Oaklawn Hot Springs
4.2(11K)google
3.2(27)yelp
Horse RacingSportsLocal LifeNight-Friendly
Overview
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, formerly Oaklawn Park Race Track, is an American thoroughbred racetrack and casino in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States. It is the home to "The Racing Festival of the South", a four-day series of races that concludes with the Arkansas Derby. In 2017, Oaklawn was ranked fifth among thoroughbred racetracks in North America by the Horseplayers Association of North America.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen 24 hours
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeThe live Thoroughbred racing season running from January through May is the absolute peak window. Securing grandstand entry on Saturdays between 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM is premium; the energy is electric under the crisp afternoon sun. Outside the race season, the luxury indoor resort, casino, and steakhouses are excellent year-round.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned south of the town center at 2705 Central Ave. Drive south from Bathhouse Row along Central Ave straight for roughly 2 miles; the historic racing track and massive resort tower will line your left, offering expansive free general surface parking wrap-arounds alongside premium valet plazas.
Travel Tips
- During live Thoroughbred race meets from January through May, the complex enforces stadium-grade counter-terrorism checks. Carrier packs larger than 12 x 12 inches and professional telephoto camera rigs are banned at turnstiles; identity-verified e-tickets are required.
- The casino floor, high-limit gaming lounges, and parimutuel wagering counters operate under absolute 21-and-over statutory mandates. Strollers and minors are barred from setting foot on the gaming carpets; infractions prompt immediate escorted eviction and voucher asset seizure.
- On high-stakes race dates, Central Avenue and adjacent secondary links shift to emergency traffic loops with strict zero-curbside parking codes. Parking on native turf or blocking private residential drives results in instant towing under a flat $250+ release fee.
Reviews
Positive
- A historic, premium American racetrack and luxury casino resort! The live thoroughbred horse racing season delivers unparalleled live excitement.
- The newly expanded resort hotel is gorgeous, housing a spacious casino packed with modern slots, blackjack tables, and a high-end steakhouse.
- Security management is exceptionally professional and tight, ensuring a safe, orderly luxury experience across the gaming and dining floors.
- Vertical accessibility is flawless with plentiful elevators, allowing elderly wheelchair travelers easy access to premier grandstand seating.
Heads up
- During marquee race days like the Arkansas Derby, resort room rates and parking fees skyrocket violently, catering strictly to premium spenders.
- Despite high-tech air filtration, heavy weekend crowd volumes leave a lingering stale odor of tobacco smoke and alcohol in certain gaming pits.
- The general admission grandstand section gets completely swamped during major race Saturdays, making it hard to see the track without arriving hours early.
- Onsite cocktails and fine dining carry hefty resort resort taxes and surcharges, making the final bill significantly higher than standard city prices.