- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Hot Springs Arkansas-Things to do and where to stay
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:11 am
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:11 am
Planning a 2 or 3 night stay next week and I’ve never been. From what I know the national park itself can be seen in one day. What else is in the area.
I found some cool arse tree house and dome places to stay a little outside of the town.
I will probably look into any Inns or B&Bs in the middle of things also.
When I leave Hot Springs I’m thinking about heading northwest from there for a few nights.
I found some cool arse tree house and dome places to stay a little outside of the town.
I will probably look into any Inns or B&Bs in the middle of things also.
When I leave Hot Springs I’m thinking about heading northwest from there for a few nights.
12
Posted on 4/3/26 at 12:09 pm to notiger1997
The Buffalo River NP area north of Hot Springs
Eureka Springs
Petit Jean State Park
Silver Dollar City amusement park if you make it all the way to Branson
This post was edited on 4/3/26 at 12:16 pm
Posted on 4/3/26 at 12:29 pm to notiger1997
Garvan Gardens is cool.
Horse races are obvious and the casino if you're into that.
If you want to hike or mountain bike, the North Woods Trails are amazing. There's also the LOViT and Womble trail systems which are both IMBA Epic trail systems if you're into mountain biking.
Eat at Deluca's pizza. I cannot stress that highly enough.
That's all I got.
Horse races are obvious and the casino if you're into that.
If you want to hike or mountain bike, the North Woods Trails are amazing. There's also the LOViT and Womble trail systems which are both IMBA Epic trail systems if you're into mountain biking.
Eat at Deluca's pizza. I cannot stress that highly enough.
That's all I got.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:58 pm to notiger1997
Eureka Springs is 4 hrs away, not same area.
Oaklawn, Rooftop at The Waters, the trails in the NP or other trails mentioned. Lake Ouachita is beautiful, way more scenic than Hamilton. Garvin Gardens is great, lots of trails there to walk too (out on the peninsula). The Caddo Bend Trail at Lake O is a decent trail for views.
My trick was getting a 10 dollar walk in camp site at Lake O, then just using it during the day for my own patch of earth and section of beach, made for a nice day.
Oaklawn, Rooftop at The Waters, the trails in the NP or other trails mentioned. Lake Ouachita is beautiful, way more scenic than Hamilton. Garvin Gardens is great, lots of trails there to walk too (out on the peninsula). The Caddo Bend Trail at Lake O is a decent trail for views.
My trick was getting a 10 dollar walk in camp site at Lake O, then just using it during the day for my own patch of earth and section of beach, made for a nice day.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 1:58 pm to hogfly
quote:
Eat at Deluca's pizza. I cannot stress that highly enough.
Yes. But call ahead. Sometimes they will have dough for walk-ins, but if its busy, they will turn you away.
Is it just you? Or will you have kids and/or other people?
Posted on 4/3/26 at 2:05 pm to notiger1997
There are several Airbnb/vrbo homes in Hot Springs Village. HSV is a short drive from Hot Springs. Some of the houses are on the many lakes or on the golf courses. Several golf courses in HSV if you play golf. HSV is a gated golf community that you can gain access into if you rent a home there.
I went to Garvan Gardens earlier this week. Not a whole lot blooming. It’s past time for the tulips and many of the azaleas blooms were zapped by the late hard freeze. But it’s still a cool place to visit with its pathways and water features and shrubs and trees of many varieties. Watch for the peacock near the entrance…it’s mating season.
It’s still horse racing season in Hot Springs at Oaklawn on Thursday - Sunday. Call the Carousel restaurant and reserve a table. The restaurant is on the second floor. It’s nice to be separated from the general population having access to the restaurant’s bathrooms and betting windows Your table will have a great view of the track and each table has a small tv showing the betting odds and the race itself. Or you can go to the rail to watch the race and return to your table. Thursdays has free parking and free racing programs. Parking and programs are cheap on other days. Oaklawn also has a casino.
A good museum to visit in Hot Springs is the Gangster Museum. Many gangsters and some were high profile used to hang out in Hot Springs. It’s on the main drag right across the street from Bathhouse Row where you can go on a self guided tour in the Fordyce Bathhouse. The Ohio Club is a good place to eat which is a short walk from the Gangster Museum. There is a parking garage (I think free) off the main drag and around the corner from the Gangster Museum.
Petit Jean State Park north of Hot Springs is a good suggestion. The park features one of the tallest waterfalls in Arkansas. Lot of scenic hiking trails. The lodge has a good restaurant with a fantastic view. The lodge has rooms and there are also cabins within the state park. Cabins and Airbnbs are available outside the park.
I went to Garvan Gardens earlier this week. Not a whole lot blooming. It’s past time for the tulips and many of the azaleas blooms were zapped by the late hard freeze. But it’s still a cool place to visit with its pathways and water features and shrubs and trees of many varieties. Watch for the peacock near the entrance…it’s mating season.
It’s still horse racing season in Hot Springs at Oaklawn on Thursday - Sunday. Call the Carousel restaurant and reserve a table. The restaurant is on the second floor. It’s nice to be separated from the general population having access to the restaurant’s bathrooms and betting windows Your table will have a great view of the track and each table has a small tv showing the betting odds and the race itself. Or you can go to the rail to watch the race and return to your table. Thursdays has free parking and free racing programs. Parking and programs are cheap on other days. Oaklawn also has a casino.
A good museum to visit in Hot Springs is the Gangster Museum. Many gangsters and some were high profile used to hang out in Hot Springs. It’s on the main drag right across the street from Bathhouse Row where you can go on a self guided tour in the Fordyce Bathhouse. The Ohio Club is a good place to eat which is a short walk from the Gangster Museum. There is a parking garage (I think free) off the main drag and around the corner from the Gangster Museum.
Petit Jean State Park north of Hot Springs is a good suggestion. The park features one of the tallest waterfalls in Arkansas. Lot of scenic hiking trails. The lodge has a good restaurant with a fantastic view. The lodge has rooms and there are also cabins within the state park. Cabins and Airbnbs are available outside the park.
This post was edited on 4/3/26 at 2:20 pm
Posted on 4/3/26 at 2:51 pm to gumbeaux
We are going in May. Thanks for all the info everyone!
We have been before but some of the info here I did not know. Does deluca take reservations?
We have been before but some of the info here I did not know. Does deluca take reservations?
Posted on 4/3/26 at 4:10 pm to notiger1997
We always try to stay on the lake, mostly the east side by the Dam and Garven Gardens
We always make it a priority to eat at Deluca's and Bobaloo's, both downtown.
Go see garven gardens and a bath house or two. If you want a short hike to a small waterfall, you can go to Lake Catherine state park and see that waterfall.
Depending on time of the year, you can do a canoe trip down Ouachita River. We always do the 6 mile and pack lunches for the kids. Will depend on time of the year and water levels/speed.
We always make it a priority to eat at Deluca's and Bobaloo's, both downtown.
Go see garven gardens and a bath house or two. If you want a short hike to a small waterfall, you can go to Lake Catherine state park and see that waterfall.
Depending on time of the year, you can do a canoe trip down Ouachita River. We always do the 6 mile and pack lunches for the kids. Will depend on time of the year and water levels/speed.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 11:10 am to notiger1997
If you have any interest in rocks, especially quartz crystals, HS is the US Mecca. Mining for electronics ended long ago, but specimen mining is a substantial activity. Go shopping at Coleman's LINK
I'm told that weekend flea markets have the best deals on crystals...recently mined or from old collections.
In addition to locally mined quartz, you'll see much from Brazil. Prices are better than online. DIY mining is very messy due to all the red mud. About 60m SW of HS is Crater of Diamond SP. It too can be muddy.
I'm told that weekend flea markets have the best deals on crystals...recently mined or from old collections.
In addition to locally mined quartz, you'll see much from Brazil. Prices are better than online. DIY mining is very messy due to all the red mud. About 60m SW of HS is Crater of Diamond SP. It too can be muddy.
Posted on 4/4/26 at 12:08 pm to notiger1997
the town of hot springs is ok during the day. Get on out of there after dark it gets pretty trashy
Ditto on deluca, if you can’t get in grateful head is also good
Ditto on deluca, if you can’t get in grateful head is also good
Posted on 4/5/26 at 8:39 am to madamsquirrel
quote:
Does deluca take reservations?
Last time we went, they took reservations, but that just has them reserve you dough for your pizza(s). They make only so many per day. It does not guarantee you'll be seated at the time you pick, so show up early if on a weekend night and be prepared to wait a bit. Lunch can be much easier to get in and out.
Posted on 4/5/26 at 8:42 pm to notiger1997
We stayed at the Happy Hollow. Old-timey motel at the base of the mountain. Looks like the Bates Motel but clean, close to downtown, and you can park easily. Bathroom is tiny and out of the 1940s was the only drawback.
Posted on 4/5/26 at 9:21 pm to notiger1997
I remember the alcohol tax while drinking downtown was like 25% when I went lol
Posted on 4/7/26 at 8:28 am to notiger1997
We stayed in the treehouse it was cozy but nice and very clean. Close to downtown too. The domes look just as nice. Folks there running were friendly. Highly recommend.
Posted on 4/8/26 at 9:36 pm to notiger1997
Timely thread! Was at Petit Jean State Park today and am headed to Hot Springs.
Here is Cedar Falls:
Here is Cedar Falls:
Posted on 4/9/26 at 3:41 pm to hogfly
quote:
Eat at Deluca's pizza. I cannot stress that highly enough.
Highly overrated.
Ordered the one portnoy reviewed a few months ago and it was dripping with grease
Posted on 4/9/26 at 3:59 pm to WaydownSouth
quote:
Highly overrated.
I thought it lived up to every bit of the hype. The pizzas we had there were awesome
Posted on 4/9/26 at 8:00 pm to jchamil
Maybe it was just the cheese one. I'll try a different next time I go. But there is no way they cooked it like that for Portnoy. It had so much grease it flopped immediately.
I usually waste my weekly cheat meal on pizza and I was not impressed
I usually waste my weekly cheat meal on pizza and I was not impressed
Posted on 4/10/26 at 6:08 am to jchamil
I go to Hot Springs every year, and I prefer SQZBX Pizza - just as good and easier experience
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News