During High Gasoline Prices Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas Is a One-tank Getaway for Great Portion of Middle America
DATE: August 27, 2026
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Arkansas — With gasoline prices flirting with historical highs and the subsequent disruption of many airline operations, Mid-America summertime travelers are within a single tank of gas from one of the country’s great tourism bargains.
“We are aware that the price of gasoline is affecting all Americans in a significant way, and that fuel costs are causing airlines to curtail flights and increase ticket prices,” said Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison. “With that in mind, we remind folks planning their summertime getaways that Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, is a mere one tank of gas away from a whole swath of Mid-America.”
“We’re an easy one-tank drive from Memphis, Dallas, Tulsa, Shreveport, Vicksburg, Springfield, all of western Tennessee, northern Louisiana, East Texas, eastern Oklahoma and southern Missouri,” Arrison said. “And once you’re here the pressure on your wallet continues to relax.”
Hot Springs National Park is free and open to the public, he said. In addition to the fascinating thermal springs and the historic bathhouses (most of which have been converted into private tourism attractions), the park offers miles of easy-to-travel shady hiking trails and beautiful vistas of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains.
“Our nationally acclaimed Northwoods Trail System, just last month voted the best in Arkansas, offers almost 40 miles of mountain biking and hiking adventures — again, all free,” Arrison said. “Then there are our three blue-water lakes with hundreds of miles of shoreline accessible for swimming, boating and fishing — again, all free.
“Our nationally recognized Historical Baseball Trail leads fans on a self-guided tour of the dozens of sites in Hot Springs where immortals like Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson and more than a hundred other legends played and trained when Hot Springs was The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training — once more, free. Our magnificent Majestic Park baseball complex, where Ruth, Wagner, Aaron and others played, is the home of one of the world’s three bronze statues of The Babe. Free.”
Arrison said Hot Springs is crammed with other affordable getaway attractions such as Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, Magic Springs Theme and Water Park, world-class golfing, a Gangster Museum that traces the days when Hot Springs was a favorite hangout for Al Capone, Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano and others.
Garvan Woodland Gardens, located on the shore of Lake Hamilton, is a wonderland of woodland beauty, nationally recognized for its annual Tulip Extravaganza, its holiday lighting display, an architecturally acclaimed kids treehouse and a perfect place to explore Southern woodland plants of every variety.
“Our downtown arts community is open for those looking for an affordable treasure or just looking to browse the galleries,” he said. “Every Thursday evening in June we have the free Bridge Street LIVE music concerts, and June also brings the World Championship Running of the Tubs bathtub race extravaganza.”
“If your one-tank getaway brings you to town August 7 – 8, you’ll be able to enjoy visiting with six baseball legends, including three Hall of Famers, who will will be in town for the Ninth Annual Hot Springs Baseball Weekend that celebrates the Spa City’s history as The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training,” Arrison said. “We’re bringing in Hall of Fame members Goose Gossage, Fred McGriff and Jack Morris. They’ll be joined by Dale Murphy, Bill ‘Spaceman’ Lee and Al Hrabosky. The annual celebration includes talks by the legends, interaction with fans, a huge baseball card show and other activities. It’s all free and open to the public.”
If great food is on your menu, Hot Springs’ 200 dining spots include everything from fine Continental cuisine to world-renowned McClard’s Barbecue to nationally famous Deluca’s Pizza and everything in between.
“Our dining has made the Spa City famous as the dining capital of Arkansas,” Arrison said. “And there’s something tasty for every budget.”
“So gas up and come to Hot Springs,” he said. “We’re here, near and quite clear in our welcome for your one-tank getaway.”
For more information contact Steve Arrison, 501-321-2027.