What the list said
The magazine's Arkansas entry focused on outdoor recreation and culture. It named Hot Springs National Park for its thermal waters, along with the Ozark National Forest, mountain biking in the Ouachita Mountains, the OZ Trails Bike Park in Bella Vista, the Delta Heritage Trail, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Compton hotel in Bentonville.
Other picks on the same list included Barbados, Prince Edward Island and Route 66, as KNWA reported.
Notes for Hot Springs hosts
- Readers of travel coverage pick a destination first and a place to stay second. Say plainly in your listing how far you are from Bathhouse Row and the national park, in minutes by car or on foot.
- The Ouachitas got a mention for mountain biking. If your place has secure bike storage or is near trailheads, put that in the listing and the photos.
- More visitor interest does not change local licensing. New residential-zone STR licenses in Hot Springs are capped and currently unavailable, so check zoning before buying a property to rent.
Update, September 2026: a study by upholstery supplier Top Fabric, covered by Travel + Leisure and Islands, ranked Hot Springs first among 56 small U.S. cities for new hotel potential, a score built from visitor counts, lodging and attraction supply, hotel searches and room rates.
Questions about short-term rentals in Hot Springs?
Call or text 501.365.1001, or send a note and we will get back to you.