HappeningOzark fall color usually peaks in the second half of the month (dates vary), a fine time to drive the hills. Mornings are cool. A film festival is held in Hot Springs in the fall (dates vary).
From average weather, 2021 to 2025: days that are warm but not hot, with few rainy days, score highest. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
Arrival day
Before Day 1. A car is the practical way to do this trip, and Days 3 and 4 are a night away in the Ozarks.Details
Getting here
Most visitors fly into Little Rock and drive to Hot Springs. Pick up a rental car on arrival, since the lakes, the trailheads and the Ozarks are far from any bus line.
A night away
The Ozarks leg is a long road from Hot Springs, and Day 4 in Bentonville is another long road beyond it. Pack a small bag for a night away on Day 3 and plan to sleep in the Ozarks rather than double back. Check the road ahead and the weather before you set out.
Hills and weather
The hills are warm and humid in summer, with storms that can flood low roads and creek crossings. Pack a rain jacket, shoes with grip, a hat and bug spray, and check the sky before each drive.
First evening
Settle in near downtown Hot Springs and walk the length of Bathhouse Row once the light softens. Day 1 stays close to town, so there is no hurry to start early.
How much walking? On foot, about 1.1 to 1.6 miles a day, and 297.3 miles by car in all across 6 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
Day 1. The lakes and the hills around Hot Springs and Bathhouse Row and the park
3 stops · 16.3 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Garvan Woodland Gardens
A 210-acre botanical and woodland garden on a peninsula of Lake Hamilton, run by the University of Arkansas, with streams, waterfalls, rocky slopes and a Japanese garden. Walk the paths slowly and look across the water. Check ahead on the opening and on any closed months.
Go whenMorning, when the paths are cool.
Local tip The gardens are on a peninsula, so the paths climb and drop between rock, water and trees. Wear shoes with grip, take a hat, and check ahead on the opening and on any month when the gardens are closed.
A 2,180-acre state park on the south shore of Lake Catherine, about eight miles southeast of Hot Springs, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, with three stone and wood cabins listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Go whenMorning, before the day warms up.
Local tip A state park of the 1930s on the south shore of Lake Catherine, about eight miles southeast of town, with stone and wood buildings built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Do not swim without local advice, and check ahead on access.
A warm buttermilk biscuit filled with thin slices of salty country ham, a quick lunch for a day of short drives.
Local tip Add a little pepper jelly if it is offered.
About 30 min by car or transit9.0 mi
3
Afternoon
Gulpha Gorge
A gorge on the east side of Hot Springs National Park, about two miles from downtown, where the park runs a campground beside a creek. Walk the short paths by the water, and look at the rocks and the trees. Wear shoes with grip, and keep to the paths.
Go whenAfternoon, when the shade is long.
Local tip A calm spot by a creek on the east side of the park. Walk the short paths, listen to the water, and keep to the marked ways. Wear shoes with grip, since the rocks can be wet.
Dinner
Fried catfish and hushpuppies
Cornmeal-crusted catfish, fried until crisp, with hushpuppies, small fried balls of cornmeal batter, and a side of slaw, a supper of the lakes and rivers of the state.
Local tip Squeeze lemon over the fish and try the hushpuppies with a little hot sauce.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 2. Bathhouse Row and the park
3 stops · 1.6 mi on foot
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
1
Morning
Bathhouse Row
A historic district of old bathhouses, fountains and promenades at the foot of Hot Springs Mountain, in Hot Springs National Park. The park was set aside in 1832 to protect 47 natural hot springs, and the row is a National Historic Landmark District. Some of the old bathhouses are museums and some still offer baths, so check ahead on what each one does today.
Go whenMorning, or in the evening (about 6:37 PM) when the fountains and the old fronts catch the light.
Local tip Walk the row on foot first and read the signs. Some of the old bathhouses are museums and some still offer baths, so check ahead on what each one does today. The spring water is hot, so go carefully.
A lattice steel observation tower, 216 feet high, on Hot Springs Mountain, opened in 1983 as the third tower on the mountain. The view takes in the town, the park and the surrounding Ouachita hills. Check ahead on the opening and on the road up.
Go whenMidday on a clear day, when the hills show well.
Local tip Go up for the view over the town and the Ouachita hills. Haze can hide the far ridges, so pick a clear day if you can, and check ahead on the opening and on the road up the mountain.
Dill pickle slices in a crisp cornmeal batter, fried and served hot with ranch dressing on the side, a bar snack of the South, from a place near the row.
Local tip Eat them while they are hot, and ask for the dressing on the side.
About 22 min walk1.1 mi
3
Evening
Whittington Park
A landscaped park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and built in the 1890s by the National Park Service, in the northwest of Hot Springs, with a historic neighborhood of Craftsman and Queen Anne houses around it.
Go whenLate afternoon (about 6:37 PM), when it cools.
Local tip A landscaped park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in the 1890s, in a residential neighborhood northwest of the row. A good place to rest your feet after a day of walking.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 3. The lakes and the hills around Hot Springs
2 stops · 10.8 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Travel from Whittington ParkAbout 14 min by car or transit2.9 mi
Where Day 2 ended.
1
MiddayIndoor
Mid-America Science Museum
A science museum in Hot Springs with more than 100 hands-on exhibits, among them kinetic sculptures by Rowland Emett and a Tesla coil. It is a good indoor stop on a hot or wet day. Check ahead on the opening.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A good fit for children and for anyone who wants a break from the heat. Look for the kinetic sculptures by Rowland Emett, and check ahead on the opening and on what is on.
About 29 min by car or transit8.0 mi
2
Afternoon
Lake Ouachita State Park
A 360-acre state park about ten miles northwest of Hot Springs, on the eastern side of Lake Ouachita, the largest man-made lake entirely within Arkansas. It also preserves the site of the Three Sisters springs, once known for their mineral waters. Do not swim without local advice, and check ahead on the lake and the road.
Go whenAfternoon into evening (about 6:37 PM), as the light softens on the water.
Local tip It needs a car. Walk to the shore, look across the largest man-made lake entirely within Arkansas, and read about the Three Sisters springs. Do not swim without local advice, and check ahead on the road and the water.
Dinner
Arkansas peach cobbler
Warm peaches baked under a buttery crust, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dessert of the summer orchards of the state, after a plain supper of beans and cornbread.
Local tip Share one bowl, since it is large and rich.
If it rains. Mid-America Science Museum is covered, so keep it. Move Lake Ouachita State Park to a dry day if you can.
Day 4. The Buffalo National River and Boxley Valley
4 stops · 126.3 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Lake Ouachita State ParkAbout 2 h 17 min by car98.0 mi
Where Day 3 ended.
1
Midday
Buffalo National River
The first river in the country designated a National River, 153 miles long, flowing east from the Boston Mountains of the Ozarks. The upper river passes Boxley and Ponca, where an old low-water bridge still crosses it. Look for the elk herd, the only one in the state, and keep your distance. Check ahead on the water level and the weather before you go near the river.
Go whenMorning, as early as you can, before the day warms up.
Local tip It is a long road from Hot Springs, so check the road and the weather before you go. Cell service drops out in the hills, so download a map. Keep your distance from the elk, and stay out of high or fast water.
A side valley on Arkansas 43 between Boxley and Ponca, reached by a trail up a creek, with bluffs, a cave and a waterfall. The trail is rocky and uneven, and it can be wet after rain. Wear shoes with grip, carry a light, and check ahead on the creek and the trail.
Go whenMorning, before the trail fills.
Local tip The trail runs up a creek between bluffs to a cave and a waterfall. It is rocky and wet in places, so wear shoes with grip, carry a light for the cave, and check ahead on the creek and the trail after rain.
Lunch
A picnic of ham and cheese
Biscuits with sliced country ham and cheese, an apple and a cold drink, packed in town the day before, for a stop by the river.
Local tip Pack out what you pack in, and keep food away from bears.
About 32 min by car or transit10.4 mi
3
Midday
Jasper
A small town in the hills and the county seat of Newton County, on the way to the upper Buffalo River. A short stop to stretch your legs and fill a water bottle.
Go whenMidday, on the way through the hills.
Local tip A small town in the hills and the county seat of Newton County, with a population of about 550 at the 2020 census. A short stop to stretch your legs, fill the water bottle and check the road ahead.
A rock ledge over a canyon in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, also called Whitaker Point, reached by the one official trail in the wilderness. The trail is rough and the footing is uneven near the edge, and black bears live in the wilderness. Keep back from the edge, wear shoes with grip, and check ahead on the road.
Go whenAfternoon, with time to spare before the light fades.
Local tip The trail is the one official trail in the Upper Buffalo Wilderness, and it is rough, with an uneven edge at the end. Wear shoes with grip, take water and keep back from the drop. Black bears live here, so store food away.
Dinner
A catfish plate
A plate of fried catfish with fries, slaw and hushpuppies, a simple supper in a small town of the hills after a day on the trail.
Local tip Ask about the catch of the day.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 5. Eureka Springs and the northwest and The Buffalo National River and Boxley Valley
3 stops · 108.7 mi by carAbout 3 h 8 min driving
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Hawksbill CragAbout 1 h 6 min by car39.0 mi
Where Day 4 ended.
1
Morning
Eureka Springs Historic District
The whole city of Eureka Springs is a historic district, listed in 1970, a resort town built around many natural springs between 1880 and 1910, with Victorian buildings on steep streets. It is another long road from Hot Springs, so treat it as a day of its own and check ahead.
Go whenMorning, when the hills are cool.
Local tip The whole town is a historic district of Victorian buildings on steep streets, built around springs when it was a resort town between 1880 and 1910. Wear shoes with grip, since the hills are steep, and check ahead on parking.
The Big Buffalo Valley Historic District, a working landscape of family farms along Arkansas 43 beside the river, most of them dating from 1870 to 1930. Drive it slowly with the windows down, and stop at the pull-offs. The farms are private, so stay on the road.
Go whenMidday into afternoon, with the windows down.
Local tip Drive the valley road slowly and stop at the pull-offs. The farms are private and still worked, so stay on the road and give the animals room. Check ahead on the road in wet weather.
A glass and wood chapel in the woods of Eureka Springs, designed by E. Fay Jones in the spirit of the Prairie School and built in 1980, inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris.
Go whenMidday, when the sun comes through the glass.
Local tip A glass and wood chapel in the woods, designed by E. Fay Jones and built in 1980. It is a place of worship, so keep your voice low, and check ahead on the opening.
If it rains. Everything today is outdoors, so swap this day with a drier one if you can.
Day 6. Bentonville and Pea Ridge
3 stops · 1.1 mi on foot, 35.2 mi by car
Built from the plan’s must-sees, grouped so each day stays close together and ordered by time of day.
Drive from Thorncrown ChapelAbout 48 min by car24.1 mi
Where Day 5 ended.
1
MorningBook ahead
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
An art museum in Bentonville that opened in 2011, with eight interconnected pavilions by the architect Moshe Safdie set among 120 or more acres of Ozark forest and trails. Its collection looks at American art across many periods. Wear shoes for the trails, and check ahead on the opening and on any timed entry.
Go whenMorning, as an indoor stop with trails outside.
Local tip Walk the trails around the pavilions as well as the galleries, since the buildings sit in the forest. Wear shoes for the paths, and check ahead on the opening and on any timed entry.
A contemporary art space in Bentonville that works as a satellite of Crystal Bridges and opened in 2020. Look at what is on show, and check ahead on the opening and on any events.
Go whenMidday, as an indoor stop.
Local tip A contemporary art space tied to Crystal Bridges, so the shows change. Look at what is on, and check ahead on the opening and on any events.
Lunch
A fried pickle plate
A plate of fried dill pickle chips with ranch dressing for dipping, a quick snack of the South, near the museums.
Local tip Share a plate between friends.
About 33 min by car or transit11.1 mi
3
Afternoon
Pea Ridge National Military Park
A national military park in the northwest of the state that protects the site of the Battle of Pea Ridge, fought on March 7 and 8, 1862, a Union victory that helped it gain control of Missouri. Soldiers died here, so keep a respectful tone on the ground. Check ahead on the opening and on the tour road.
Go whenAfternoon, with time to read the signs.
Local tip The park protects the ground of a battle fought in March of 1862, and soldiers died here. Read the signs, keep your voice low and stay on the marked paths. Check ahead on the opening and on the tour road.
A slice of pecan pie, a sweet filling of pecans, syrup and butter in a flaky crust, after a plain supper of the region.
Local tip Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and share a slice.
If it rains. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary are covered, so keep them. Move Pea Ridge National Military Park to a dry day if you can.
Departure day
After the last day. You finish in the northwest of the state, a long road from where you began, so plan the way out the evening before.Details
Leaving from the northwest
The regional airport serving Bentonville lies a short way from the museums, and it is the easy way out if you can book your flight from there. Returning the rental car at a different place can change the terms, so check ahead.
Driving back
If you head back to Hot Springs or Little Rock by road, it is a long road, so leave early, fill the tank in town and check ahead on closures and the weather. Mountain roads here are slow and have little signal.
Biscuits and pecans
A jar of peach preserves, a bag of pecans or a sleeve of country ham is easy to carry home. Wrap jars well in soft clothes, and check the rules on food before you fly.
If you have a few hours
Walk one of the forest trails at Crystal Bridges once more, or sit by the pond below the museum and let the Ozarks go quiet around you.
Questions people ask
When is the best time to visit Hot Springs?
By average weather from 2021 to 2025, March to April and October to November are the most comfortable months for walking around Hot Springs. This plan is built for october, which is one of the best months. Crowds and prices change through the year, so check them before you book.
How many days does this plan cover?
It covers 6 days in Hot Springs, planned for october. Each day is built around a small number of stops, with room to rest.
Who is this plan for?
It was planned for most travelers. The pace and the places reflect that, so check it fits how you travel.
Is anything on this plan booked?
No. Places marked "book ahead" need a reservation. Hours, prices and availability change, so confirm before you go.
Can I plan my own days like this?
Yes. Archie drafts a day by day plan for your dates and takes your pace, the weather and who is travelling into account. You can start one from the Archie app.
Can I change this plan?
Yes. It is a starting point you can change to fit your own trip: swap a place, add a day or move the pace.
How much walking is there?
On foot, about 1.1 to 1.6 miles a day, and 297.3 miles by car in all across 6 days. Distances are straight-line estimates, so allow extra for the streets.
4 days of museums, memorials and Route 66 in OklahomaAbout 200 miles away
4 days from Faulkner's Oxford to the Delta and NatchezAbout 230 miles away
4 days of jazz and a night out in two Missouri citiesAbout 240 miles away
.jpg){kind=link}
