If you’re looking for unique places to stay in Hot Springs Arkansas, you’re in luck because this one-of-a-kind little city has PLENTY of unique hotels and vacation rentals, too.
Hot Springs is an exquisite city nestled in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas. It’s home to some of the most famous hot springs in the country, beautiful hiking trails, and amazing views. From its rich cultural past to slow-paced life to natural thermal baths, everything about the city is fascinating.
I was able to visit Hot Springs while on a road trip across the country, and I must say it surpassed all of my expectations! It was fascinating to learn about the history of the bath houses (which is a MUST). Walk down ‘bathhouse row’ and check out 100+ year old bathhouses, some of which have been repurposed and some are still in use.
There’s a reason Hot Springs boasts some of the most frequented tourist spots of Arkansas, including Buckstaff Baths, Quapaw Bathhouse, and Gangster Museum of America. The nature surrounding the city is simply breathtaking, too – we enjoyed exploring some of the beautiful wooded areas full of treehouses, hikes, and viewpoints.
But first, you need an amazing place to lay your head for all the adventures! Here are the top unique places to stay in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
In a rush? Here are our top 3 unique places to stay in Hot Springs.
Best Unique Place to Stay in Hot Springs Arkansas for Couples: Hotel Hale
Best Unique Place to Stay in Hot Springs Arkansas for Groups: Twisted Willow Lodge
Best Unique Place to Stay in Hot Springs Arkansas for Nature + Adventure: Fox Pass Cabins
Fox Pass Cabins: 9 Unique Hot Springs Cabins and Tipis in the Forest
Located inside Hot Springs National Park, Fox Pass Cabins is a vacation rental offering different types of quirky cabins to stay. Whether you want to spend a night in a tipi or a treetop cabin, you can experience the best of ‘Southern Comfort’ in Fox Pass Cabins with some truly unique places the stay in Hot Springs.
The place features nine different cabins, including Hillbilly Hiltin, Dock Holiday, Lakota Tipi, Magnesia Bathhouse Cabin, Ol’ Kemp Cabin, Covered Wagon, Redhawk RV Stopover, Runaway Train Treetop Cabin, The Cozy Moose Cabin, all of which offer unique amenities and spaces.
The Hillbilly Hiltin cabin features a trough bathtub and the Dock Holiday cabin features a natural setting walk-in shower with piped-in mineral water. The Dock Holiday cabin is available on VRBO, or you can take your pick on Booking. This is my top recommendation for Hot Springs unique stays – you’ll see why!
The two below are my favorites out of the 9 – check them out! You won’t be disappointed – they are unique and totally immersed in nature.
Hotel Hale: An Elegant and Historic Revival-Style Hotel with Hot Tubs + Balconies
Located in a landmark bathhouse, Hotel Hale is an iconic hotel offering luxurious accommodations with upscale amenities, including king-sized beds, complimentary breakfast, mini bars, flatscreen TVs, and wifi. Rooms feature glass-door balconies that overlook downtown Hot Springs, making it one of the best locations out of all the unique stays in Hot Springs.
This is definitely THE iconic downtown Hot Springs stay, if you want to experience it. Rooms also feature soaking hot tubs with geothermal waters channeled from the hot springs of the area. Many rooms feature wooded floors, brick facades, and other remnants of the repurposed historic building.
The hotel features a classic Revival-style exterior and modern American-style interior. It is within walking distance of Hot Springs National Park Visitor Center. Hotel Hale boasts a stylish restaurant featuring a living wall and skylight.
The Nest of Hot Springs: Luxurious + Romantic Glamping Cabin with Hot Tub
Located on stilts suspended over the valley floor in Hot Springs, ‘The Nest’ is by far one of the coolest places to stay in Hot Springs Arkansas, and would probably be my number one choice for couples.
The Nest is a deluxe glamping tent vacation rental featuring two well-appointed studio bedrooms, an en suite bathroom, kitchen, living room, and deck. Its patio boasts a small hot tub that echoes the natural hot springs of the city. It however doesn’t feel like a tent at all – it feels like a luxurious room surrounded by all the elements.
The deck also features an outdoor shower tucked away between the elevated pine trees. If you are looking for a unique honeymoon rental or a romantic ambiance in the forest, The Nest may be the perfect choice.
The Waters Hot Springs Unique Historic Hotel in Downtown Hot Springs
Located RIGHT in the city center inside Hot Springs National Park, The Waters is a 3-star boutique hotel featuring 62 well-appointed rooms in the most perfect location. Just outside the front door of the hotel is Bathhouse Row, which constitutes eight landmark bathhouse buildings.
What is unique about this Hot Springs hotel will stand out right away. Located inside the repurposed 1913 Thompson building, it is adorned with Corinthian columns at the front and maintains a lot of its original brick facades. It was designed by the same architect as the Arkansas capital, who is famous for his style.
This would be my top pick for a unique hotel in Hot Springs that is very interesting and boutique but doesn’t totally break the bank. The location can’t be beat and the rooftop is epic!
The building used to house doctors offices, and today you can still see traces of original doors and even room numbers. Each room has art from selected local artists from the area. Catch amazing views of the National park from the rooftop bar, too!
The hotel has a vintage interior and a relaxed ambiance. A wide range of hiking trails and lakes are accessible from the hotel. Whether you are looking for outdoor adventures or indoor comfort, you can find it all at The Waters.
In the Trees Resort: Unique Treehouses + Architecture Truly In the Trees
In the Trees Resort is very aptly named as all their cabins and treehouses have incredible construction that makes you feel outside even when inside. They have 15 unique cabins constructed almost like modern tiny homes with design that perfectly compliments the wilderness.
They mostly have 1-bedroom cabins for couples, but they offer a few larger cabins and as well, all build around a central hub which is not more than a few minutes from the town. These are a perfect choice for a unique stay in nature but accessible to everything else Hot Springs has to offer. I linked my favorite treehouses below and pictured The Beaver cabin above.
Lookout Point Lakeside Inn: Cute + Colorful Unique Place to Stay in Hot Springs on the Lake
Located on the waterfront of Lake Hamilton, Lookout Point Lakeside Inn is an award-winning boutique hotel featuring 16 deluxe guest rooms with private balconies that overlook the lake. The luxurious inn offers a wide range of amenities, including fireplaces, flatscreens, whirlpool tubs, and a different color theme in each room overlooking the Lake.
Lookout Point Lakeside Inn offers three types of accommodation, including studio rooms, suites, and apartments, all of which offer different amenities. The cozy hotel also features a ritzy eatery with a large dining room, waterfall, and an expansive patio, and kayaking and boating on Lake Hamilton.
This would be a great place to stay if you want to be close to Hot Springs Arkansas but prefer to be on the Lake than in the forest. The National Park and city are super close but you can experience the remoteness of this beautiful peninsula with Lake views on either side.
The Happy Hollow: Best Unique Place to Stay in Hot Springs on a Budget
This is where we stayed during our last trip to Hot Springs! If you want a place to stay that is probably one of the most affordable in the area but is also cute, perfectly located near hiking trails (within the national park), and within walking distance to bathhouse row, look no further than The Happy Hollow. It’s unique because it still retains the retro motel vibe while having modern and clean amenities.
We were a bit worried how this place would turn out, but it was better than we could have imagined. The whole motel has recently been redone, and the rooms are spacious and comfortable (well, the bathrooms are small, but they are fine)!
The wifi worked well, and we loved the views of the fall foliage outside our window. Oh, and they have rooms with living rooms and kitchenettes if you need more space, or a microwave for tired road trippers like us in basic rooms. You can walk to town in 10 minutes for tons more options, spas, and baths.
The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa: Elegant Hot Springs Hotel
Located in Hot Springs National Park, The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa is a historic landmark hotel that features almost 500 rooms and suites with American-style interiors. The style is simple yet elegant with a bit of an old-fashioned, almost Tower-of-terror vibe (in a good way, of course ;)). It also features a cafe, a fancy eatery, a golf course, a spa, a ballroom, a fitness room, and a tennis club.
The most prominent feature of The Arlington is its Thermal Bathhouse, where you can get soaked in the healing mineral waters of the ‘hot springs’. The Arlington also has two outdoor pools with piped-in mineral water.
Gold-Inn Hot Springs: A Colorful Retro Budget Hotel in Hot Springs
If you are more keen on a cheaper place to stay in Hot Springs that is still unique + fun but doesn’t break the bank, the Gold-Inn might be your option. It’s central, vibrant, and simple, yet ticks all the boxes. Each room has colorful touches and a retro feel.
Located on Highway 7 a few miles from downtown Hot Springs, Gold-Inn Hot Springs is a 2-star motel that occupies three smaller buildings. If you want to stay in a quiet neighborhood with easy access to the city center, this casual motel may be the perfect place. You can also check Motel Matcher and find more motel options.
The amenities offered by Gold-Inn Hot Springs include flatscreens, free wifi, minifridges, private sitting areas, shared balconies, and fireplaces. Each room is a bit different from one another, some with multiple beds or rooms depending on what you are looking for. The inn also features a seasonal outdoor pool and a barbecue grill.
Twisted Willow Lodge: Unique Hot Springs Cabin for Groups with Hot Tub
Twisted Willow Lodge is one of the most unique places to stay in Hot Springs, AR for groups. It can fit up to 10 people in different unique rooms, including a beautiful loft-style room with a triangular roof, beautiful wood-fringed rooms, and even bunk beds. It’s the best place around to stay for groups, that’s for sure!
Located on Robinwood Street a few miles from downtown, Twisted Willow Lodge is a posh large cabin in Hot Springs that covers 5 acres of wooded land fringed by exquisite foliage.
The whole lodge has a chic interior with unique bedrooms and tribal/western decor. It also features a top-notch outdoor hot tub with piped-in mineral water right next to a large fire pit. The cabin also features a game room and a spacious landscaped backyard.
Starlight Haven Resort: STUNNING Luxurious Treehouses and Suites in the Trees
Starlight Haven is a newer resort just inside the National Park that we really wished we could have stayed at! There are 7 different totally unique cabins and treehouses, some with true views above the trees in the forest, and lots of forest domes that give you the feeling of sleeping outside, but from the comfort of a luxe dome with a view.
Starlight Haven actually has a few more locations in the area on the way – make sure to check them out and see their new locations around Arkansas and Tennessee when you can!
You can either select your cabin/treehouse on Booking, or book it directly on VRBO. I have linked my top 2 favorite treehouses directly below (and pictures them above), Deer Run and Sunrise Point.
That’s it for the most unique places to stay in Hot Springs Arkansas – for now! Let me know your favorite place in the comments and check out romantic getaways in Branson MO if you are crossing the border north or unique places to stay in Eureka Springs AK for the Arkansas Ozarks.
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Passionate, full-time travel blogger with over 230k on social media and 150kMPV blog. Extraordinary photographer with two DSLR's + a drone with a love for capturing candid moments, epic drone shots, and magical compositions. I'm a natural-born content creator originally from California, but I've been on the road for 9 years living, working, traveling, blogging, and photographing my way around the world. I recommend the most amazingly adventurous and unique + boutique travel experiences/stays and helpful products to my audience and write comprehensive guides on my website that have helped millions of travelers so far. I love to inspire people to plan their dream trips, and many readers have given feedback as such. The reach on my platforms continues to soar, especially when combining cutting-edge social content with optimized articles on my high-authority website.