To those of you who have never visited Eureka Springs, you may be surprised to find that it is a walking town. Originally a Victorian resort village, Eureka Springs was built to accommodate foot traffic.
Walking these winding streets is by far the best way to get to know this eccentric little town. Many of the streets are still bordered with limestone sidewalks dating back to early when the natural springs were the main attraction. Today, a walk around Eureka Springs will uncover hidden stairs (some stairs are all that is left of an old boarding house or business from the early 1900’s while others are shortcuts).
Because Eurkea Springs is a town built before cars and in the mountains, there is always one question that every new visitor has: Where do I park in Eureka Springs?
Never fear! The parking situation has never been better in Eureka Springs! Check out these great ways to ditch the car and explore Eureka Springs as it was intended, by foot!
1.) Stay in an Historic Hotel
Unless you are staying at one of Eureka Springs’ many lodging choices, free parking is extremely limited. f you happen to be staying in the 1886 Crescent Hotel or the 1905 Basin Park Hotel, you will be able to park in secured parking (Basin Park offers Valet Parking) and you only need to call for a shuttle to get where you want to go.
2.) Ride the Eureka Springs Trolley
At the intersection of Hwys. 62W and 23N is the latest addition to Eureka Springs’ Transit System, the Planer Hill Park and Ride Welcome Center. This is a great place to park if you are just visiting for the day or staying in one of the surrounding areas such as Beaver Lake. Parking at the Planer Hill Park and Ride Welcome Center is $5 per day if you venture out by foot or $2 per day if you also choose to ride the Eureka Springs Trolley (at an additional cost).
3.) Pay to Park
Sprinkled throughout the city are many public lots where you can park for a small fee. These lots are both owned by the city and private, but all are safe. The Eureka Springs Downtown Network has a great interactive parking map of Eureka Springs.
4.) Find a Metered Parking Spot
On busy days, it is safest to not plan on finding a metered spots. Since parking is so limited, these tend to go quickly. Because there are so few metered spaces, many visitors get discouraged. That is why the city has the park and ride center and pay to park lots.
For more details on Eureka Springs Transportation, visit EurekaSprings.com. Don’t miss our Calendar of Events to find out what is happening in and around Eureka Springs during your next visit.