Hot Springs National Park weather in December

December in Hot Springs National Park: cool, rainy, with clean air — a great time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Hot Springs National Park🇺🇸 United States · US South · National park74
  1. 70Jan
  2. 73Feb
  3. 83Mar
  4. 82Apr
  5. 73May
  6. 63Jun
  7. 51Jul
  8. 55Aug
  9. 76Sep
  10. 86Oct
  11. 86Nov
  12. 74Dec

#6 of 12 months in Hot Springs National Park · #623 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 74/100 (tier B)

Days
13°C
Nights
3°C
Wet days
7
Sun
6 h
Humidity
73%
Daylight
10 h
Hot Springs National Park, United States
Photo: icon0 com · Pexels

Traveller notes on Hot Springs National Park in December

Other months in Hot Springs National Park

Hot Springs-forum threads on a January visit describe winter temperatures as genuinely running between thirty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit, posters naming this as standard for the month. Regulars call Quapaw Bathhouse and Buckstaff Baths the two real standard soaking spots, several posters naming both as indoor-only facilities that have operated for over a hundred years. Posters call soaking with snow visible outside genuinely magical, several regulars naming this contrast as a real highlight of a winter visit specifically. Regulars call most traditional bathhouses genuinely restricted by a minimum age, several threads naming fourteen as typical given the mineral pools involved. Posters recommend booking a bathhouse visit regardless of exact January dates, several regulars calling this the real centerpiece of any winter trip here. The record: 10.5C days, -0.4C nights, 102.1mm across nearly 7 days and 71 percent humidity.
HotSpringsJanuaryRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Hot Springs-forum threads on a February visit call the bathhouses a real year-round draw, posters describing them as indoor and weather-independent regardless of what's happening outside. Regulars recommend timing a visit around Valentine's weekend for a romantic angle, several posters describing this as a popular window locally. Posters call Oaklawn Park's horse racing season in full swing this month, a real addition beyond the bathhouses for anyone staying more than a day or two. Regulars call the park's trails comfortable in February, cooler temperatures making for pleasant hiking with considerably fewer crowds than summer. Posters recommend checking bathhouse hours and hotel availability directly, several regulars naming Embassy Suites and Comfort Suites alongside smaller bed and breakfasts as solid options. The record: 13.2C days feeling like 12C, 2.4C nights, an extraordinarily high 149mm across over 7 days and 74 percent humidity.
HotSpringsFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Hot Springs-forum threads on an August visit call the town genuinely hot and humid this time of year, posters describing conditions as intense but the town itself very much alive and active despite the heat. Regulars recommend Magic Springs water park as a real way to cool off, tubing on Lake Hamilton another popular warm-weather option locally. Posters call Quapaw and Buckstaff the two historic bathhouses still operating for anyone wanting the traditional thermal soak, other bathhouse buildings on Bathhouse Row now serving other purposes. Regulars call there being no entrance fee worth knowing, free street parking also standard nearby. Posters recommend checking hotel options with indoor pools for anyone visiting in peak summer heat, a real upside for families. Regulars call the hiking trails still doable in August with an early start, midday better spent near water. The record: 32.4C days feeling like 36C, 22.1C nights, 136.1mm across nearly 9 days and 70 percent humidity.
HotSpringsAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Arkansas forum threads on this park's October weather describe early-month readings as comfortably in the upper seventies Fahrenheit, cooling toward the mid seventies by mid-month as fall settles in properly. Posters call humidity noticeably lower by October compared to summer intensity, a real relief for anyone hiking the park's wooded trails. Regulars describe conditions as genuinely variable year to year, some falls staying mild enough for shorts and a t-shirt around the clock, others requiring a jacket once evening sets in. Posters recommend layering regardless of the specific forecast, late fall here capable of real swings within the same week. Regulars call the historic bathhouse district and surrounding trails worth the visit regardless of conditions. Posters recommend checking a current forecast rather than assuming based on the calendar. The record: 24.2C days feeling like 23C, 12.3C nights, an extraordinarily high 85mm across over 4 days and 64 percent humidity.
HotSpringsOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Hot Springs National Park's card on the map.

Hot Springs National Park climate normals — December

Daytime high13°C / 56°F🙂 cool
Nighttime low3°C / 37°F
Feels like (high)11°C / 52°F
Rainfall120 mm / 4.7 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days7 days
Humidity73%💧 humid
Dew point3°C / 37°F
Sunshine6 h/day
Daylight9.9 h
Wind15 km/h / 10 mph
Snowfall0.7 cm / 0.3 in
Air quality (US AQI)31🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Hot Springs National Park in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsGarvan Gardens Holiday Lights, Oaklawn racing season, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Hot Springs National Park's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherHot Springs National Park's best weather comes in March, October and November — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Hot Springs National Park in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Festival

    Garvan Gardens Holiday Lights

    21 Nov – 31 DecLights & fireCrowded

    Millions of lights fill the university's woodland garden on Lake Hamilton from late November to New Year's Eve, evenings only and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas; weekend nights bring long queues at the gate. Source ↗

  • Season

    Oaklawn racing season

    27 Nov – 1 May · usuallySporting eventCrowdedBook early

    Live thoroughbred racing runs from late November to the start of May, which is why the town's winter is busier than its autumn. The stakes days in spring, ending with the Arkansas Derby meeting, are when the rooms go first. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Hot Springs National Park — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Hot Springs National Park?

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Hot Springs National Park in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Hot Springs National Park?
December in Hot Springs National Park: cool, rainy, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #6 of 12 months for Hot Springs National Park on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
What is the weather like in Hot Springs National Park in December?
In December, Hot Springs National Park averages a daily high of 13.1°C and a low of 2.5°C, with about 120.2 mm of rain over roughly 6.6 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Hot Springs National Park in December?
Hot Springs National Park has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 31 in December.

Within 300 km: Memphis' St. Jude Memphis Marathon on 5 Dec.