The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hotel Hot Springs is in the heart of downtown, only two blocks from Hot Springs National Park and Bathhouse Row – the historic street of magnificent early 20th-century bathhouses, fed by the natural thermal waters. Most of the rooms in this modern tower block have all-encompassing city views, and they’re decorated in a pared-down contemporary style, with a hint of the Mad Men midcentury aesthetic. Dine out on mango shrimp tacos, build-your-own burgers and local craft brews at the Inside Track, or watch the game on the big screen at the bar.

On a narrow peninsula some 5mi (8km) south of Bathhouse Row, this all-suite hotel is particularly good for self-caterers and long stays. Staybridge’s oversize bedrooms, decorated in warm browns and creams, open onto comfortable sitting rooms, and most have superb views over the periwinkle-blue waters of Lake Hamilton. There is no on-site dining, but you can cook up a storm in your own fully equipped kitchen – or drive for two minutes for a casual meal of jumbo shrimp prepared six different ways or breaded catfish at nearby local favorite Fisherman’s Wharf.

If you’re looking to bet on a horse race, this all-suite hotel is a solid choice, located close to Oaklawn Racecourse and Casino – a center of racing since 1904. Its spacious accommodations are decorated in a classic style, with polished dark wood headboards on the beds and a soothing cream-and-blue color scheme. The suites’ adjoining lounges offer comfortable seating areas in browns and beiges. Suites have whirlpool baths, flamboyantly located in the sitting rooms; if you want to bathe al fresco, splurge on a super suite with garden hot tub. Hot Springs National Park and its hiking trails are a mere 10-minute drive away, which should please fresh air fiends.

Facing the grand early 20th-century architecture of Bathhouse Row, Waters Hot Springs, from the Tapestry by Hilton collection, is in an elegant building whose grandeur sets it apart from other cheap hotels in Hot Springs. The hotel boasts a colonnaded facade and handsome rooms decked out in classic creams and gray, and it looks out onto Hot Springs National Park. Gulfa Gorge Trail is a short drive up the mountain; when you return from your hike, head for the rooftop bar for classic cocktails, a craft beer and international light bites.

With contemporary, smart rooms decorated in soothingly neutral colors and bright splashes of contemporary art, Holiday Inn Hot Springs is close to Oaklawn Racecourse and Casino, and conveniently located both for the airport and downtown – both around 10 minutes’ drive. It’s a solid choice with friendly service, and ranks among the best of cheap hotels in Hot Springs. On-site perks include an irregularly shaped heated indoor swimming pool and fitness center. At night, linger around the fire pit on the outdoor terrace and trade travel tales with fellow guests.

Leafy Los Lagos is a versatile cheap hotel in Hot Springs, offering everything from studios sleeping up to four, to two-bedroom bungalows – which sleep up to six. All choices offer plenty of amenities, so you can choose to self-cater in your well-equipped kitchen. The condos feature polished wood furniture, comfortable sofas and balconies. It’s located in the Hot Springs Village, where you can eat your way around the world, from pasta at Dolce Vita, to sweet and sour Chinese food at the Great Wall.

Just a couple of miles’ drive from the city’s spa, and as close to Oaklawn Racecourse and Casino as you can get without actually sleeping on the racetrack, this Best Western is a low-rise, motel-style place spread out across a spacious site. Accommodation is as comfortable as you’d expect from a Best Western, with traditional-looking hotel rooms with wooden furniture and bedheads, patterned carpets and warm yellow walls. Beds are comfortable and staff are efficient and friendly. There’s a fitness center and an outdoor pool, and if you’re hungry, Italian fare at Rocky’s Corner is just a block away.