Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour
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About This Tour in Hot Springs
Why Visit Hot Springs?
Hot Springs, USA offers a wealth of attractions, cultural experiences, and activities for visitors. From historic landmarks to modern attractions, Hot Springs provides an unforgettable travel experience with something to discover around every corner. Explore local cuisine, discover unique culture, and create lasting memories in this remarkable destination.
Getting to Hot Springs
You can reach Hot Springs, USA by air, train, or road depending on your starting location. From the airport, you can take a taxi, rideshare service (Uber, Lyft), or public transportation to reach the city center. Many hotels also offer shuttle services, and rental cars are widely available for exploring the area.
What's Included
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Cancellation Policy
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car.
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour.
- Please note that Hot Springs National Park requires an entrance pass, which grants access to all areas. This pass is not included with the tour.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
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Customer Reviews
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Meeting and Pickup
Meeting Point
We’re now approaching Hot Springs Mountain Tower, one of the absolute must-see attractions inStart the tour outside the Hot Springs Visitor Center, located on your right. The audio tour begins automatically as you pass the starting point. This is a self-guided tour, and no one will meet you in person. You can join anywhere along the route. Check your email/text for the "audio tour".
End Point
End Point: GW6W+PP, Hot Springs, AR, USA
Pickup Information
Pickup Option: All travelers must meet at start point
Itinerary
Tour Itinerary
We’re now approaching Hot Springs Mountain Tower, one...
We’re now approaching Hot Springs Mountain Tower, one of the absolute must-see attractions in this park. The observation tower reaches an elevation of 1,256 feet above sea level. From the open-air deck, you can see about 140 square miles of the Ouachita Mountains. Note: The tour is over 10+ miles long, with more than 40+ audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours per tour to complete. Experience the natural beauty of Hot Springs with this self-guided driving and walking tour. For the best experience, bring headphones/earbuds for your walking tour. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
As we continue along North Mountain Drive, take... 10 minutes
As we continue along North Mountain Drive, take a second to observe the flora around us. What plants do you notice? Hot Springs National Park is home to a huge variety of unique plants… including some that can thrive near very hot water! If you visit one of the springs, you’ll likely notice a spongy gray material near the spring opening.
The Gulpha Gorge Trail
The Gulpha Gorge Trail. From here, you can take a moderate 1.5-mile roundtrip hike to Gulpha Gorge, where a creek tumbles beautifully down a series of low falls. Although you’ll hike downhill to the gorge, you’ll gain several hundred feet of elevation on your way back. Expect to spend at least an hour on this trail.
In just a moment we’ll reach the trailhead for the Goat Rock Trail
In just a moment we’ll reach the trailhead for the Goat Rock Trail. This hike is a moderate two miles and will take about one and a half hours to complete, and leads to the phenomenal Goat Rock Viewpoint, which offers absolutely stunning views of nearby Indian Mountain. In the spring, you’ll also be treated to a spectacular display of wildflowers!
Coming up on our right is Happy Hollow Fountain
Coming up on our right is Happy Hollow Fountain. In the 1920s, this was the location of Happy Hollow Springs, one of the craziest, most festive spots in town. If you’d like, you can take a drink from Happy Hollow Fountain! Unlike Noble Fountain, this water comes out at a nice, cool temperature.
We’re approaching the West Mountain Lower Overlook, where...
We’re approaching the West Mountain Lower Overlook, where we can catch beautiful views of downtown Hot Springs. I definitely recommend stopping here to take in the views. It’s the second to last overlook of our journey. To visit the overlook, park in the turnout coming up on our right.
Today this is a gift shop
Today this is a gift shop. But back in the day, it was the Lamar Bathhouse. And unlike all the other bathhouses up and down this avenue, THIS one had special, extra-long tubs -- perfect for anyone over six feet!
This is one of the best-maintained bathhouses in the park
This is one of the best-maintained bathhouses in the park. In fact, it’s one of only two bathhouses where you can still bathe! To hear more, tap Learn More. But before you settle on a soak, you might still be wondering: Do these waters really cure diseases? Is there something magical about them?
The Fordyce Bathhouse gets its name from Ohio-born...
The Fordyce Bathhouse gets its name from Ohio-born businessman Samuel Wesley Fordyce. Fordyce fought for the Union in the Civil War. He contracted malaria during his service and it continued to ruin his health for years afterward. Finally, in 1873, he’d had enough. He came here to benefit from the healing powers of these hot springs.
This green-accented bathhouse is the Maurice, which opened for business in 1912
This green-accented bathhouse is the Maurice, which opened for business in 1912. With a roof garden, therapeutic pool, and modern elevators, this was the most state-of-the-art facility around.
Today, it’s home to the only brewery located...
Today, it’s home to the only brewery located inside a national park and the only brewery in the entire world to use thermal spring water in their beer! For details on the brewery, click on Learn More.
Before Hot Springs’ golden age, this was a pretty nondescript service road
Before Hot Springs’ golden age, this was a pretty nondescript service road. Turning it into a fancy Promenade was an attempt to connect the extravagant bathhouses with the wooded slopes of this mountain.
Another prominent feature of the park in the early 20th century was celebrities
Another prominent feature of the park in the early 20th century was celebrities. That’s right: This little city in Arkansas was a great place to spot some stars. Especially baseball stars!
This is the first hospital in the entire...
This is the first hospital in the entire country to treat both Army and Navy patients. The idea for the hospital started with Senator John Logan, who visited Hot Springs in 1882. He imagined a medical facility where veterans from multiple military branches could all receive effective, affordable treatment. And he believed that Hot Springs would be the ideal location.
When you reach the end of the Grand...
When you reach the end of the Grand Promenade at Reserve Street, look for the small courtyard with the fountain. Walk over to the fountain and pause. This is Noble Fountain, which is fed by a thermal spring. If you’d like, you can actually take a drink from this fountain!
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How do I book this tour?
Click the "Book Now" button on this page to complete your reservation through Viator's secure booking platform. You'll receive instant confirmation via email.
Is this tour suitable for all ages?
Please check the age requirements and physical fitness level requirements listed in the tour details above. Some tours may have age restrictions or require a certain level of physical fitness.
