• Meet Kim
  • Work With My Traveling Roads
  • Privacy Policy/Disclosure
  • Contact Information

My Traveling Roads

Travel, Road Trips, Adventures

  • Home
  • Destinations
    • Alabama
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Florida
    • Kansas
    • Maine
    • Montana
    • New Mexico
    • Oklahoma
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Wisconsin
    • USA Travel
    • Texas Travel
  • Camping & Hiking
  • Explore Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Foodie Travel
    • Multigen Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Pets (Travel)
    • Road Trips
    • Family Adventures
    • Auto Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel Tips

My Solo Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas

December 24, 2022 Kim 9 Comments

My Solo Adventure Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas

My Solo Trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas – the natural state – was an adventure!

Updated 2022. Not only did I take a road trip to central Arkansas by myself, but I also stayed in an Airbnb for the first time. Read along to learn what I did on my solo trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, and what I thought of my first experience staying in someone’s home. The adventure was real, and I can’t wait to do it again – solo! This might be one of the best road trips I’ve taken this year.

This trip isn’t my first solo trip but my second. My first was on my 40th birthday when I took a trip to Hawaii. I worked for Delta Air Lines years ago when flying non-rev was easy (before 911), and I flew everywhere. Yep, I went to Hawaii all by myself.

Related: What To Expect On Your First Airbnb Experience

 

Horse Riding at Lake De Gray, Arkansas

My Solo Trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas

I had time alone while my son was off to church camp. I looked around and checked out places that weren’t too far for me to drive to, and I discovered Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was a little over 5 hours from home, and I hadn’t been to Hot Springs very long. Visiting natural hot springs would be great.

I chose to stay in an Airbnb rental. I love staying at Marriott and Hilton for points, but I planned to stay three nights, and three nights in one of these hotels were out of my price range for this trip. It was a last-minute trip idea for me, and this mountain home in Hot Springs Village for three nights totaled $152. You can’t beat the price. I had a nice room, private bathroom, modern amenities, and great hospitality, and the mountain view of the Ouachita Mountains from the back balcony of this home was spectacular. Plus, breakfast was ready for me each morning. This was my first experience staying with Airbnb, and I think it was perfect!

Hot Springs, Arkansas

The town of Hot Springs has much to offer its visitors, such as its historic buildings and historic bathhouse row, and at 5,550 acres, Hot Springs National Park is the smallest national park in the United States worth a visit. Stop by the visitor center for more information about the hot springs area.

Quachita National Forest

First, if you’ve never been to the Ouachita National Forest, it’s one of the most scenic drives I’ve ever taken. Not knowing the area well and precisely where the Airbnb home was, I arrived knowing one thing: GET OUTDOORS & ENJOY NATURE. From zip lining to nature walks through a gorgeous garden, experiencing a bathhouse for the first time, enjoying the downtown area, and then topping off my solo adventure trip on horseback wellness, self-care, and adventure all rolled up in one.

Ziplining In Hot Springs, Arkansas

The first outdoor activity I found to do was zip lining. Not only did I zip line, but I also zipped 10 lines!! AND…I was the only zipper there. Nothing too scary, just fun enough with two guides, nature, and the ground below me! Check out AdventureWorks in Hot Springs.

Anthony Chapel in Garvan Woodland Gardens

Gorgeous Anthony Chapel In Hot Springs

The Anthony Chapel is a favorite venue for weddings and is the first thing you see before entering the Garvan Woodland Gardens. It’s free to walk in and around the chapel. This chapel with somewhat of the same structure as the famous chapel in Eureka Springs. It may be by the same architect. To go further into the gardens, there is an admissions fee.

Garvan Woodland Gardens Hot Springs, AR

I walked around the most beautiful place in Hot Springs. I paid $15, but the new adult price is now $20. The natural beauty of the gardens was the best. I even witnessed a beautiful peacock walking right toward me, then right past me. I wasn’t sure if it would charge at me or walk on by me. Luckily, it passed on. I did get that on video (see below).

Be prepared to spend an entire day here. It’s that gorgeous and so relaxing walking around. Take your time.

Fairy Garden Village At Garvan Woodland Gardens

I love these tiny fairy houses and want to make one. Aren’t they cute?

https://mytravelingroads.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IMG_2254.mp4

My Peacock Encounter

My solo adventure trip to Hot Springs just went up a notch. See how close this peacock came to me in this video. Eck!

Children’s Adventure Garden at Garvan Woodland Gardens

This treehouse! So extraordinary and so worth the trip to see it.

If you’re ever in the area, Garvan Woodland Gardens is worth a visit.

Bathhouses In Hot Springs

Guests who also stayed at the same Airbnb as I referred me to the Buckstaff Bathhouse. I think it’s the oldest one there. They enjoyed their visit, so I thought I would too. Though I did, it was not the highlight of my visit to Hot Springs. I got there early and waited in line for over 25 mins. The hot water in the tub was good, but the air conditioning wasn’t working because it was stuffy. Not sure why people go crazy over the bathhouses. I didn’t find it to be a big deal. If I return, I’ll look for a more luxurious bathhouse that perhaps fancies my taste better. But that’s just my opinion. It is, however, a perfect place to go for your first visit to a bathhouse. Otherwise, you might want to explore the other bathhouses before selecting. I did feel good the next day.

Related: Mother-Daughter Road Trip To Broken Bow

 

My Solo Adventure Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas

Horseback Riding At De Gray Lake Resort State Park, Arkansas

When I left Hot Springs, I took another route towards DeGray Lake, which I’ve heard only great things about. I had picked up a brochure about guided trail rides there, and since I love to ride horses, I wanted to ride on this trip. So, I made a last-minute reservation and drove about three hours south. The time was right as I was the only person who signed up to ride, so my guide and I were off, and I got the whole spill like a private lesson. We saw a couple of doe with their fawns mingling in the trees. It was a lovely ride.

DeGray Lake is a place I’d go back to with my son. So much to do there, including fishing, camping, swimming, hiking, and biking, and we would go horseback riding too—lots of outdoor adventures in one place.

What an adventure I had: Ziplining, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Bathhouse, wine, shopping, eating great food, hiking trails, driving down some beautiful paths, and horse riding – this is my way of taking care of myself! One of the best things in life is taking care of yourself.

Catherine State Park

That’s it, my trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, will be solo ….again!! Next time I go, I’ll be sure to visit Lake Catherine State Park, Lake Ouachita, and Lake Hamilton, as I hear these are some of the best places to go with spectacular views.

My Solo Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas

You May Also Like

Arkansas, Destinations, Solo Travel

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

A New Adventure Delivered Monthly - Get Started At TheNomadik.com

About Kim

Travel writer and road trip enthusiast of My Traveling Roads, Kim Croisant, is a proud native Texan passionate about seeing the world by car, plane, train, RV -- any way she can. Her travels include many road trips in Texas and beyond. Kim is raising her grandson and takes him and her Yorkie/Shih Tzu mix doggies on as many trips as possible. When she's feeling the love, she lets her darling 83-year-old mother come along as well. But her favorite way to travel is solo. When Kim's not writing, she is hiking through nature and camping in the woods in a cabin full of amenities.

Comments

  1. Karolina says

    March 26, 2022 at 10:26 pm

    I’ve been thinking of doing my first solo trip to Hot Springs and found your blog! It’s giving me courage and inspiration! Thanks so much for the great tips 🙂

    Reply
    • Kim says

      July 2, 2022 at 9:32 am

      So glad you found me. I had so much fun. Traveling alone does have its perks. Have fun on your trip!

      Reply
  2. Aparna Verma says

    September 6, 2019 at 5:31 am

    This was a great post to read, I am reading this blog for the first time and liked it so much. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog post. Cheers!!!

    Reply
    • Kim says

      September 6, 2019 at 9:12 am

      You’re welcome…and thanks for stopping by. Enjoy Fall!!

      Reply
  3. Jo says

    September 4, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    Hello! Can you please post a link to the Air BnB you stayed in??

    Reply
    • Kim says

      September 5, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Of course, let me do that. It’s also right here https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/33931314

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 10+ Kid-friendly Trips To Take In 2022 - My Traveling Roads says:
    October 22, 2021 at 2:46 pm

    […] Hot Springs, Arkansas, has some fantastic places to dine, play, zip line, and beautiful gardens galore. I took a solo trip to Hot Springs a couple of years ago and had the time of my life …all by myself, lonesome! […]

    Reply
  2. Solo Road Trip to Jefferson Texas | Texas Travel | My Traveling Roads says:
    January 10, 2021 at 1:08 pm

    […] Related >>>> My Solo Adventure Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas(Opens in a new browser tab) […]

    Reply
  3. Get $55 Off On Your First Airbnb Adventure | Travel says:
    September 8, 2019 at 2:30 pm

    […] of a great host during my first Airbnb experience, made my solo adventure trip even more memorial and special. So, I stayed three nights in Hot Springs Villiage, AR and my total […]

    Reply

What's on your mind today? Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


Traveling is my passion and I love adventure and a good road trip! You’ll find many traveling adventures I’ve taken all over the US and now Quebec, CA. Get out in nature when you can! Travel safe! More about My Traveling Roads

Subscribe to My Traveling Roads

All About Texas Travel

Keep Nature Wild

Most Popular Posts

  • Bob Ross Free Activity Printables
    Bob Ross Free Activity Printables
  • Gulf Shores Alabama Outdoors: Things To Do Besides The Beach
    Gulf Shores Alabama Outdoors: Things To Do Besides The Beach
  • Tips for Pet Owners Who Travel for Work  
    Tips for Pet Owners Who Travel for Work  
  • 2015 Chevrolet Silverado High Country 4WD
    2015 Chevrolet Silverado High Country 4WD
  • My Solo Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas
    My Solo Trip to Hot Springs Arkansas
  • Things To Do At Grandscape Texas
    Things To Do At Grandscape Texas

Expert Contributor

· © Copyright 2016-Current My Traveling Roads · All Rights Reserved · My Privacy Policy ·