It's the time of the season when the crisp air blows and bright Autumn colors blanket Hot Springs National Park. Voted a Top 10 Best Fall Foliage Destination in the Nation by USA Today readers, it's no wonder Hot Springs is a prime location for soaking up all fall has to offer. Use our fall guide to find out when the leaves change, where to see the best colors, how to get your pumpkin spice cravings fulfilled, and so much more!
When to Expect Fall Colors?
When do the leaves change in Hot Springs? The most popular question of the season! Hot Springs was voted #3 Best Fall Foliage Destination in the US by USA Today Readers two year's in a row, making it a popular spot for fall leaf peeping. While colors are dependent on rain fall and temperatures, Hot Springs typically experiences peak fall color arriving in late October to early November. Visitors can expect around a month and a half of colors on display, with a peak time of around two weeks.
Save this blog and we'll update weekly throughout the fall season on Hot Springs' fall colors!
September 1 | Trees are still green in Hot Springs, but fall foliage is just around the corner.
October 1 | The treetops are showing the very first shades of fall! Full peak is still weeks away, but the season's quiet kickoff has begun.
Fall Events
Bridge St. LIVE! October Series | Every Thursday in October
Join us every Thursday in October for a FREE block party featuring live music, vendors, food trucks, and fun in the Bridge St. LIVE! Entertainment District. Click here to keep up with themes, and special attractions happening each week!
Birding Festival of the South | October 8 - 10
Join us in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas for the Birding Festival of the South, a celebration of the fall bird migration presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs! Passes are on sale now! Click here for yours.
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival | October 9 - 17
The oldest all-documentary festival in North America and one of the longest-running non-fiction festivals in the world. Find more information and purchase tickets here.
Güdrun Mountain Bike Festival | October 23 - 25
Grab your viking gear and get ready for Gudrun MTB Festival! Northwoods Trails and Visit Hot Springs presents the 3-day, all-ages, Mountain Bike Festival happening at the Northwoods Trails in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas.
Glow on the Row: Trick-or-Treating & Harvest Festival | October 31
Glow on the Row welcomes all ages to historic downtown Hot Springs on Halloween for trick-or-treating. Free!
Boo with a Badge | October 31
Get ready for Boo with a Badge this Halloween night in the Bridge St. LIVE! Entertainment District in Downtown Hot Springs! You can enjoy a haunted bus, food trucks, tons of candy, and get up close with police and fire vehicles—you might even spot other members of public safety!
Feast Month | All November Long
We are using the month of November to celebrate the surprisingly diverse culinary delights of the Spa City. Celebrate with us just by dining at Hot Springs' restaurants this month where many will offer Feast Month deals.
Spa Running Festival | November 15
The Spa Running Festival is an event for everyone - kids, walkers, beginners to elite runners and those that like a challenge!
Tom Daniel's Holiday Chili Cook Off & Holiday Lights Kick Off | November 23
Join us for the kick off of the holiday season with the Tom Daniel Annual Hot Springs Chili Cook Off in Downtown Hot Springs where Hot Springs businesses will compete to see who can cook up the best chili in town and we will flip the switch to turn on the downtown Christmas lights too!
Fall Stays
Connect with nature this fall season with a stay in the woods at Fox Pass Cabins, In the Trees, or Starlight Haven. Soak up views of fall foliage from your jacuzzi, all minutes from downtown and Hot Springs National Park.
Looking to camp? Hot Springs has plenty of options! Enjoy RV and tent campsites at Gulpha Gorge Campground, Catherine's Landing, or the Hot Springs KOA.
Where to Find the Best Fall Coffees
The autumn season wouldn't be complete without some fall in a cup! Check out these spots for a delicious cup of coffee with your favorite fall flavors - maple, cinnamon, and the star of the season, pumpkin spice.
Visit Induldge Sweet & Savory for a Maple Rosted Pecan Pumpkin Frappe, Kollective Coffee & Tea for a Pumpkin Spice Latte, Cafe Mi Amor for a Smores Mocha Latte, and Red Light Roastery for their Autumn Latte.
Fall Treats
Add a sweet fall treat to your list of eats while in Hot Springs! For a fresh caramel dipped apple, head to Kilwin's, a Pumpkin Roll from Ambrosia Bakery, S'mores Cupcakes from Fat Bottomed Girl's Cupcakes, Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream from Scoops Homemade Ice Cream, or Homemade Fall Sugar Cookies from Indulge Sweet & Savory.
Soul-Warming Soups for Autumn
There's a chill in the air which means it's soup and noodle season! Grab a hot bowl of pho, ramen, or curry at one of these delicious spots; The Pho House, Brina Thai & Pho Restaurant, Hokkaido Ramen House, AI Sushi & Grill, Gozen Japan House.
Fall Activities
Explore 210-acres of botanical gardens at Garvan Woodland Gardens, and don't miss Anthony Chapel and the three-story treehouse in the Children's Garden surrounded by fall foliage.
Catch fall colors from above at the Adventureworks Zipline & Ropes Course or Ron Coleman Mining's Zipline! Don't miss the Halloween themed moonlight Zip Tours at Adventureworks, available throughout October!
Travel 216-feet above Hot Springs National Park at the Hot Springs Mountain Tower for a birds-eye, panoramic view of breathtaking fall foliage.
Stroll historic downtown Hot Springs for a Haunted Tour! Follow your tour guide through the city to hear spooky stories on this hour long tour, highlighting the dark, morbid side of Hot Springs, both past and present.
Best Spots to See Fall Foliage
Hot Springs National Park offers ample views for leaf peeping! Take a scenic drive or hike up West Mountain (views of downtown Hot Springs), or North Mountain (views of the Ouachita Mountains) where you'll find several overlooks to park and soak up the view.
Take a short drive from downtown Hot Springs to the Northwoods Trails, where you'll find 31+ miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running and endless views of fall foliage.
Hike any of the trails inside Hot Springs National Park for beautiful fall foliage views, with Goat Rock Overlook and Balanced Rock Trail being two fall favorites. Also part of Hot Springs National Park, Whittington Park offers a gravel trail under a canopy of trees for the perfect fall stroll. Visit the Grand Promenade, a half mile brick walkway located behind Bathhouse Row, surrounded by fall colors each autumn.
Rent a bike or e-bike and set out on the Hot Springs Creek Greenway Trail, a 3.6 mile, paved out-and-back trail, that passes the Hot Springs Farmers Market, Majestic Park Baseball Complex, the Hot Springs Bark Park, the Art Moves Exhibit, and more. Visit Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Company, Greenway Outfitters, or Parkside Cycle for bike rentals.
Hot Springs, Voted Top 5 in the US Best Fall Foliage Destination for the 3 Years in a Row by USA Today Readers!
From fun fall events, to delicious fall flavors - Hot Springs has you covered for the ultimate fall getaway. Plan your fall getaway to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas today!
