Hot Springs National Park

This is the furthest park Knoxville Nature Lovers travel to. There is some great camping and the hot springs are an awesome fall experience! Spring and fall bring perfect temperatures to enjoy the hot springs. Additionally, there are lots of beautiful blooming plans in the spring! Animals tend to be on the smaller side, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t exciting to see! Many KNL participants saw their first armadillo in the Hot Springs park. We also love to birds that abound here. This is usually a week long trip for KNL, and we would love to have you join us. Check out some great info below and get signed up for a trip with us!

Hot Springs National Park Overview

Location: Arkansas

Established: March 4, 1921

Size: 5,550 acres

Annual visitors: 1.5 million

Entrance fee: Free

Distance from Knoxville: 578 miles

Check out this article on 16 Spectacular Things to Do in Hot Springs Arkansas

Plants

Outside of the Bathhouse Row National Historic Landmark District, the park is primarily forested hills and valleys. The oak-hickory-pine forest type includes many other tree and shrub species. Wildflowers and blooming trees are especially beautiful in spring, while autumn brings many bright colors of leaves. Spring and fall trips tend to show off the best flowers, or tree foliage. Additionally, avoiding the summer months means avoiding the hottest days of the year. Enjoying the hot springs are perfect for those cooler fall nights and low 70s spring weather.

Animals 

Wildlife in the park includes rodents, bats, and other small mammals. Because of the region’s mild climate, bird species are varied and plentiful. Additionally, aquatic resources are limited to portions of several small creeks and are void of significant game fish. We have traveled to Arkansas a few times and loved the wildlife! See some of our photos and submit your own photos on our Previous Trips Page!