The South’s Most Underrated Fall Getaway Is Surging In Popularity

Not every destination hits home in summer the same way it does in the fall.

Some of the South is so humid and sticky outside, you try exploring charming downtown streets for 10 minutes and feel like you’ve been in a sauna for hours.

But as we turn the page to a new season with cooler temps and vibrant tree lines, those very destinations become so much more enticing.

While crisp mountain air, soulful PSLs and delightful pumpkin patches may be some travelers’ ideal getaway, the South’s most underrated autumn adventure has all that and so much more.

Oddly enough, the name of the city is fitting too…

With lush nature, lively festivals, and quintessential Southern charm anchored by a historic row of bathhouses to warm up from the nippy breeze, Arkansas’s surging city of Hot Springs should top your fall wishlist.

Pack Your Flannel! It’s Time To Visit Arkansas’s Only National Park

Living up to the name, Hot Springs National Park, settled on the outskirts of the city of Hot Springs, is a fall must-visit.

Though the National Park Services (NPS) manages a total of 7 parks within Arkansas, ‘Hot Springs’ is the only park with the official designation and it’s a real beaut over the next few months — plus, it’s the only national park with a brewery!

For outdoor enthusiasts, there are over a marathon of trails to explore stunning postcard nature throughout the park, and the extensive Northwoods Trail System for more adventurous mountain bikers.

But let’s be real — it’s alright to enjoy the window views riding shotgun.

Hot Springs National Park makes for an awesome road trip destination, given its sprawling stretches of kaleidoscopic fall foliage.

Peak foliage spotting runs from late October to mid-November, so there’s plenty of time to plan ahead.

One thing you certainly shouldn’t miss is the park’s unique Mountain Tower ($13 admission) for the best possible views. Take the elevator up over 200 feet high for panoramic views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountain canopy showcasing a range of fall colors.

This is the park’s prime real estate for leaf peepers.

If you plan to stay a while, the park has one campground (Gulpha Gorge Campground) prepped with modern hook-ups. However, the best place to level up is the top-rated Hotel Hale.

Best of all, Hot Springs National Park is one of the few major national parks that does not charge an entry fee (camping fees do apply, however). Save it for a morning PSL or the city and park’s most unique attractions: bathhouses.

Visit Historic Bathhouse Row

I’ve had the fortune of visiting numerous spas and bathhouses across Europe, as well as an unexpected delight in Mexico just yesterday.

You may not have heard of Aguascalientes, Mexico, but if your Rosetta Stone lessons have paid off, you might have a great guess of this city’s claim to fame.

Like Hot Springs, they offer historic bathhouses. I can only speak to experience there, but it seems to match up with recent rave reviews of Hot Springs’ historic Bathhouse Row, a sacred site dating back to Native American communities who believed in the thermal waters’ healing powers.

While my back and knees are still creakin’ afterwards, the 90-minute digital detox in the warm mineral waters had me feeling super refreshed and way lighter than I did when I walked in, and this experience reflects my aforementioned bathhouse trips across Europe as well — except for the one guy in Istanbul who decided to strip down with me before massaging me…

No need to worry about that in Hot Springs, though. They’ve nailed down this centuries-old concept, with client satisfaction a key driver to sticking around this long.

Along Bathhouse Row, which is technically within the National Park grounds, you’ll find Buckstaff Bathhouse and Quapaw Baths & Spa — both standing the test of time and offering similar services across the board, such as massages, facials, and thermal soaking.

This duo has long been Hot Springs’ top attraction, and the main reason the city welcomed 9.3 million tourists a year, which sounds like a lot until you realize that back in World War I, it’s said one million baths alone were taken in a single year.

That’s how long this region has been a literal hotspot. In fact, infamous gangster Al Capone was once a patron.

Hot Springs’ Fall Festivals

Hot Springs may sound like the South’s relaxing getaway, and there’s definitely an argument for that.

However, Hot Springs knows how to liven up too. Their event calendar is packed to the gills this fall, and trickling into winter too.

Check out the following festivals to time your trip just right:

• Spa-Con (where wellness meets pop culture) – Sep. 19 – 21
• Big Steam Blues & Roots Music Festival – Sep. 26 & 27
• Hispanic Heritage Festival – Oct. 5
• Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival – Oct. 10 – 18
• Piccolo Zoppé Winter Circus (a tradition dating back to the 1800s!) – Nov. 26 – 30

Sam Sears

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.