About 500 people live in Hot Springs, which is tucked away on the French Broad River. Despite its small size, this charming town can hold its own in terms of outdoor activities and tourist attractions.
Hot Springs is known for its healing mineral springs, which have been luring tourists since the late 1700s. In fact, it is the only place in North Carolina with geothermal springs.
This, along with the fact that the Appalachian Trail runs right through town, are more than enough reasons to organize a summer or fall trip to this lovely town.
What to do in Hot Springs, North Carolina
There are two places where you can enjoy the healing waters of the region: Broadwing Farm or Hot Springs Resort & Spa. At the former, each cabin has a private outdoor hot tub filled with pure mineral water that can be reserved for overnight stays.
The hot tubs on the banks of the French Broad River and Spring Creek can be reserved by the hour at Hot Springs Resort & Spa, or you can stay overnight (some of the suites have their own hot tubs).
You must bring your own towels, even though the tubs are cleaned and drained after each use. After a day of hiking or driving, there’s nothing better than a soak in hot water to help relieve tension, fatigue, joint pain and muscle stiffness.
Even though Hot Springs is known for its healing waters, there are plenty of other things to do, especially in the summer. If you want to spend the day on the French Broad River, contact Hot Springs Rafting to schedule a whitewater rafting or float trip.
Numerous trails in the region, many of which are technically part of the Appalachian Trail, are accessible to hikers.
Best Time to Come
You should visit Hot Springs in the summer if you want to fully experience everything the city has to offer. Summer is the ideal season for outdoor activities in the region, especially rafting and kayaking.
On the other hand, autumn is the best season to admire the leaves. The main campground comfort stations are closed during the winter months, but the Hot Springs Resort & Spa is open all year-round.
Getting There
The closest airport to Hot Springs is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), which is 50 miles away by car. There are nonstop flights to AVL from a number of major cities, including Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, New York, Las Vegas and Minneapolis, operated by American, Delta, United, Allegiant, JetBlue and Sun Country. Although you can easily explore downtown Hot Springs on foot, you will need a car for seeing the rest of the region.