bring your doggy to. Even though there are a few areas that are off limits to your pup, there are plenty of places that they are allowed to go. The main concern about spending time here with your pup is going to be the heat and trying to keep your canine companion from ‘watering’ the garden areas.

Entering Garvan Woodland Gardens

Once you’ve parked your car, you’ll walk to the front gate, where you can either purchase your tickets at the counter or show proof of purchasing your tickets online (cheaper option).  Keep in mind that they do have a one dog per person rule unless you are a member and have applied for a special Garvan AmbassaDogs program. In this case, you could bring 2 dogs per person. 

Member dogs get in for free; non-member pups pay $5 per dog.  If you do have a dog with you, keep an eye out near the front gate area for the resident peacocks. These birds can roam throughout the gardens, but we only saw them around the front gate when we went. We ended up having to take a longer route to avoid walking our pups too close to them.

When you check in, you’ll be given a map and told about anything important that may be happening that day, like area closures, special events, or special blooming times. We were able to make it during the big tulip bloom!

To make sure you don’t miss anything during your visit, pay attention to the numbers on the path and your map. Each area is numbered so you can walk through the gardens in numerical order, or take a few shortcuts if you know exactly where you want to spend your time

Garvan Garden’s Welcome Center and Gift Shop

When you enter one of the first places you’ll see is the garden’s Welcome Center. Here you’ll find air conditioning, bathrooms, a help desk, the gift shop, and some complimentary dog treats! Dogs are allowed inside as long as they don’t bark too much and can be trusted not to make any unapproved purchases.

Dog-friendly Areas of Garvan Woodland Botanical Gardens

Most of Garvan Gardens is dog-friendly. There are so many different areas that they can be easy to miss if you randomly stroll down the trails. You’ll want to keep an eye out for signs and on your map to help keep you on track. Some of the trails won’t leave much room for passing, especially for the golf cart tours, so be mindful of letting others pass by when you can.

You will pass numerous little ponds and waterfall areas near the pathways, but sadly, you and your pup will have to resist dipping a paw in to cool off. No pups in the ponds! Instead, make sure you take plenty of water breaks and take advantage of the shady areas when you find them. 

There are a few stretches of limited to no shade, so make sure to bring a sun umbrella to help keep everyone cool. And monitor everyone in your pack for dehydration or heat stroke. 

Your main jobs as a pet owner will be trying to prevent your dog from going to the bathroom in the garden beds AND making sure they don’t try to sneak a nibble of any plants so they don’t get sick. There are a surprising number of plants, trees, and nuts that are toxic to our canine companions. Symptoms can vary from a slight upset stomach to organ failure, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Non-Dog-Friendly Areas at Garvan Woodland Gardens

There are two areas that you won’t be able to go with your dogs inside Woodland Garden: the Anthony Chapel and the Treehouse in Evan’s Children’s Adventure Garden.

The Anthony Chapel is beautiful and on the outer edges of the garden near the parking lots. If you have a doggy with you, you won’t be able to go inside, but you can walk up to windows and doors to take a peek. It’s not a huge building, so it also works out perfectly to take turns going in if you are traveling with someone else.

One of the things Garvan Gardens is known for is its 4-level interactive Treehouse in Evan’s Children’s Adventure Garden. Honestly, the entire Children’s Garden is magnificent and worth exploring.

Be aware that some of the walkways would be hard to navigate with a pup. There are even some boulders on some paths that you need to climb up and over in this area. When we went, we knew dogs weren’t allowed in the Treehouse, and we decided to keep them out of this entire section.

Between the different textured ground and all the children running around, screaming, having the time of their lives- I’m glad we didn’t even try to bring our pups to this part. It was much more enjoyable to check everything out and then take a turn relaxing on a bench outside of Evan’s Children’s Adventure Garden with the pups.

Hixon Nature Preserve

If the weather is agreeable, you can extend your walk by taking the hiking trail into the Hixon Nature Preserve. This is an excellent area for birding in the Lake Hamilton area. The main trail is one giant loop around the edges of a peninsula that starts just behind the Children’s Adventure Garden. If you want to cut your walk short, there is a trail that cuts straight across back to the starting point about halfway through.

Chipmunk Cafe

If you need food, the Chipmunk Cafe is where you go. You can place your order and pick up your food at the counters.  This is another busy area, so we opted to send one person in to order and then bring the food back out to us on the main path. 

If you do the same, there is a giant toy train area set up that you can watch while you wait. I also suggest keeping an eye out for kids wanting to approach and pet your dogs. Even if your dog is okay with children, this is near the food area, and I had to stop a few kids covered in chocolate from approaching because I didn’t want a vet visit. 

Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Garvan Woodland Gardens

Garvan Woodland Gardens is a great spot to spend the day relaxing amongst the flowers. Here are some tips for bringing your pup so you both can enjoy the experience: 

• Know Your Pup. This stop might not be for every canine companion. Your dog should be okay around other animals (dogs, ducks, and peacocks), crowds of people, and not a heavy marker (protect those plants!).
• Keep Everyone Hydrated. Arkansas can get super hot. Make sure to give your dog plenty of water breaks so they don’t overheat.
• Bring a Shade Umbrella. Some areas of the garden walkways aren’t shaded, so your dog will appreciate you bringing something to help protect them from the heat.
• Remember Bathroom Breaks. Take advantage of areas between gardens so your dog can use the restroom without breaking the rules or harming the plants.
• Practice Situational Awareness. Be aware of the people, landscaping, and animals around your pup so you can keep everyone safe and happy. 

Nearby Attractions to Garvan Woodland Gardens

For ideas of more places to visit in Hot Springs, Arkansas, check out these stops:

Attractions near the Garvan Woodland Gardens

• Duck Tours
• Wax Museum
• Oaklawn (Horse racing and casino)
• Buckstaff Bathhouse
• Quawpaw Baths and Spa

Dog-Friendly Attractions near the Garvan Woodland Gardens 

• Hot Springs Haunted Tour
• Hot Springs National Park

For a more complete list, check out our dog-friendly Hot Springs, Arkansas post!

From Pups to Petals

If you’re looking for a peaceful morning walk, an afternoon adventure, or simply that restorative “deep breath” moment away from life’s daily stresses, Garvan Woodland Gardens has experiences that both you and your pup will enjoy. Your dog will love the new scents and sights, and you’ll love the peaceful and serene beauty. And with a little preparation, your visit can be as relaxing and beautiful as the gardens themselves! 

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