Drink the Water

Thermal Spring Jug Station

NPS Photo/Mitch Smith

Drink the Water

Is the water from hot springs good to drink? Water from the hot springs is Hot Spring's National Park's primary resource. Congress first protected the hot springs in 1832, and it intended for the water to be used. Drinking the hot springs water is perfectly normal, even encouraged. Go ahead, "quaff the elixir," as they used to say in the heyday of the spa. Thousands of visitors highly endorse the good quality of the hot springs water and fill bottles to take home.

Below are the fountain locations for your enjoyment.

Thermal Spring Fountains

• In front of the Libbey Memorial Physical Medicine Center on Reserve St. - suitable for filling jugs.
• In front of the National Park Service Administration Building on Reserve St. - suitable for filling jugs.
• Between the Hale and Maurice Bathhouses on the Bathhouse Row
• The Noble Fountain on Reserve St. (at the south entrance of the Grand Promenade)
• The Dripping Spring between the Hale and Maurice Bathhouses
• The Shell Fountain on the Stevens Balustrade (between the Fordyce and the Maurice Bathhouses)
• Outside the park boundaries at the Hill Wheatley Plaza on Central Ave. - suitable for filling jugs.

Cold Spring Fountains

• Happy Hollow
• Whittington Spring

These two fountains dispense water from cold springs, whose sources are different from the hot springs. Whittington Spring flows out of West Mountain, and Happy Hollow Spring flows out of North Mountain. The Arkansas Department of health requires formal treatment of these springs, and ozone filtration systems are used because they have been deemed the least intrusive of the acceptable methods. Very little ozone remains in the water by the time it reaches the spigot. There is no "treated" taste.

The park provides spring water free of charge at all of its jug fountains. Regulations prohibit private individuals from selling any of the park's waters.

Details

Activity

Hands-On

People have been traveling for hundreds of years to drink the mineral rich, thermal waters in Hot Springs National Park. Make your way to one of these fountains and join all the others who have done the same. 

Pets Allowed

Yes

Pets must be kept on a leash while in Hot Springs National Park. Please pick up after your pet.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Thermal and Cold Spring fountains are open and flowing all year long, unless noted otherwise.

Time of Day

Any Time

Fountains are available 24/7, unless noted otherwise.

Accessibility Information

Water jug stastions are wheelchair accessible.