These 7 Hot Spring Towns Are Actually Worth the Drive
If you’re beginning to firm up your spring and summer travel plans, we have two words for you: hot springs. Whether you add a hot springs, stop to an existing road trip itinerary or make a pilgrimage specifically to take a dip in naturally heated water, a hot springs visit is always a good idea.
The Cheyenne, Ute and Arapaho Native American tribes were the first to come across hot springs. Since their discovery, these natural mineral pools have been lauded for their powerful and natural healing benefits. Some of these health benefits include improved circulation, pain management, improved sleep and general relaxation.
So, if you’re ready to take a trip off the beaten path, these seven towns and cities are home to beautiful hot springs and are great places to explore once you dry off.
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1. Hot Springs, Arkansas
The hot springs located in the aptly named Hot Springs, AR, run right through the middle of underneath Bathhouse Row. This section of the vibrant downtown area is one of the city’s best attractions and features more than a dozen salons and spas, some of which have been servings guests for over 100 years. Eight bathhouse buildings line the Row and were constructed over 30 years. Adjacent to the town is Hot Springs National Park, which offers a nearby nature retreat with some excellent hiking.
2. Glenwood Springs, Colorado
Home of the world’s largest mineral hot springs pool, Glenwood Springs is a great place to visit if you just want to relax. The Glenwood Hot Springs Resorts has more than seven pools and has drawn visitors who want to dip since 1888. The source of the springs’ mineral water is the Yampah Spring, which produces more than 3.5 million gallons of water daily and is known for its healing and restorative properties.
After spending some time relaxing, the town isn’t far from the Glenwood Canyon and the White River National Forest, which offer visitors an abundance of river sports and hiking trails.
3. Big Bend, California
Located in the mountainous terrain of Shasta County in northern California, Big Bend is an excellent stop on a road trip through the Golden State. A relatively unpopulated part of the state, Big Bend is an ideal destination for anyone looking for solitude in a natural and undeveloped setting while they visit the Pit River and the nearby hot springs. After spending some time soaking in the springs (currently under renovation!), visitors can spend some time in nearby Redding, a city with plenty of things to do.
4. Warm Springs, Georgia
Located an hour outside of Atlanta, Warm Springs is an excellent destination for a short day trip out of the city. The spring, while not open for public use for swimming, is at the center of one of the town’s historic attractions, the Roosevelt Institute, where people with polio-related disabilities used it for its therapeutic properties. Tours of this historic site are available, and visitors to Warm Springs can also tour Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home. The 9,047-acre FDR State Park is also nearby.
5. Saratoga, Wyoming
The Saratoga Hot Springs Resort is an excellent stop on any hot spring road trip. You must be a guest at the resort to enjoy the hot pools and 70-foot-long mineral hot springs pool, but it’s absolutely worth it and is a great way to unwind after spending an active and adventurous day in Wyoming. In addition to teepee-covered pools, Saratoga has a scenic public golf course and amenities including restaurants and brewpubs.
6. Port Angeles, Washington
Located in the Pacific Northwest and tucked away in Olympic National Park, the Olympic Hot Springs are surrounded by over 1,400 square miles of largely untouched wilderness. Visitors can also enjoy the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, which offers three mineral hot spring soaking pools and one freshwater pool.
After spending the day soaking, ride into town. Port Angeles, WA, just 20 miles from the springs, is home to a thriving art community with sculptures throughout the downtown district. The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is worth a visit for the artistically inclined, as is Webster’s Woods, a “museum without walls” featuring over 125 sculptures.
7. Hot Springs, Montana
Situated in the middle of several national forests, Hot Springs, MT, is another great destination for folks who want peace and quiet on their hot spring road trip. With a population of only about 600 residents, if solitude is what you want, you’ll find it here while you soak in mineral pools surrounded by miles of national forest. Springs can be found in Hot Springs, MT, and nearby Paradise, MT, which is only a short half-hour drive away.