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Hot Springs National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
Fees and passes
No entrance fee; ranger-led tours and the junior ranger programme are free too.
Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Camping and permits differ by area; reservable sites and permits are booked on Recreation.gov. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (1)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulpha Gorge Campground | 44 | Campground | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Fair · 58 | 52°F | 32°F | 3.8 in | 0.6 in | 10 h 03 m |
| February | Good · 67 | 56°F | 35°F | 4.6 in | 0.4 in | 10 h 52 m |
| March | Great · 80 | 65°F | 42°F | 5.5 in | 0.1 in | 11 h 51 m |
| April | Good · 77 | 74°F | 51°F | 5.9 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 59 m |
| May | Good · 72 | 80°F | 60°F | 6.5 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 55 m |
| June | Good · 64 | 88°F | 68°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 25 m |
| July | Fair · 43 | 93°F | 72°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in | 14 h 13 m |
| August | Fair · 51 | 93°F | 71°F | 3.6 in | 0.0 in | 13 h 24 m |
| September | Good · 74 | 86°F | 64°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in | 12 h 19 m |
| October | Great · 83 | 75°F | 52°F | 5.1 in | 0.0 in | 11 h 13 m |
| November | Great · 84 | 62°F | 42°F | 4.9 in | 0.0 in | 10 h 16 m |
| December | Fair · 54 | 53°F | 35°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in | 9 h 49 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Hot Springs 1 NNE, AR weather station (626 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Hot Springs National Park?
No entry reservation is mentioned on the park's fees page.
How much does it cost to enter Hot Springs?
No entrance fee; ranger-led tours and the junior ranger programme are free too. Non-US residents can buy the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass ($250).
When is the weather mildest at Hot Springs?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in March to May, October to November. July is warmest (about 93°F) and January has the coldest nights (about 32°F).
Sources: Hot Springs fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
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