General Information - Lake Hamilton

Geography

Location:

Southeastern Garland County

Southeastern edge of the Ouachita Mountains

55 miles southwest of Little Rock

Area:

35.1 square miles of land area

0.1 square miles of water

Elevation: 

632 feet

Climate

Type:

Humid, subtropical climate – characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters

Weather:

Wet seasons in the spring and fall, relatively dry on summers and winters

Rainfall more pronounced during the spring, highest rainfall in May

Temperature:   

January – 50 | 31 °F

February – 55 | 35 °F

March – 64 | 42 °F

April – 73 | 50 °F

May – 80 | 60 °F

June – 88 | 67 °F

July – 93 | 71 °F

August – 93 | 70 °F

September – 86 | 63 °F

October – 74 | 51 °F

November – 62 | 42 °F

December – 52 | 33 °F

Hot Springs

City Information

Population:        38,367 (as of 2016)

Tourists:              over 6 million annually

City Taxes: 

8.875% City & State Sales Tax

3% City Lodging/Restaurant Tax

 2% State Lodging/Attractions Tax

Beverage Laws:

Drinks sold by the pack and by the drink, Monday-Saturday

Drinks sold only by the drink on Sundays

Legal drinking age is 21 for purchase and consumption

Emergency Information:

National Park Medical Center – +1 501-321-1000

CHI St. Vincent – Hot Springs – +1 501-622-1000

Levi Hospital – +1 500-264-5384

Advance Care Hospital – +1 501-609-4300

Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System – +1 501-520-6250

Hot Springs Police Department – +1 501-321-6789

Hot Springs Fire Department – +1 501-321-6971

In case of emergency, dial 911

Tourism

National Park:

To commission the services of National Park Rangers for guided tours, a permit is needed. A one-time fee of $200.00 per company is needed for professional tour operators, regardless of the number of motor coaches or visits and is effective for two years.

No permit is needed to enter the city.

Self-guided tours are free.

For inquiries, call the Visitors Center at +1 501-620-6715

Top Tourism Draws:
  • Romancing the stone
  • Pirate’s Cove
  • Magic Springs & Crystal Falls
  • Hot Springs Visitor Center (with info about former President Bill Clinton)
  • Grand Promenade
  • Mountain Tower
  • Mid-America Science Museum
  • Josephine Tussaud Wax Museum
  • Garvan Woodland Gardens
  • Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo
  • Tiny Town
  • National Park Duck Tours
  • National Park Aquarium
  • Hot Springs Mule Trolley
  • Central Country Music Theater
  • The Bath House Show
  • Mountain Valley Spring water Headquarters Tour
  • Belle of Hot Springs Riverboat
  • The Pocket Theatre
Major Shopping Areas:
  • Central Avenue in Downtown Hot Springs
  • Hot Springs Factory Outlets, Highway 7 South
  • Canyon Upstairs Mall, 201 Central Ave., 71901
  • Temperance Hill Square, 4332 Central Ave., 71913
  • Hot Springs Mall, 4501 Central Ave., 71913
Major Dining Areas:      
  • Downtown Hot Springs
Famous Landmarks & Historical Places:
  • Lake Catherine, Lake Ouachita, & Lake Hamilton
  • Ouachita National Forest
  • Hot Springs National Park
  • Bathhouse Row
  • Fordyce Bathhouse/Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center
  • Buckstaff Bathhouse
  • Lake Sylvia
  • Hot Springs Mountain