18 of America's natural thermal baths, from grand resorts to wild soaks.
America's geothermal hot springs range from grand historic bathhouses to remote pools you have to hike to. This is a curated checklist of 18 of the best, grouped by type and region, with each spring's location and what it's known for — a planner for anyone who loves a good soak.
| Hot Spring | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) | Hot Springs, AR | Bathhouse Row · oldest U.S. spa |
| The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs) | White Sulphur Springs, WV | 1778 establishment |
| Glenwood Hot Springs Pool | Glenwood Springs, CO | World's largest hot spring pool |
| Strawberry Park Hot Springs | Steamboat Springs, CO | Steamboat Springs |
| Calistoga Hot Springs (Indian Springs) | Calistoga, CA | Napa Valley · mud baths since 1862 |
| Hot Spring | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Chico Hot Springs Resort (Montana) | Pray, MT | Paradise Valley soak · near Yellowstone's north entrance |
| Mammoth Hot Springs (Yellowstone) | Mammoth, WY | Travertine terraces · viewing only |
| Grand Prismatic Spring | Yellowstone NP, WY | Yellowstone · largest in U.S. |
| Old Faithful (Yellowstone) | Yellowstone NP, WY | Most-famous geyser in the world |
| Hot Spring | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Conundrum Hot Springs | Aspen, CO | 8.5 mi hike |
| Sunbeam Hot Springs (Idaho) | Stanley, ID | Salmon River · free · drive-in |
| Travertine Hot Springs | Bridgeport, CA | Eastern Sierra |
| Deep Creek Hot Springs | San Bernardino, CA | Southern CA · 2-mi hike |
| Buckeye Hot Springs | Bridgeport, CA | Eastern Sierra cliffside |
| Hot Spring | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Ojo Caliente (NM) | Ojo Caliente, NM | Native American sacred · resort |
| Ten Thousand Waves (Santa Fe) | Santa Fe, NM | Japanese-style spa |
| Truth or Consequences (NM) | Truth or Consequences, NM | Town built on hot springs |
| Saratoga Hot Springs (Wyoming) | Saratoga, WY | Free public Hobo Pool |
Turn this list into a keepsake. The Triptyka Hot Springs Passport is a printable PDF with a curated checklist, a detail page for each spring, suggested routes, and achievement badges to earn.
Get the Printable Passport — $9.99 on Etsy →Never soak in protected thermal features. In Yellowstone and many national parks, the hot springs are for viewing only — soaking in them is dangerous and illegal, and the parks list the few designated places where soaking is allowed. Check water temperature before you get in; some wild springs run scalding. Practice Leave No Trace at wild soaks — pack out everything and respect the site. Go in the shoulder seasons for smaller crowds, and know that some remote springs are clothing-optional, so check the norms before you arrive.
Hot Springs, Arkansas — protected since 1832 and later a national park — is home to historic Bathhouse Row and is often called the country's oldest spa destination.
Almost never. Yellowstone's thermal features are extremely hot and fragile, and soaking in them is both dangerous and illegal. A few designated spots allow soaking where cool water mixes with thermal water; always follow park rules and posted signs.
They can be, but temperatures vary widely and some run dangerously hot. Test the water before entering, never soak alone in remote areas, and follow Leave No Trace principles to protect the site.
It varies. Developed resorts charge admission, national-park sites may have entrance fees, and some backcountry springs on public land are free — though they require a hike and offer no facilities.
A printable hot springs passport — a curated checklist, a detail page for each spring, suggested routes, and achievement badges — makes it easy to mark off each soak.