Foliage map › Destinations › Arkansas › Hot Springs
Hot Springs, Arkansas fall foliage
In a typical year, fall color in the Hot Springs area peaks around November 3, with the best viewing from roughly November 2 to November 10.
- Typical peak
- November 3
- Best viewing
- Nov 2 – Nov 10
- Color starts
- Around Oct 22
- Leaves mostly down
- Around Nov 16
- Elevation
- 600 ft
2026 foliage season
Typical season
Peak around November 3. Turn on JavaScript to see today’s estimated status and the five-week outlook.
The season at a glance
Bar height shows how good the viewing typically is on each day, from September 1 through November 30. Colors show the stage, from green through peak red to bare.
Open Hot Springs on the foliage mapWhere to see the color around Hot Springs
Hot Springs sits in the Ouachita Mountains, and Hot Springs National Park surrounds the town. The Grand Promenade runs behind Bathhouse Row on the side of Hot Springs Mountain, and park roads climb Hot Springs and West mountains to overlooks over the town and the hills. The Sunset Trail follows the ridges through the park’s forests.
Scenic drive
Arkansas Scenic Byway 7 runs north from Hot Springs through the Ouachita National Forest, crossing ridges and valleys, and continues on toward the Ozarks and the Buffalo National River. West of town, Lake Ouachita spreads through the wooded hills.
If you arrive too early or too late
Too early? Still mostly green
Head higher or farther north
Mount Magazine, AR (57 miles away, higher up) typically peaks about 10 days earlier, and Buffalo National River, AR (106 miles away, farther north) typically peaks about 5 days earlier.
Too late? Already past peak
Nothing nearby turns later
None of the destinations we track within 150 miles of Hot Springs typically peaks much later.
Nearby destinations
- Petit Jean State Park, ARTypical peak Nov 1, 3 days earlier. 43 miles away.
- Mount Magazine, ARTypical peak Oct 24, 10 days earlier. 57 miles away.
- Buffalo National River, ARTypical peak Oct 30, 5 days earlier. 106 miles away.
- Eureka Springs, ARTypical peak Oct 28, 6 days earlier. 137 miles away.
- Branson, MOTypical peak Oct 31, 3 days earlier. 148 miles away.
Trees you’ll see turning
Common questions
When is peak fall foliage in Hot Springs?
In a typical year, fall color in the Hot Springs area peaks around November 3, with the best viewing from roughly November 2 to November 10. Weather can shift the timing by about a week either way.
How long does peak color last in Hot Springs?
Near-peak color usually holds for about 9 days. Color starts to show around October 22, and most leaves are down by about November 16.
Is Hot Springs early or late compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Hot Springs typically peaks about 5 days later than the Arkansas average of Oct 30. It ranks 5 of 5 Arkansas destinations from earliest to latest.
What trees color up around Hot Springs?
The main fall color in this area comes from shagbark hickory, northern red oak, sassafras, and black gum. See the leaf guide to identify them.
Estimates come from the Leaves.com model of typical years, based on latitude, elevation, and distance from large bodies of water. They are not live observations. How it works.