Hot Springs in February: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 61/100 · #6 of 12 months

February is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Hot Springs National Park: crowds run 59% of the June peak (204,533 average visits). Weather: highs average 56°F and lows 35°F, with 4.6″ of precipitation and 10.9 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Hot Springs in February: what the park service says

February at Hot Springs National Park is a bathhouse month, but plan by business, not by park: each building on Bathhouse Row is run by its own operator with its own hours. The Lamar Bathhouse Emporium (park bookstore) keeps 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, the Buckstaff and Quapaw publish bathing hours on their own websites, and the Maurice is closed for renovations. Winter wind chills can make temperatures feel as low as 15°F, the park says, with occasional ice or snow.

Source: NPS 1, NPS 2, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in February

Hot Springs averages 204,533 recreation visits in February — 59% of what June, the peak month, draws. Plan lodging and entries with that in mind.

Weather & daylight

Expect cool days (highs average 56°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 35°F). This is one of the wetter months (4.6″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 10.9 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station HOT SPRINGS 1 NNE, AR US (0 mi from park coordinates, 626 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of February.

What to pack for Hot Springs in February

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 35°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 4.6″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 4.6″ of precipitation is normal this month

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Looking for a better window? The computed best months for Hot Springs are January and September.

Also at their best in February

Other parks whose computed February verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Zion in February — 25% of peak crowds, highs 58°F, score 80/100
• Shenandoah in February — 9% of peak crowds, highs 47°F, score 77/100
• Capitol Reef in February — 10% of peak crowds, highs 47°F, score 76/100
• Carlsbad Caverns in February — 39% of peak crowds, highs 61°F, score 76/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in February · Last verified 2026-09-24