How to choose a downtown Hot Springs stay

Staying downtown means you can walk to Bathhouse Row, Central Avenue and the national park trails. Here is what to check before you book.

Why stay downtown

Bathhouse Row runs along Central Avenue: eight historic bathhouse buildings built between 1892 and 1923, inside Hot Springs National Park. Two still offer baths in the thermal water, the Buckstaff (traditional baths, ages 10 and up) and Quapaw Baths and Spa (thermal pools, ages 14 and up).

The Grand Promenade behind Bathhouse Row is the starting point for many of the park's Hot Springs Mountain and North Mountain trails, so you can hike without driving.

What to check in the listing

Parking. Ask exactly where you park and whether it costs extra. Older downtown buildings may not have dedicated spaces.
Stairs. Many downtown rentals are upstairs units in historic commercial buildings. Ask about elevators if anyone in your group has trouble with stairs.
Street noise. Central Avenue can be lively on weekend nights. A unit facing a side street or the back may be quieter.
Licensing. Downtown's central business district (CBD) is one of the zones exempt from the city's residential STR cap, but every rental under 30 nights still needs a city license.
Walking distance. Map the actual address. Downtown is hilly, and a few blocks uphill feel longer than they look.

Questions to ask the host

What is the city STR license number?
Where do I park, and is it included?
Which floor is the unit on, and is there an elevator?
Which way do the bedrooms face?
Is the local manager reachable at night?

Compare the total price, not the nightly rate. Cleaning fees, pet fees and taxes add up. In the city of Hot Springs, stays under 30 nights carry about 14.5% in state, county and city taxes, which Airbnb and Vrbo collect at checkout.

Stays we have checked

We only feature downtown stays here after we have confirmed the listing is real, active, and (inside city limits) licensed with the City of Hot Springs. We do not rank properties or accept payment for placement.

Verified stays

We only feature real, bookable downtown stays that we have confirmed with the host. None are listed yet. If you run one in Hot Springs and want it considered, email us or call 501.365.1001.

Common questions

Why is there no top 10 list here?

Our old list described properties we could not verify, so we removed it. We now feature only listings we have checked are real and licensed, and we do not rank them.

How much are taxes on a Hot Springs rental?

Inside city limits, stays under 30 nights carry about 14.5% in state, county and city taxes. Airbnb and Vrbo collect them at checkout.

Can I take a thermal bath while staying downtown?

Yes. The Buckstaff Bathhouse and Quapaw Baths and Spa on Bathhouse Row both offer baths in the park's thermal water. The park also has free jug fountains where you can fill bottles with spring water.

Ask us about a stay

Send us your question about staying or hosting in Hot Springs and we will point you to the right local resource.

Sources

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.

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