Onseya guideAlaska · 4 destinations

Best hot springs in Alaska

Alaska has many hot springs, but only a handful you can actually reach and soak in. Two are at the end of roads out of Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Resort, open year-round with day passes, and the private spa house at Manley Hot Springs. The other two need a ferry or a small plane — the town bathhouse in Tenakee Springs in Southeast Alaska and the National Park Service bathhouse at Serpentine Hot Springs near Nome. This page gathers every open option, grouped by kind.

Destinations4

Geothermal4 of 4

Water range82–106 °F

Jump toBig Resorts & Iconic Pools Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals Town & Family Pools Wild Natural Springs Compare all FAQ

Category 01

Big Resorts & Iconic Pools

Large, well-equipped complexes with many pools, full facilities and easy access.

Fairbanks

Chena Hot Springs Resort

Fairbanks

Chena Hot Springs Resort

Chena Hot Springs Resort sits at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road east of Fairbanks and is billed as Alaska's only year-round natural hot springs resort. Day visitors can soak without staying overnight; the outdoor hot springs lake, about 106°F, is adults-only, and families use an indoor pool. Lodge rooms, dry cabins and RV sites are on site.

Water: 82–106 °F
Price: Adults (18-59) $20, seniors 60+ $18, ages 6-17 $17, 5 and under free; 10-pass family pass $150; towel $5 (official, checked 2026-10-16)
Lodging: Lodge rooms (Moose Lodge, Fox Rooms), dry cabins and RV sites (official and explorefairbanks, checked 2026-10-16)
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsCampingRestaurantPets Ok

Official site →

Category 02

Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals

Places built around an overnight stay: cabins, guest ranches and private houses with their own pools. Some also sell day passes.

Manley Hot Springs

Manley Hot Springs Resort

Manley Hot Springs

Manley Hot Springs Resort

Manley Hot Springs Resort is in the town of Manley Hot Springs at the end of the Elliott Highway, about 156 road miles from Fairbanks. Geothermal water flows through a private soaking tub in a plant-filled spa house, booked by the hour for up to five people. The resort also has cabins, a restaurant and a bar.

Water: —
Price: Private soak $30 per person per hour (up to 5 people); public slots limited when cabins are booked; resort guests have 24/7 access to private one-hour sessions (official, checked 2026-10-16)
Lodging: Cabins at the resort (official site); historic Manley Roadhouse (built 1906) nearby also has rooms (travelalaska)
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsRestaurant

Official site →

Category 03

Town & Family Pools

Municipal and community pools, most of them fed by hot springs. Affordable, family-friendly, easy walk-ins.

Tenakee Springs

Tenakee Springs Hot Springs Bath House

Tenakee Springs

Tenakee Springs Hot Springs Bath House

The Tenakee Springs bathhouse stands in the middle of a roadless town on Chichagof Island, reached by state ferry or floatplane. A volunteer committee keeps the 106°F sulfur spring tub open for public bathing on a donation basis. Bathing is nude, so men and women soak at separate posted hours.

Water: 106 °F
Price: Free (donations encouraged)
Lodging: —
Clothing: —

Official site →

Category 04

Wild Natural Springs

Undeveloped springs, mostly on public land, with few or no facilities. Most are free, though a few sit inside fee areas. Access ranges from roadside pullouts to long hikes.

Nome

Serpentine Hot Springs

Nome

Serpentine Hot Springs

Serpentine Hot Springs lies in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, reached by air taxi from Nome or, in winter, by snowmobile or dogsled. Spring water is piped with river water into a redwood tub in a small bathhouse, and a public-use bunkhouse sleeps about 12 on a first-come basis. There are no fees.

Water: —
Price: Free (no fees in the preserve)
Lodging: NPS public-use bunkhouse sleeping about 12 in three rooms, first-come, first-served, no reservations; bring sleeping bags and fuel
Clothing: —

CabinsViews

Official site →

Reference

All 4 at a glance

One row per destination — region, type, whether you can walk in for the day, price, water temperature and clothing policy.

Name	Region	Type	Lodging	Day pass	Price	Water	Clothing
Chena Hot Springs Resort	Interior Alaska	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Lodge rooms (Moose Lodge, Fox Rooms), dry cabins and RV sites (official and explorefairbanks, checked 2026-10-16)	Yes	Adults (18-59) $20, seniors 60+ $18, ages 6-17 $17, 5 and under free; 10-pass family pass $150; towel $5 (official, checked 2026-10-16)	82–106 °F	—
Manley Hot Springs Resort	Interior Alaska	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Cabins at the resort (official site); historic Manley Roadhouse (built 1906) nearby also has rooms (travelalaska)	Yes	Private soak $30 per person per hour (up to 5 people); public slots limited when cabins are booked; resort guests have 24/7 access to private one-hour sessions (official, checked 2026-10-16)	—	—
Serpentine Hot Springs	Seward Peninsula	Wild Natural Springs	NPS public-use bunkhouse sleeping about 12 in three rooms, first-come, first-served, no reservations; bring sleeping bags and fuel	No	Free (no fees in the preserve)	—	—
Tenakee Springs Hot Springs Bath House	Southeast Alaska	Town & Family Pools	No	No	Free (donations encouraged)	106 °F	—

Reference

Frequently asked

The most common questions about soaking in Alaska's hot springs — which ones you can drive to, who can go and what to expect.

Which Alaska hot springs can you drive to?

Two of the 4 places on this page are on the road system, both from Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Resort (about 1h 21m) at the end of Chena Hot Springs Road, and Manley Hot Springs (about 4h 17m) at the end of the Elliott Highway. Tenakee Springs is reached by state ferry or floatplane, and Serpentine Hot Springs by air taxi from Nome or, in winter, by snowmobile.

Can you visit Chena Hot Springs without staying overnight?

Yes. The resort sells day passes to the pool house, open daily year-round, and no reservation is needed. The outdoor hot springs lake, about 106°F and unchlorinated, is for adults 18 and over; children use the indoor pool and an outdoor hot tub with an adult. The card below gives current prices and hours.

How does soaking work at Manley Hot Springs?

Soaks are private and booked by the hour: geothermal water flows through a tub in a plant-filled spa house run by Manley Hot Springs Resort, for up to five people at a time. Public slots are limited when the resort cabins are booked, so arrange your time with the resort before making the long drive.

What should I know before using the Tenakee Springs bathhouse?

The bathhouse in the middle of Tenakee Springs is kept by a volunteer committee and is free, with donations encouraged. Bathing is nude, so men and women soak at separate posted hours, and visitors are expected to wash before getting in. The posted rules are taken seriously — many residents rely on the bathhouse.

Do you need a reservation for Serpentine Hot Springs?

No. Serpentine is in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, where there are no fees; the bathhouse and a bunkhouse sleeping about 12 are first-come, first-served. The National Park Service warns that the spring water can reach about 170°F, so check the tub before getting in, and in winter the pipes can freeze.