Hot Springs, AR – Hot Springs National Park anticipates large crowds and heavy traffic in the days before, during, and after the eclipse on April 8, 2024. Starting Thursday, April 4, and extending through Monday, April 8, the park will host special events and community programs, and implement select road closures to ensure visitor safety and resource protection.
Special Events
April 4 – 7, 2024
Even though totality will last just a few minutes, visitors will have many opportunities to participate in special events in the days leading up to the Eclipse. Park rangers are working with scientists from NASA, NOAA, and Earth to Sky to coordinate fun events, programs, and presentations throughout the community. These programs are all free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Learn more about space weather, ongoing NASA research, the impact of eclipses on Earth, eclipse dynamics, and more. Additionally, the park is hosting a 2-day “Eclipse Fest!” on Arlington Lawn with interactive activities, demonstrations, and presentations from the visiting scientists.
Community Events with NASA, NOAA & the NPS
Thursday, April 4
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Scientific Eclipse Discoveries & NASA Citizen Science
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901
Join NASA at the Garland County Library for an interactive program about the science and discoveries made during an eclipse. Check the library website for more information at www.gclibrary.com
5:00 – 9:00 PM
Bridge Street Live
Bridge St. LIVE Entertainment District, Downtown Hot Springs
Join NASA, NOAA, and ETS at this free block party in downtown Hot Springs for hourly presentations. Check the Bridge St. Live website for more info at www.hotsprings.org/events/bridge-st-live-eclipse-edition/
Friday, April 5
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Moon Bear’s Shadow
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901
Join NASA at the Garland County Library for a free, hands-on, kid-friendly program! Check the library website for more information at www.gclibrary.com
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Space Weather & the Eclipse
National Park College, 101 College Dr., Hot Springs, AR 71913
Join NOAA & NASA at National Park College Conference Center for an exhilarating talk about eclipses, space weather, and internship opportunities with NASA.
1:00 – 2:00 PM
The Earth Science Angle on Eclipses with The GLOBE Program
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901
Join NASA at the Garland County Library for an interactive program about the science and discoveries made during an eclipse. Check the library website for more information at www.gclibrary.com
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Build Your Own JPSS-2 and TDRS Papercraft Models with NASA
Garland County Library, 1427 Malvern Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901
Join NASA at the Garland County Library for a free, hands-on, kid-friendly program! Check the library website for more information at www.gclibrary.com
7:00 – 8:00PM
Exploring Careers & Research at NASA and NOAA
Hot Springs Village Woodlands Auditorium, 1101 Desoto Blvd., Hot Springs Village, AR 71909
Join NASA and NOAA at the Woodlands Auditorium in Hot Springs Village for a panel discussion about the many impacts that eclipses have on science, research, the Earth, and space.
7:30 – 10:00 PM
Stargazing Party
Lake Ouachita State Park, 5451 Mountain Pine Rd., Mountain Pine, AR 71956
Join NASA, NOAA, the Hot Springs Village Stargazers Club, and park rangers for a stargazing program. Space is limited and must be reserved. Call Lake Ouachita State Park for more info at (501) 767-9366 or 1-800-264-2441 between 8:00am and 5:00pm daily.
Saturday, April 6
7:30 – 10:00 PM
Stargazing Party
Lake Ouachita State Park, 5451 Mountain Pine Rd., Mountain Pine, AR 71956
Join NASA, NOAA, the Hot Springs Village Stargazers Club, and park rangers for a stargazing program. Space is limited and must be reserved. Call Lake Ouachita State Park for more info at (501) 767-9366 or 1-800-264-2441 between 8:00am and 5:00pm daily.
Sunday, April 7
2:00 – 3:00 PM
A Rotation Revolution
Entergy Park Pavilion, 140 Entergy Park Ln., Hot Springs, AR 71913
Join NASA & City of Hot Springs Parks and Trails at the Entergy Park Waterfall Pavilion for a special, family-friendly eclipse presentation. Bring your own chair!
Eclipse Fest! on Arlington Lawn
Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Join NASA, NOAA, ETS, and NPS rangers for a free, fun-filled informative, and interactive day about space and eclipses! There will be presentations, demonstrations, and a chance to earn some cool gear.
Total Eclipse in the Park
Monday, April 8
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Eclipse Timeline
12:32 PM Partial Eclipse begins
During this phase, you can only look at the sun with proper solar viewers! Using your naked eye or sunglasses could result in long term eye damage.
Placing your solar viewers on your cellphones or cameras for photos is not recommended. Make sure you have the right viewer for photographing and magnification.
1:49 PM Totality begins
This is the ONLY TIME it is safe to look directly at the sun without solar viewers!
1:53 PM Totality ends
Time to put your solar viewers back on!
3:10 PM Partial Eclipse ends
Eclipse Viewing Locations
Hot Springs National Park has designated three locations within the park boundaries as official viewing locations for the eclipse. These locations are Arlington Lawn, the Hot Springs Mountain Tower Parking Lot, and the West Mountain Summit Overlook.
Starting at 9:00 am park rangers, along with NASA and NOAA scientists, will be at each station providing demonstrations and information about different ways to experience the eclipse through sound, touch, feeling, and sight. There is limited space at each of these viewing locations. Visitors are encouraged to bring water, snacks, blankets (for Arlington Lawn), and camp chairs (for the mountains).
Road Closures & Shuttles to Hot Springs Mountain and West Mountain Summits
April 7 – 8
Saturday, April 6 10:00 PM
West Mountain Drive, West Mountain Summit Road, and Blacksnake Road will be closed to vehicular traffic to ensure emergency vehicles have access to different parts of town throughout the weekend and during the eclipse on Monday. Whittington Avenue will remain open.
Sunday, April 7 6:00 PM
Hot Springs Mountain Drive will close to vehicular traffic on Sunday after the Mountain Tower closes for the day and will remain closed through Monday.
Monday, April 8 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Free shuttles will run every 20-30 minutes to the top of Hot Springs and West Mountain. Shuttles will take people to designated drop off points until each mountain has reached its capacity. The last shuttle down will be at 4:30pm.
Shuttle Stops – April 8
Pick up for Hot Springs Mountain and North Mountain will be at the Happy Hollow Jug Fountain on Fountain Street. Please note that the city will close Fountain Street to through traffic. Visitors will need to walk up Fountain Street to the shuttle pick up. The drop off points on the mountain will be at the Hot Springs Mountain Picnic Area and the North Mountain Stone Shelter.
Pick up for West Mountain will be at the intersection of Prospect Ave. and West Mountain Dr. and at the intersection of Whittington Ave. and West Mountain Dr. Drop off points on the mountain will be at the West Mountain Stone Shelter and the West Mountain Summit Overlook.
Restrooms, water, and viewing space is limited at both Hot Springs Mountain and West Mountain. Please be prepared by bringing camp chairs, water, food, and any other necessary supplies. Note that any items you bring must be able to fit with you on the shuttle bus. Please help keep the park clean and pack out everything that you bring in and dispose of trash in appropriate receptacles.
Fordyce Bathhouse Temporary Closure
On Monday, April 8, the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center will close around 1:30 PM to ensure that everyone has time to get outside to witness the total eclipse at 1:49 PM. The Fordyce will reopen at 2:00 PM. Rangers and volunteers will be available with park information and maps, and the bathhouse museum will be available for self-guided tours.
Plan Ahead
Parking around Hot Springs National Park is limited. Visitors who wish to enjoy the eclipse from the park are encouraged to arrive early. Parking is not permitted along roadsides, on vegetation, or on other non-designated areas within the park. Carpooling is recommended!
Camping is strictly prohibited anywhere in the national park outside of the designated sites at Gulpha Gorge campground. All campsites must be reserved through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Internet and cell service may be limited due to heavy usage during the eclipse. Have a secondary plan to communicate with your friends and family. Know where to go in case you get separated and carry a paper map!
Hot Springs National Park has limited services and restroom facilities. Plan to bring enough water and snacks for your group for the day. Please dispose of trash in designated locations and pack out everything that you bring in. It’s up to all of us to keep our park clean!
For additional information, please visit: go.nps.gov/HotSpringsEclipse or call (501) 620-6715. Updates and supplemental tips will be posted on the park’s website and social media pages, @HotSpringsNPS.
