Dog Friendly Hot Springs National Park: Trails, Tips, and Tail-Wagging Adventures
Dog friendly Hot Springs National Park is the perfect treat for you and your pup! As one of the handful of National Parks that is split up and spread throughout a city, visiting this park will be a very different experience from other parks you have visited.
Famous for its natural spring water spas and fascinating history involving people from all walks of life, there was plenty to see, learn, and do. Added to the fact that it’s located in the heart of one of the most dog-friendly cities I’ve been to, it’s too perfect a place to miss.
Whether you’re planning a quick weekend trip or a longer, relaxing vacation, I’m here to help. This guide will cover where you can bring your dog, as well as details about the museum, trails, and natural springs so your furry friend can have an amazing tail-wagging time.
Is Hot Springs National Park Dog Friendly?
Yes! The National Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is a dog friendly national park – they even have a BARK Ranger program. Like most national parks, your dog won’t be allowed in federal buildings-these would be the visitor center/museum and the gift shop. You will also need to pick up after them and keep them on a leash or in a carrier.
Check out our list if you are looking for more dog friendly national parks, and don’t forget your Pup Passport to keep those memories safe!
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What to Expect When You Visit Dog Friendly Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is different from most national parks. This park is spread out throughout the area and city, and some may find it confusing to navigate at first. Picture the park split into two areas: North Mountain and the West Mountain.
The North Mountain covers the historic downtown area of Hot Springs and has the museum/visitor center, bathhouses, Mountain Tower, and a few hiking trails. It also includes Hot Springs Mountain and Indian Mountain. When you are walking down the main street, the side with the visitor center is in the National Park, whereas the other side of the street is owned by the city.
The West Mountain primarily has hiking trails. This area also includes Sugarloaf Mountain and Music Mountain. The trails on this side will make you feel more surrounded by nature than the ones on the North Mountain.
Hot Springs National Park Price and Hours
There is no fee to enter Hot Springs National Park, and they have multiple free guided and self-guided tours available at no cost. The visitor center and museum are on Bathhouse Row in the Fordyce Bathhouse building and open from 9 am to 5 pm every day except for New Year’s, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
The roads leading up to the mountain trails are open from 8 am – 10 pm. The streets on Bathhouse Row are never closed since they are city streets. The sidewalk on the National Park side is open from 5 am – 10 pm, though we didn’t see anyone patrolling this.
The gift shop is in the Lamar Bathhouse and open daily from 9 am – 5 pm. There is also a gift shop located in the Mountain Tower that’s open from 9 am – 8 pm. This one is inside the park, but owned by an outside vendor.
Parking at Hot Springs National Park
Depending on where and when you go, your parking experience can be very different. Parking will be free but limited at the trailheads on the mountains. If you are going to the Mountain Tower, it might take you a few passes to find an open spot on busy days.
There is basically no free parking in the city if you are going shopping or to Bathhouse Row. You will have to pay to park in the garage, lots, or on the street. Parking fees are currently not enforced overnight (5 pm- 8 am) or on Sundays.
Where to Stay When Visiting Hot Springs National Park
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!
If you want to stay inside the National Park, you will have two options. Gulpha Gorge Campground is pet friendly and costs $34/night (Reservations needed). Hotel Hale is also located inside the park and run by outside vendors. These rooms start at about $250/night and are NOT pet friendly.
Visiting Dog Friendly Hot Springs National Park
The city of Hot Springs is remarkably dog-friendly, as is the national park. Whereas all of the trails and outdoor aspects are accessible to us pet owners, there are a few places and experiences where your canine companion won’t be able to go. Here’s a quick breakdown of each area in the national park and tips that we used so you can enjoy all the activities that you want to do.
If you are traveling solo, here is an article full of tips for leaving your dog alone in your rental on vacation.
Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center and Museum
The visitor center and museum for Hot Springs National Park are housed in the Fordyce Bathhouse building. Considered the fanciest of the bathhouses, it’s full of beautiful stained glass windows and impressive statues.
It took me about an hour and a half to go through all 3 floors and the basement (this included taking the guided ranger tour of the first floor). Without the tour, it took my husband and brother each about 45 minutes.
If you choose to swap places with whoever has your pups versus exploring the museum, there is plenty of outdoor seating in front of the building and a nice grassy area just a few doors down. There are also some shorter, windy trails behind it if you’d rather walk or take the time to go shopping.
The first floor has the visitor center help desk just inside. This is where you can talk to rangers, get maps, and have your passport stamped. It also has exhibits down the hallway to your left that discuss the history of the area and the use of local spring water as medicine.
In the area behind the desk, you can see the separate women’s and men’s bath halls, pack or locker room, and steam rooms. There’s also a hydrotherapy room and a men’s central bath hall.
On the second floor is a historic clothing exhibit, massage rooms, and an electromechanical room. This is where you can see the wellness tools that have been used over the years for various illnesses and issues.
The third floor mostly consists of the gymnasium and courtyard, plus the women’s state room and lounge. And the basement shows the old plumbing system that pumped the spring water into the building.
It was so interesting to see how health care has developed over the years. Especially how it’s evolved for men versus women. Not only did we learn about the different methods of healing for some of the more common diseases at the time, but also how the fight over access to the springs affected the area’s development.
Hot Springs National Park Gift Shop
The official Hot Springs National Park gift shop is on Bathhouse Row in the Lamar Bathhouse building. This is just a few buildings down from the museum and visitor center.
Dogs are not allowed inside, but there are plenty of benches and chairs up and down the street, so if you are traveling with other people, you can take turns shopping for your souvenirs. You can also wait and shop in one of the neighboring dog-friendly stores if you’d rather have A/C.
Hot Springs National Park Bathhouse Row
Bathhouse Row is on the National Park side of the street in Hot Springs. And it still has 8 of the original historical Bathhouses. Most of the buildings have been repurposed, like the park’s gift shop and visitor center, but two of the buildings still operate as a spa.
You and your pup can walk on the sidewalks and read the educational signs about each building. Unfortunately, that’s where your and your furry friend’s fun comes to an end. Since we’ve already talked about the museum and gift shop, let’s move on to the Bathhouse experience.
Bathhouse Experiences
If one of your bucket list items for Hot Springs was going to one of the Bathhouses, you’ll have two to choose from. The Buckstaff has a more traditional bathing experience, and they only accept walk-ins for baths and massages. You can book an appointment ahead of time if you’d like a facial, though.
Buckstaff is the more budget-friendly of the two, with packages ranging from $50-$120. They are open Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 11:45 am and again from 1:15 to 3 pm. Sundays are from 8 am to 11:45 am, and are closed on major holidays.
If you want to avoid spending your day waiting in line here, I found the lines are shortest first thing in the morning on weekdays. To be first in line, I’d suggest arriving around 7 am and bringing your morning coffee or tea to sip on while you wait.
The Quapaw is a more luxurious experience, and you have a ton of packages to choose from. The prices start at $125 and go up accordingly. They are open every day from 10 am to 6 pm except on Tuesdays. You will need to call ahead to book your appointments. You will also need to book a few months ahead because appointments fill up quickly.
We found it worked out best to take turns with our Buckstaff spa days. One or two people would get up early to wait in line, while the others slept in and took their time getting the dogs ready for the day. Then we would all meet up on Bathhouse Row to spend the rest of the day together.
Hot Springs National Park Mountain Tower
The Mountain Tower is on North Mountain and has its own small parking area. You can go inside the gift shop on the bottom floor or buy a ticket to take the elevator up to the observation deck and museum.
You aren’t able to bring your dog inside the tower; however, you can take advantage of outdoor seating and surrounding trails if you have someone who can trade off pet duties with you.
The observation deck is outdoors, so be careful of the wind. Hats can easily be swept off heads, and loose shirts fly up, so you might want to tuck them in. This will give you a 360-degree view of Hot Springs.
One floor down from the deck is the museum that covers the history of the area. It covers everything from baseball spring training and gangsters to Bill Clinton.
Hot Springs Natural Spring Water
There are free spigots throughout the national park where you can get some of the natural spring water to go. Fill your water bottle or large jugs so you have something to drink for the day or bring home with you.
The most important thing to be aware of is that some of the locations are for HOT spring water, and others are cold. The hot water is hot enough to hurt, so you will want to be extra careful with your pup near those stations.
Hot Springs National Park Hiking Trails
There are 26 miles of trails within this National Park. A lot of them intersect each other, so it’s important to pay attention to the trail markers so you don’t get lost. The trails are split between the North and West Mountain areas.
I found a lot of the trails had pretty steep sections, and we were thankful that we used the park app to get a better idea of the difficulty levels before heading out. This was especially important since we have 2 aging pups. Overall, we preferred the West Mountain because it felt more ‘naturey’ and ‘woodsy’ to us.
The North Mountain was closer to the heart of the city, so we would hear traffic and see roads every so often. This area was also more populated because this side had the most attractions, like the Mountain Tower and the springs.
Tips for Bringing Your Dog to Hot Springs National Park
Hot Springs National Park is a popular destination for people and pups alike. Here are some tips for bringing your pup so you both can enjoy the experience:
- Make sure your pooch is people and dog-friendly. Hot Springs is a popular vacation spot for people and pups, so sidewalks and trails can be crowded.
- Keep an eye on your pup’s feet: Do regular temperature checks on the pavement during the summer. You might want to bring protective footwear for your canine companion so they don’t burn their little paws when it’s hot.
- Keep Everyone Hydrated. Arkansas can get super hot. Make sure to give your dog plenty of water breaks so they don’t overheat, and avoid spending too much time outdoors on sunny and humid days. Take plenty of air-conditioned breaks in the local shops and indoor attractions in the area.
- Bring a Shade Umbrella. If you aren’t in a shady area, bring your own! Your dog will appreciate you bringing something to help protect them from the heat when you are walking in the city.
Nearby Attractions to the Hot Springs National Park:
For ideas of places to visit in or close to the Hot Springs National Park, check out these stops:
Attractions near the Hot Springs National Park
- Duck Tours
- Wax Museum
- Oaklawn (Horse racing and casino)
- Buckstaff Bathhouse
- Quawpaw Baths and Spa
Dog-Friendly Attractions near the Hot Springs National Park
For a more complete list, check out our dog-friendly Hot Springs, Arkansas post!
From Bathhouse Row to Hiking Trails
Hot Springs National Park is more than your typical park—it’s rich in history, nature trails, and smack dab in the middle of a city that truly welcomes your furry family members. From exploring Bathhouse Row to sniffing out new adventures around town, there are plenty of memories to be made for you and your pup. Once you visit, you just might find yourself coming back to vacation here again and again.
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