Hot Springs in January: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Best window · VisitWhen score 66/100 · #3 of 12 months

January is one of the best months of the year to visit Hot Springs National Park: crowds run 37% of the June peak (127,539 average visits). Weather: highs average 52°F and lows 32°F, with 3.8″ of precipitation and 10.1 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Crowds in January

Hot Springs averages 127,539 recreation visits in January — 37% of what June, the peak month, draws — the second-quietest month of the year. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly.

Weather & daylight

Days are cool (highs average 52°F), and mornings are chilly (lows average 32°F). Average precipitation is 3.8″ for the month. Mid-month daylight runs 10.1 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station HOT SPRINGS 1 NNE, AR US (0 mi from park coordinates, 626 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of January.

What to pack for Hot Springs in January

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Warm mid-layer (fleece or light puffy) — mornings average 32°F
• Rain shell + pack cover — 3.8″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 10.1 hours of daylight in mid-January (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 3.8″ of rain is normal this month

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Also at their best in January

Other parks whose computed January verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• Channel Islands in January — 35% of peak crowds, highs 66°F, score 76/100
• Zion in January — 23% of peak crowds, highs 54°F, score 76/100
• Carlsbad Caverns in January — 38% of peak crowds, highs 56°F, score 73/100
• Big Bend in January — 50% of peak crowds, highs 69°F, score 71/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in January · Last verified 2026-09-24