Of all the great getaways in Arkansas, none quite compare to Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa! Living up to its reputation as the "best resort in Arkansas," it boasts peaceful solitude, luxury lodging, and lots of amenities. One visit to this Arkansas resort in the middle of nowhere, and we can just about guarantee that you’ll forget all of your worries. It might just be one of the best Lake Ouachita resorts.
Since opening in 1955, it’s grown into Arkansas’ premier lake resort. Not to mention, it’s been repeatedly voted the best resort in Arkansas – and rightfully so!
So, what do you think? Are you ready to escape to this lakefront resort? We're ready to pack our bags! For more info, call Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa at (870) 867-2191. You can also visit the Mountain Harbor website. And make sure to like the Mountain Harbor Facebook page.
From the Ozarks to the Lower Delta, you could spend your entire life exploring Arkansas’ many beautiful destinations, but where should you start? Picking a hotel is always tricky, no one wants to be locked into a place that doesn’t fit their needs. Whether you prefer a hotel with an on-site restaurant, one within walking distance of the nightlife scene, or a hotel with an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the top resorts and best hotels in Arkansas that are perfect home bases for you to return to after exploring The Land of Opportunity.
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Best Unique Hotels to Stay in Arkansas
With so many lodging options in Arkansas, you really have to go above and beyond to stand out from the pack. These unique hotels in Arkansas will be hard to leave after spending a few nights here. From the locations to the designs, these unique hotels are like nowhere else.
It’s not every day that you get a hotel, a museum, and a cultural center all rolled into one, but that’s exactly what’s waiting for you when you book a stay at the 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville. The hotel is ideally located near Bentonville Town Square, putting you within walking distance of the town’s major attractions, including the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Speaking of museums, this hotel is also a contemporary art museum, a 12,000-square-foot exhibition space with larger-than-life sculptures that will inspire you to dream big.
Amenities: UTV tour, you'll have the entire place to yourself
Ratings: 4.5 stars
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If you thought a museum-hotel hybrid was unique, how about a cave? The Beckham Creek Cave Lodge is one of the most unique places to stay in Arkansas, and although it’s not a traditional hotel, it definitely earned itself a spot on this list. You can only book the entire space, a four-bedroom, four-bathroom lodge built into a cave near Jasper. This place is an outdoor lover’s paradise, and there’s plenty of outdoor adventure to enjoy during your stay here, including several hiking trails, fishing, canoeing, and more.
Best Hotel Pools in Arkansas
Sometimes, a hotel’s pool situation can make or break your stay, especially if you’re traveling with youngsters that enjoy cannonballing the day away. Luckily, these hotels have some of the best pools in the state, so grab your swimsuit and make a splash.
Amenities: Outdoor swimming pool, on-site-restaurant
Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Hot Springs is one of the most popular cities to visit in Arkansas, and a stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hot Springs will quickly win you over, just look at that beautiful pool! The pool overlooks Lake Hamilton with direct water access and boat docks, so feel free to bring your boat!
Address: 3303 S Pinnacle Hills Pkwy, Rogers, AR 72758
Price: $194/night
Amenities: Indoor swimming pool, free breakfast, fitness center
Ratings: 4.5 stars
This spiffy hotel in Northwest Arkansas has one of the most beautiful indoor swimming pools in the state, and we wouldn’t blame you if you never left this aquatic oasis. But just in case you do want to venture outside, you’ll be within a five-minute walk to the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, the Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall, and the Rogers Convention Center. Before you get your laps in for the day, fuel up on the complimentary, made-to-order breakfast in the morning!
Best Luxury Hotels in Arkansas
Are you ready to step into the life of luxury that you deserve? Even if just for a few days, these luxury hotels offer the opportunity to give yourself the give of pampering yourself and treating yourself to a vacation fit for royalty. From check-in to check-out, you’ll be dazzled by the details at these luxury hotels.
Located near the Arkansas River in downtown Little Rock, Capital Hotel has been providing a luxurious stay for folks passing through Little Rock for over 140 years. All of the 94 guest rooms feature custom-designed mattresses, 14-foot ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows so you can soak in that beautiful view of downtown Little Rock.
Give yourself the give of a weekend getaway at Lookout Point Lakeside Inn, and you’ll set the standard for yourself for all future hotels you’ll ever stay at. This luxury lodging option blurs the line between hotel and bed and breakfast with spacious rooms featuring patios and balconies, fireplaces, and beautiful lake views. This elegant inn is known as the most romantic hotel in America, and it’s easy to see why!
Known as the "symbol of hospitality," the Crescent Hotel and Spa sits high above Eureka Springs, giving you a fantastic view of the historic Victorian village and surrounding areas. The hotel boasts a spa and a salon for all your pampering needs as well as 15 acres of perfectly manicured gardens complete with ample hiking, biking, and walking trails to enjoy. Perhaps the most unique attribute to this hotel is that it’s known as America’s most haunted hotel, and they wear the ghostly badge with pride. Take an evening ghost tour of the hotel and do a little paranormal investigating for an otherworldly experience.
Best Boutique Hotels in Arkansas
Boutique hotels are always some of the most memorable places to stay. Often located in historic buildings, these charming hotels offer a unique stay where you can relax and recharge in a smaller space without compromising on the amenities or location. Here are two of our favorite boutique hotels in Arkansas that would be perfect for a spontaneous escape.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Reserve at Hot Springs will offer you an unforgettable stay. Surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens peppered with historic buildings from the property’s history, this Hot Springs boutique hotel put you smack dab in the middle of the action while still feeling like you’re in your own little world. The Reserve is conveniently located to both Oak Lawn Racetrack and Hot Springs National Park, ensuring there’s a nearby adventure for everyone.
Amenities: On-site restaurant and lounge, on-campus location, ADA accessibility
Ratings: 4.5 stars
This boutique hotel is just overflowing with history. The hotel sits in a building that dates back to 1905 and was once the women’s dormitory for the University of Arkansas. All of the rooms feature a flat-screen tv free Wi-Fi, and coffeemakers, and if you want to splurge on an upgrade, the suites have sitting areas and mini-fridges, which are great for longer stays. Since it’s located on the campus, it’s the perfect spot for cheering on the Razorbacks either from the comfort of your room or the lounge. Of course, you’re just steps away from all of the action, which is one of the reasons why this boutique hotel is so popular.
Best Resorts in Arkansas
When you pick a resort, you can rest assured that practically everything you need will be on-site, and you’ll never have to leave the resort. These are great options for large groups and especially families with youngsters since these resorts are often kid-friendly and offer tons of attractions for everyone to enjoy. These are some of the best resorts in Arkansas for an unforgettable vacation.
Nestled in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas, Cedar Lodge’s 7,600-square-foot estate is the perfect little slice of paradise for nature lovers. This 5-star hotel transforms every season, providing year-round outdoor adventure from kayaking to snowshoeing. After a day of exploring, sit back and soak in the hot tub or the sauna for the ultimate getaway.
Address: 1216 County Rd 113, Eureka Springs, AR 72631
Price: $250/night
Amenities: Private cabins, waterfront views, fire pits, hot tub
Ratings: 4.5 stars
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Perched above the beautiful Beaver Lake, Sugar Ridge Resort is a dreamy luxury resort in Eureka Springs that’s ideal for both a romantic getaway or a reunion. Each cabin boasts a mesmerizing mountain view, with what might just be the best place to watch a sunset in Arkansas. This resort is only a few minutes from downtown Eureka Springs, and once you’ve explored the historic Victorian town take off to enjoy Dam Site Park or the White River.
Address: 239 Central Ave, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71901
Price: $122/night
Amenities: Spa services, thermal baths, car charging stations
Ratings: 4.5 stars
For nearly a century, folks have enjoyed a luxurious stay at the Arlington Resort, and you should too! The year-round hot tub is a welcome sight after a day of exploring Hot Springs, but you could always opt to do some laps in one of the two outdoor pools, or take a quick 10-minute walk down to historic Bathhouse Row! With a top-tier on-site restaurant and live entertainment on the weekends, you could spend your entire holiday within these walls and never have to leave.
Once you've settled into one of the amazing hotels, you're bound to be itching to explore the Natural State in all its glory. Here are some of our favorite adventures in Arkansas that'll have you asking yourself, "should I move here?"
">Bathhouse Row is one of the most famous sights in Hot Springs National Park. This Hot Springs, Arkansas landmark is a collection of historic bathhouses located along these Arkansas hot springs. These eight bathhouses were independent businesses that were immensely popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries, when bathhouses were all the rage. As hot springs faded in popularity, the buildings on Bathhouse Row did as well. Slowly, but surely, over the last few years, the buildings along the row have been revitalized. Not too long ago, the Superior Bathhouse Brewery became the country's first brewery inside a national park. Now, there's yet another reason to come to Bathhouse Row. The Hale Bathhouse Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas has reopened as Hotel Hale, and you'll definitely want to spend a night or two here. Let's check out all the renovations at this revitalized bathhouse:
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The oldest building on Bathhouse Row is now a luxurious hotel.
The Hotel Hale is now the only hotel situated within the Hot Springs National Park... and it's absolutely fabulous! The McCabe family opened the hotel in hopes of continuing the revitalization process occurring all through downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Even in the late 1800s, the Hale showcased more modern amenities than its neighbors and managed to provide a more well-rounded spa experience. The first Hale bathhouse was built in 1841 by John C. Hale. Since its construction, multiple renovations have occurred. Before becoming Hotel Hale, the bathhouse served as a movie theater in the 1980s.
While Hotel Hale has all the modern amenities you'd expect from a high class hotel, the establishment certainly pays respects to its roots. Each room here is named after one of the other bathhouses on the row.
The Fordyce, Superior, Lamar, Ozark, Libby, Maurice, Quapaw, Buckstaff, and Hale each have unique flair but cozy amenities. Rooms have a pillow-soft king or queen bed, en-suite bathroom, local art on display, and Wi-Fi. The Hale is the largest room, with more than 600 square feet. The room pictured above is the two-bed Quapaw.
Instead of isolating itself from the rest of Bathhouse Row as "the new," Hotel Hale creates an immersive experience from inside the national park.
One example of this is the presence of soaking tubs in each room. Since the hotel is inside Hot Springs National Park, guests can take advantage of the thermal waters here during the stay. Have a hot spring bath or simply sip on cooled-down spring water. Or do both at the same time!
The immersive experience isn't only found inside the rooms of the hotel.
The outdoor dining area sits near what used to be the carved-out thermal cave, which is now on display. This upscale dining area is called Eden due to its relaxing atmosphere and all the surrounding greenery.
There's really no need to wait, plan your trip to the Bathhouse Row soon!
For more information about this bathhouse hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas, check out the Hotel Hale website or Hotel Hale Facebook page. You can book a stay at Booking.com.
Have you ever stayed at the Hotel Hale in Hot Springs, Arkansas? Hot Springs National Park is a trip that belongs on every traveler's bucket list: it's such an amazing destination. Share your experiences in the comments!
