# Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hot Springs in Arkansas. 147°F (64°C). Roadside. Garland County.

- Page: https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/hot-springs-garland-county
- Source: Soaking Springs, researched and maintained by Armen Suny
- Updated: 2026-09-14

## Can you soak at Hot Springs?

Not at the source. The water leaves the ground at 147°F, hot enough to burn skin. You can drive right up to it.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Source water temperature | 147°F (64°C) (USGS record; developed pools are often cooled) |
| pH | 7.0 (Neutral) |
| Total dissolved solids | 186 mg/L |
| Elevation | 620 ft |
| Access | Roadside, 17 ft from the nearest road |
| County | Garland County |
| Nearest town | Hot Springs National Park |
| Coordinates | 34.51300, -93.05300 |
| Best months to soak | January, December, February (largest gap between water and average air temperature) |
| Nearest campground | BRADY MOUNTAIN, 13.0 mi |

## Soaking safety

**Very Hot Source, Use Extreme Caution.** At 147°F, the source water at Hot Springs is hot enough to cause burns. Some hot springs this hot have cooler side pools or downstream areas suitable for soaking. Always test the water temperature before entering.

## About Hot Springs

The thermal water of Hot Springs, Arkansas, entered here as one roadside point a couple of miles from the town that shares the park's name, in Garland County. OpenStreetMap labels the spot a thermal water jug fountain. The water comes out scalding, well past the point where skin can take it. People fill containers with it. No landowner or access status is written into the record, and the chemistry is mild, near neutral with low dissolved solids.

Low ground, a few hundred feet up, in a humid part of the country where rain is plentiful and snow barely registers. The fountain stands seventeen feet off the road, close enough that walking hardly enters into it. The nearest camp shown is Brady Mountain, about thirteen miles away. Who owns the ground has not been recorded.

Bathhouse Row grew up around these waters. Wikipedia records that in 1832 the federal government took four parcels of land to protect 47 natural hot springs on the lower slopes of Hot Springs Mountain, noting that the mineral water lacks the sulphur smell most hot springs carry. The bathhouses standing today are the third and fourth generations built on the site.

Winter is the listed best stretch, December through February, when hot water in a cup makes the most sense. Step out of the car and you are there. The sample on file is from 1993 and shows a neutral pH. Treat the water as scalding until it has cooled in the jug. Brady Mountain is the camping option. Access status is not on file.

## Water chemistry

Lab sample from 1993-07-08 (Water Quality Portal).

| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| pH | 7 |
| Total dissolved solids | 186 mg/L |
| Calcium | 45 mg/L |
| Magnesium | 4.7 mg/L |
| Sodium | 4.2 mg/L |
| Sulfate | 7.3 mg/L |
| Chloride | 1.9 mg/L |
| Iron | 13 µg/L |

## Nearby

- Nearest city page: [Hot springs near Benton](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/near/arkansas/benton), 28 mi away
- State page: [Hot springs in Arkansas](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas)
- [Big Chalybeate Spring, AR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/big-chalybeate-spring): 79°F source, pH 7.2, TDS 196 mg/L, Roadside, near Hot Springs National Park, Garland County
- [Caddo Gap Springs, AR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/caddo-gap-springs): 95°F source, Roadside, near Glenwood, Pike County
- [Spring On Redland Mountain, AR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/spring-on-redland-mountain): 77°F source, Short Walk, near Glenwood, Pike County
- [Spring On Little Missouri River, AR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/spring-on-little-missouri-river): 74°F source, Short Walk, near Dierks, Howard County
- [Warm Springs, AR](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/arkansas/warm-springs-randolph-county): 82°F source, Roadside, near Pocahontas, Randolph County
- [Hot Wells (San Antonio, Texas), TX](https://www.soakingsprings.com/hot-springs/texas/hot-wells-san-antonio-texas): Roadside, near San Antonio, Bexar County

## Questions

**What is the water temperature at Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has a water temperature of 147°F (64°C). This is considered a hot spring, well above body temperature.

**Where is Hot Springs located?**
Hot Springs is located in Garland County, Arkansas at 620 feet elevation, near Hot Springs National Park. Coordinates: 34.5130°N, 93.0530°W.

**How do I get to Hot Springs?**
Hot Springs has Roadside road access (17 ft from the road).

**Can I camp near Hot Springs?**
Yes, Brady Mountain is located nearby (13.0 miles away).

**What minerals are in the water at Hot Springs?**
Water chemistry analysis shows the presence of pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Sulfate, Chloride, Iron. The pH is 7.0 (neutral). Total dissolved solids measure 186 mg/L.

**Is it safe to soak at Hot Springs?**
No, not at the source. The water at Hot Springs reaches 147°F, which can cause severe burns within seconds. Look for cooled side pools or downstream stretches, and test with a hand before anything else.

## Sources

- USGS thermal springs records, Water Quality Portal lab analyses, OpenStreetMap, Wikipedia/Wikidata, NOAA climate normals
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathhouse_Row