Onseya guideCalifornia · 49 destinations

Best hot springs in California

California's hot springs run the length of the state. In the north, the spa towns of Calistoga and Sonoma sit within a couple of hours of San Francisco, with retreats in the Coast Ranges beyond. In the south, the small hotels of Desert Hot Springs fill their pools from the hot aquifer beneath the town, and large resorts such as Glen Ivy and Murrieta sit inland from Los Angeles. Along the Eastern Sierra, free soaking tubs dot Long Valley near Mammoth Lakes. This page gathers every open spring in the state, grouped by kind.

Destinations49

Geothermal47 of 49

Water range85–120 °F

Jump toBig Resorts & Iconic Pools Historic Spas & Vapor Caves Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges 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.

Tecopa, CA

Death Valley Hot Springs (formerly Delight's Hot Springs Resort)

Tecopa, CA

Death Valley Hot Springs (formerly Delight's Hot Springs Resort)

Private bathhouse pools booked in short slots, plus a cooler outdoor community pool, set on a property with cabins, cottages, motel rooms and an RV park. Adults only, though pets are welcome. Overnight guests get pool access around the clock.

Water: 102–104 °F
Price: Day pass Mon $30, Tue-Wed $25, Thu $30, Fri-Sun $35 (8am-5pm); night pass $35 after 4pm
Lodging: Cabins, cottages, motel rooms, RV park
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsCampingPets Ok

Official site →

Furnace Creek, CA

The Ranch at Death Valley

Furnace Creek, CA

The Ranch at Death Valley

A family-oriented resort inside the national park, built around a large spring-fed pool held at a constant warm temperature year-round. Rooms and cottages on site, dining nearby, and pool passes sold to the public at the registration desk.

Water: 87 °F
Price: Pool passes sold to the public at the Ranch registration desk; price not published online
Lodging: Hotel rooms and cottages inside Death Valley NP
Clothing: Required

PoolsRestaurantKids Ok

Official site →

Furnace Creek, CA

The Inn at Death Valley

Furnace Creek, CA

The Inn at Death Valley

The upscale half of the Furnace Creek properties, with a historic hotel and casitas above the valley floor. Its spring-fed pool stays warm year-round and is reserved for Inn guests, with a spa and fitness centre alongside it.

Water: 87 °F
Price: Pool is exclusive to Inn guests
Lodging: Historic 66-room hotel plus 22 casitas
Clothing: Required

PoolsRestaurantSpa

Official site →

Calistoga

Calistoga Spa Hot Springs

Calistoga

Calistoga Spa Hot Springs

Four outdoor pools of natural geothermal mineral water, reaching up to 104°F, include a shallow wading pool with a waterfall and a covered adults-only jet pool. The spa offers volcanic ash mud baths and massages. Hotel rooms have kitchenettes, downtown dining is a walk away, and non-guests reach the pools only with a spa treatment.

Water: 104 °F
Price: No standalone day pass: pool access for non-guests only with a spa treatment (pool pass price not published); Plus One companion of a spa guest $75; Extended Pool Pass for departing hotel guests $50 (ages 2+, until 9pm)
Lodging: Hotel rooms with kitchenettes
Clothing: —

PoolsSpaKids Ok

Official site →

Calistoga

Indian Springs Calistoga

Calistoga

Indian Springs Calistoga

Steam rises from four thermal geysers at this 17-acre Calistoga resort, where a historic Olympic-size mineral pool and a smaller adults-only pool run about 92 to 102°F by season. The spa specializes in volcanic mud baths. Guests stay in cottages, bungalows or lodge rooms, and day spa guests can add a limited pool pass except on Saturdays.

Water: 92–102 °F
Price: No standalone day pass: pool pass $50 for day spa guests who book a 50-minute spa service, limited number, every day except Saturday, reserve in advance
Lodging: Historic cottages, bungalows and lodge rooms on 17 acres
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaRestaurantKids Ok

Official site →

Calistoga

Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort

Calistoga

Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort

A block off Calistoga's main street, Roman Spa runs three quiet soaking pools of natural geothermal water, from a seasonal outdoor pool at 92 to 96°F to a 103°F jetted hot tub. The Baths at Roman Spa offer mud and mineral baths for adults, and spa guests with a longer treatment can use the pools Sunday through Friday.

Water: 92–103 °F
Price: No standalone day pass: pool access for spa guests with a treatment of 45 min or more, Sunday-Friday, extra charge not published; mud bath $145 Mon-Fri / $150 Sat-Sun, mineral bath $110
Lodging: Hotel rooms and suites (Classico, Superiore, Splendido Suite with Jacuzzi tub)
Clothing: —

PoolsSpaKids Ok

Official site →

Calistoga

Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort

Calistoga

Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort

With 28 hotel rooms, some holding private hot springs spas, Golden Haven even pipes hot mineral water to its showers. Its gated, partly covered pool runs about 85 to 88°F beside two spas up to 104°F, all fed by the geothermal aquifer below. There is no day use, but any spa treatment includes pool access.

Water: 85–104 °F
Price: No day use of the pool; complimentary pool access with any spa treatment: couples and friends mud bath $128 per person Mon-Thu / $138 Fri-Sun and holidays, single mud bath $169
Lodging: 28 hotel rooms, some with private hot springs spas, plus two-bedroom units
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpa

Official site →

Boyes Hot Springs

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Boyes Hot Springs

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Captain Henry E. Boyes found the hot spring beneath this resort in 1895, and the rebuilt hotel opened in 1927. Its spa, billed as 40,000 square feet, has geothermal mineral pools, a eucalyptus steam room and a halotherapy sauna, with day access sold to non-guests. A separate family-friendly resort pool also uses naturally heated water.

Water: —
Price: Spa day access: resort guests $69 per person per day, non-resort guests from $99 to $199 per person; access fee waived for non-resort guests booking qualifying spa services Mon-Thu (excluding holidays), Fri-Sun a $59 access fee applies on top of treatment price
Lodging: Resort hotel
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaSaunaKids Ok

Official site →

Corona

Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Corona

Glen Ivy Hot Springs

Visitors have soaked here since 1860, when the place was known as Temescal Sulphur Springs; it took the Glen Ivy name in 1880. Today the day-use spa near Corona has 19 pools, with mineral baths fed by a natural geothermal source at about 104°F, plus Club Mud. Reservations are required, and guests must be 18 or older.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Day pass from $75 Mon-Fri / from $95-$105 Sat-Sun (October 2026), from $75 / from $85-$95 (November-December 2026); Deal of the Day from $65 on select days; evenings-only $60 (Fri-Sun, October 2-25)
Lodging: —
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaSaunaRestaurant

Official site →

Murrieta

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

Murrieta

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

A mineral springs destination since 1902, Murrieta Hot Springs reopened to the public in 2024 after a renovation. The resort describes its water as 100% natural geothermal, spread across family-friendly and adults-only pools with cold plunges, a sauna and a historic bathhouse. Day passes run 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and overnight guests can soak around the clock.

Water: —
Price: Hot Spring Day Pass from $109; Twilight Pass (from 4pm) from $59; Local Resident Day Pass from $59 with local ID; children 2 and under free
Lodging: Resort hotel rooms and suites
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaSaunaRestaurantPets Ok

Official site →

Category 02

Historic Spas & Vapor Caves

Historic bathhouses, vapor caves and small-town spa hotels with a long soaking tradition.

Calistoga

Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

Calistoga

Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

Operating since 1952 on Lincoln Avenue, a walk from downtown Calistoga, this hotel has three mineral pools up to 104°F: two outdoor and one indoor in the adults-only Spa Gardens. Its signature spa treatment, The Works, combines a mud bath, mineral whirlpool, steam room, blanket wrap and massage. The on-site House of Better serves meals.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Daycation Pass from $90 ages 5+, ages 0-4 free (up to 2 per adult) via ResortPass; daybed from $168 for 2, cabanas from $224 for 2
Lodging: Hotel rooms (type and count from third-party pages only)
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaRestaurantKids Ok

Official site →

Ukiah

Vichy Springs Resort

Ukiah

Vichy Springs Resort

Established in 1854 near Ukiah, Vichy Springs is California Historical Landmark No. 980 and is billed as having North America's only naturally carbonated Vichy mineral baths. Alongside the warm baths are a hot soaking pool and a seasonal Olympic-size pool. Day use is sold for set hours or all day, and guests can walk a 700-acre private reserve with a waterfall.

Water: —
Price: Day use per person (2026): up to 2 hours $45, up to 3 hours $65, all day $110, all day with a spa service $55; towel rental $3, swimsuit rental $3, bathrobe rental $13; holiday periods two-hour day use only
Lodging: Rooms, suite and cottages (26 rooms and cottages; three cottages built in 1852 still in use)
Clothing: Required

PoolsCabinsSpa

Official site →

Palm Springs

The Spa at Séc-he (Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza)

Palm Springs

The Spa at Séc-he (Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza)

Owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, this Palm Springs spa draws on the tribe's Agua Caliente Hot Mineral Spring, called Séc-he, Cahuilla for the sound of boiling water. Its Taking of the Waters day pass centers on 22 private mineral baths at 105°F, plus salt caves, steam, sauna and a cold plunge. Guests must be 18+.

Water: 105 °F
Price: Taking of the Waters day pass $135 Mon-Thu / $165 Fri-Sun and holidays; with a spa service of $200+ the pass is $25 / $35
Lodging: —
Clothing: Mixed

PoolsSpaSaunaRestaurant

Official site →

Jacumba Hot Springs

Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel

Jacumba Hot Springs

Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel

Reopened in 2024 after a restoration, this historic hotel in a desert town near the Mexican border says its geothermal spring water reaches the pools untreated. Pass holders can use the Ritual and Solstice pools at 96 to 101°F, while the indoor Echo Room is for hotel guests. All pools are 21+, and Long Shadow restaurant is on site.

Water: 90–103 °F
Price: Ritual Pool Pass from $25, Solstice Pool Pass from $50, Ritual Star Soak (evening) Pass from $20; pool access 21+ (official /pages/pool-pass, checked 2026-10-12)
Lodging: Hotel of about 20 rooms for adults 21+ (hiddensandiego.com); suites, casitas with private soaking tubs, The Lodge, The Village House and La Ranchita guest house (official homepage); off-site casitas allow children and pets
Clothing: —

PoolsRestaurantSpa

Official site →

Paso Robles

River Oaks Hot Springs Spa

Paso Robles

River Oaks Hot Springs Spa

Family-owned since 2005, this Paso Robles spa next to River Oaks Golf Course fills its tubs with artesian thermal mineral water. Guests rent private indoor tubs or semi-private outdoor ones by the hour, and reservations are required. Massage, facials and body treatments are offered, and there is no lodging on site.

Water: —
Price: Private mineral spa 1 hour $30 per person; Tue-Wed midweek special 2 people $38; Sip & Soak 1 hour $65 per guest; towel rental $3
Lodging: —
Clothing: —

Spa

Official site →

Category 03

Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges

Quiet, nature-first places focused on soaking and recovery. Clothing and age rules vary, so check each listing before you go.

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Palms Therapeutic Hot Springs Resort

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Palms Therapeutic Hot Springs Resort

Private mineral pools kept hot and left untreated, with a pre-shower and nudity required in the pool rooms and no one under eighteen. Lodging ranges from a tiny house and cabins to a bunk house and camping. Quiet and therapy-minded.

Water: 102–104 °F
Price: Pool pass $30/person; $25 for age 62+, military, or groups of 4+
Lodging: Tiny house, cabins, bunk house, RV and dry camping sites
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsCamping

Official site →

Middletown

Harbin Hot Springs

Middletown

Harbin Hot Springs

Up a narrow, winding mountain road near Middletown, this clothing-optional retreat has eight spring-fed pools cleaned with hydrogen peroxide, ozone and UV instead of chlorine. Watsu bodywork was first developed in its Warm Pool, and there is a cedar sauna and steam room. Adult visitors need a membership for day visits or stays in cottages, domes, caravans or campsites.

Water: 98–115 °F
Price: Membership required for all guests 18+: one month $15, one year $35, lifetime $300 (members may bring up to 3 children 0-17). 6-hour day visit: adults $45/$55, children $25 (weekdays/Fri-Sun); 3-hour Harmony Pass adults and children $25/$30; 3-hour Lake County Local Pass $20/$25 (proof of residence); 24-hour visit with camping adults $60/$75, children $40/$55; $5 walk-in fee without online reservation
Lodging: Grove Cottages, Harbin Domes, Creekside Caravans + camping (meadow and car camping)
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSaunaCabinsCampingKids Ok

Official site →

Williams

Wilbur Hot Springs

Williams

Wilbur Hot Springs

About an hour and a half from Sacramento on narrow, winding roads, Wilbur's soaking flumes hold hot mineral water the operator describes as undiluted, untreated and unheated, averaging about 100 to 109°F. Bathing is clothing-optional and device-free. Overnight guests choose cabins, hotel rooms or seasonal camping and cook in a shared kitchen; day use is also sold.

Water: 100–109 °F
Price: Day use $68.82 weekdays, $76.59 weekends and holidays (10am-5pm, includes 11% land management fee); no children or senior rates listed
Lodging: Cabins, cabin suite, Solar Lodge rooms, historic hotel rooms, bunk room + seasonal camping (April-October)
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSaunaCabinsCamping

Official site →

Ukiah

Orr Hot Springs Resort

Ukiah

Orr Hot Springs Resort

Thirty minutes from Ukiah up a narrow, winding mountain road, Orr sits at the headwaters of the Big River and was once a stagecoach rest stop. Communal and private mineral tubs, clothing optional, sit beside a cold spring-fed pool, sauna and steam room. Guests come for day use or stay in rooms, yurts, cottages or campsites.

Water: 104–108 °F
Price: Day use $50 per person; rooms and yurts $260 + tax per night for 1-2 adults; cottages and Creekhouse $325 + tax per night for 1-2 adults; additional adult $80; camping $80 + tax per adult, $35 per child (no children under 9)
Lodging: Rooms, yurts, cottages and a creekhouse + camping; shared communal kitchen, no food sold on site
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSaunaCabinsCampingKids Ok

Official site →

Sierraville

Sierra Hot Springs

Sierraville

Sierra Hot Springs

A non-profit retreat on more than 600 acres bordering national forest near Sierraville, Sierra Hot Springs keeps its hot pool inside a geodesic dome with stained glass and skylights, while the Meditation Pool sits under open sky. Pools are clothing-optional. Day and evening soaks require a membership for one person per party, and lodging includes lodge rooms and a campground.

Water: 95–112 °F
Price: Day use (Thu-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm): adults $35 Thu-Fri / $40 Sat-Sun and holidays, children $25; evening soak (Wed-Sun 4-11pm): adults $35 Wed-Thu / $40 Fri-Sun and holidays; membership required for at least one person per party (30 days $5, 1 year $20, lifetime $300); lodging from $160/$198 per night (Wed-Thu / Fri-Sun, double occupancy, tax included); camping $45/$60 per person per night
Lodging: Main Lodge rooms, Globe Hotel rooms in Sierraville, tent/RV campground (no hookups)
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSaunaCampingRestaurantKids Ok

Official site →

Big Sur

Esalen Institute Hot Springs

Big Sur

Esalen Institute Hot Springs

Esalen's cliffside baths in Big Sur occupy the site of the historic Slates Hot Springs; the bathhouse, destroyed by El Niño storms in 1999, was rebuilt to a design by Mickey Muennig. Communal stone tubs and claw-foot tubs are clothing-optional and camera-free. Day visitors must book a massage or bodywork service, while workshop and retreat stays include meals and round-the-clock soaking.

Water: —
Price: Healing Arts day pass from $380 (includes one massage or bodywork service, three meals and hot springs access 8:30am-8:30pm), extended hours +$110; stays from $560 for 2 nights (sleeping bag space) to $3,160-$5,300 for 2 nights (suites), meals included
Lodging: Workshop and retreat stays: shared and private rooms, bunk rooms, sleeping bag spaces, yurts and suites; three meals daily included
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSpaViews

Official site →

Carmel Valley

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Tassajara Hot Springs)

Carmel Valley

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Tassajara Hot Springs)

A Zen training monastery of the San Francisco Zen Center since 1967, Tassajara opens to the public by reservation only during a summer guest season. Its bathhouse has steam rooms, a sauna, plunges and creek access. Guests stay in cabins, yurts or dorms with three vegetarian meals daily; the dirt road in requires high clearance.

Water: —
Price: —
Lodging: Summer guest season only: creekside cabins, mountain path cabins and yurts, shared dorms; three vegetarian meals daily included
Clothing: Optional

PoolsSaunaCabinsRiver

Official site →

Desert Hot Springs

Azure Palm Hot Springs

Desert Hot Springs

Azure Palm Hot Springs

Two private wells feed this adults-only Desert Hot Springs resort, whose 100-by-40-foot main pool is billed as the largest mineral water pool in Southern California. Jetted mineral spas run 99 to 104°F, and a one-acre desert garden holds free-flowing tubs and a reflexology walk. Guests stay in 22 suites with private mineral tubs; day passes also cover two Finnish saunas.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Oasis Day Pass $79 plus $1 per pass for the city's children's program; $10 off the pass when booking a spa treatment
Lodging: 22 spa suites with private in-room mineral water tubs
Clothing: Required

PoolsSpaSaunaRestaurant

Official site →

Desert Hot Springs

Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa

Desert Hot Springs

Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa

Water for this Italian-inspired boutique hotel comes from a 350-foot well that the hotel says is volcanically heated to 117°F. A large hot mineral pool, two mineral Jacuzzis and a dry sauna serve 16 rooms, and guests must be 21 or older. Four-hour day use is sold, and any treatment at La Bella Spa includes the pools.

Water: —
Price: Day use of pools and dry sauna $50 per person for 4 hours; pool use free with any spa treatment at La Bella Spa
Lodging: 16 boutique hotel rooms (Garden and Mountain View Private Terrace), continental breakfast included
Clothing: —

PoolsSpaSauna

Official site →

Desert Hot Springs

Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa

Desert Hot Springs

Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa

Local lore links this resort to Al Capone in the 1920s and 1930s, and by the 1950s it was a Hollywood retreat. Its official history says the springs emerge naturally at over 100°F from an aquifer described as 600 years old. Day Retreat and Mineral Soak passes are offered, with limited availability.

Water: —
Price: —
Lodging: Rooms and suites (67 per hotspringsguides.com)
Clothing: —

PoolsSpaRestaurant

Official site →

Category 04

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.

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Hot Springs Resort

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Hot Springs Resort

A rustic property with motel rooms, cabins and a campground, built around private flow-through tub rooms open most of the day on a first-come basis. Runs in the cooler half of the year only, with no wi-fi or cell service.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Day pass $20/person; included for overnight guests
Lodging: 12-room motel, 4 cabins, campground
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsCampingRestaurant

Official site →

Cedarville

Surprise Valley Hot Springs

Cedarville

Surprise Valley Hot Springs

Each room at Surprise Valley Hot Springs near Cedarville comes with a private hot springs tub on a fenced patio or indoors in the suites, fed by mineral water from a 100-foot artesian well. There are no shared pools and no day use. Rooms have full kitchens, some are pet-friendly, and guests can fish for largemouth bass in the ponds.

Water: —
Price: No day use; rooms Sun-Thu / Fri-Sat: Standard $117/$147, Deluxe $137/$167, 1-bedroom suite $147/$177, 2-bedroom suite $167/$197, plus 4% bed tax; two-night minimum
Lodging: Standard and deluxe rooms and 1-2 bedroom suites, each with a private hot springs tub (15 outdoor, 4 indoor)
Clothing: —

Pets Ok

Official site →

Niland

Glamis North Hot Springs Resort

Niland

Glamis North Hot Springs Resort

Near Niland and the Glamis dunes, this RV resort cools hot spring water, which the operator says emerges at 160°F, for two therapeutic pools and 14 chlorine-free hot tubs; two family pools are chemically treated. Guests stay in full-hookup RV sites, camping cabins or tent sites, and day passes are offered. Operation is seasonal.

Water: —
Price: —
Lodging: RV sites, camping cabins, tent/dry camping
Clothing: —

PoolsCabinsCampingKids Ok

Official site →

Desert Hot Springs

Sam's Family Spa Hot Water Resort

Desert Hot Springs

Sam's Family Spa Hot Water Resort

More than 175 full-hookup RV sites, motel rooms and five tiny homes make up this family-oriented resort, where four chlorine-free hot spring pools, one indoor, are drained and refilled every morning. The operator says the water is geothermal, drawn from the Desert Hot Springs aquifer. Day passes, sold first come, first served, also cover a swimming pool and sauna.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Day pass $25 Mon-Fri / $30 Sat-Sun and holidays, ages 4 and under free, pets $10
Lodging: Motel rooms, tiny homes, RV sites
Clothing: —

PoolsSaunaCampingPets OkKids Ok

Official site →

Avila Beach

Avila Hot Springs

Avila Beach

Avila Hot Springs

An artesian well brings up geothermal water at 130 to 135°F, cooled to about 104°F in a mineral soaking pool open to children 8 and older. A large freshwater pool with a double water slide is heated by the hot spring and watched by lifeguards. Tent and RV campsites and massage therapy are also offered.

Water: 104 °F
Price: Adults 16+ $29, ages 15 and under $26, seniors 55+ $26; morning pass (8am-noon) $18, Sundowner (after 5pm) $18
Lodging: Tent and RV campsites; cabins (official site lists monthly cabin rentals)
Clothing: Required

PoolsCampingSpaKids Ok

Official site →

Paso Robles

Franklin Hot Springs

Paso Robles

Franklin Hot Springs

A 1952 Texaco oil survey struck mineral water on Wesley Franklin's farm near Paso Robles; his family opened the springs to the public in the 1980s. One all-day pass covers a 100°F hot tub, a large pool near 97°F and a pond for license-free fishing and boating. Tent and RV campsites are also available.

Water: 97–100 °F
Price: Adults $10, under 14, seniors and military $8 (all-day pass); camping $30 tent or RV, sites $75-85, plus admission
Lodging: Campground only (tent and RV sites)
Clothing: Required

PoolsCampingKids Ok

Official site →

Benton

The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

Benton

The Inn at Benton Hot Springs

Soaking is for overnight guests only: 13 tub campsites each have a private spring-fed tub, and two Dark Skies sites allow no children or pets. Paiute people founded Benton and used its springs; the town boomed after an 1864 silver strike, and the Bramlette family has owned the site since 1928. Clothing is optional, and inn rooms include breakfast.

Water: 98–108 °F
Price: Tub sites $95/night (sites 1-3, 11-12, up to 2 people) or $105/night (sites 4-10 and 13, up to 3 people), extra person $10; Dark Skies sites 14-15 $125/night (max 2); inn rooms $169/night for 2, extra guest $15/day
Lodging: Inn rooms (breakfast included), cabins, house rentals, vintage Airstream; 15 tub campsites with private hot tubs (no hookups)
Clothing: Optional

CabinsCampingViewsPets OkKids Ok

Official site →

Category 05

Town & Family Pools

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

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground

Tecopa, CA

Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground

A no-frills county bathhouse alongside a large campground, with separate men's and women's sides where nudity is required by local ordinance. One private pool can be rented by the hour. Passes run by the day, week or month.

Water: —
Price: Bath pass $10/day, $65/week, $200/month; private pool $25/hr ($10/hr for campers); campsites from $21
Lodging: Campground with 200+ sites, some with electric hookups
Clothing: —

PoolsCamping

Official site →

Shoshone, CA

Shoshone Hot Springs Pool

Shoshone, CA

Shoshone Hot Springs Pool

A warm spring-fed pool reserved for guests of the village inn, campground and rentals; a key is issued at the desk and the pool sits a short distance away. Low-key and historic, with no day passes sold.

Water: 90 °F
Price: Included with an overnight stay; not sold as a standalone day pass
Lodging: Shoshone Inn (17 rooms), campground, RV park, vacation rentals
Clothing: —

PoolsCamping

Official site →

Glen Ellen

Morton's Warm Springs Resort

Glen Ellen

Morton's Warm Springs Resort

Three geothermal pools, from a deep diving pool to a toddler wading pool, draw families to this Glen Ellen day-use resort, with water from about 90°F. Grounds along Sonoma Creek have picnic areas with barbecues and Cafe 108. The first bathhouse opened in the 1880s; today day visits are sold on a sliding scale, and swimsuits are required.

Water: 90 °F
Price: Day visit sliding scale (online): standard $23, Replenish $30, hardship $18 Tue-Fri / $20 Sat-Sun and holidays; $25 at the gate without reservation; ages 2 and under free (swim diaper required)
Lodging: —
Clothing: Required

PoolsRestaurantRiverKids OkPets Ok

Official site →

Markleeville

Grover Hot Springs State Park

Markleeville

Grover Hot Springs State Park

Four miles west of Markleeville, this state park pairs a hot soaking pool fed by natural hot springs with a cooler swimming pool. Bromine reacting with the mineral salts tints the water yellow-green. The park has a 76-site campground with fire pits and bear lockers, plus a winter campground.

Water: 102–104 °F
Price: Pool: adults $10, children $5; day-use parking $8 per vehicle ($7 seniors)
Lodging: Campground only (state park campground, 76 sites; winter campground)
Clothing: Required

PoolsCampingKids Ok

Julian

Agua Caliente County Park

Julian

Agua Caliente County Park

Geothermally heated springs supply this 910-acre San Diego County park in the Anza-Borrego Desert, which has an outdoor swimming pool, a children's wading pool and an indoor spa at about 102°F with adults-only hours. About 140 campsites, some with RV hookups, and cabins are available. The park is open from Labor Day weekend through Memorial Day, closing for summer.

Water: 90–102 °F
Price: —
Lodging: County campground: about 140 tent and RV sites (some with hookups) and camping cabins
Clothing: —

PoolsCampingCabinsKids Ok

Official site →

Category 06

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.

Big Bend

Hunt Hot Springs

Big Bend

Hunt Hot Springs

Volunteer-built concrete and rock tubs sit beside Kosk Creek near Big Bend, fed directly by a geothermal source, with more rock tubs at the creek's edge. The springs are on private land reached by a half-mile walk downstream from the Kosk Creek bridge on Summit Lake Road. Day passes and first-come campsites without drinking water are sold through Hipcamp.

Water: 100–120 °F
Price: Day pass $15 per person
Lodging: Campground only (Hipcamp listing Kosk Creek Campgrounds: 30 first-come sites, tent and RV, no hookups, no potable water)
Clothing: —

PoolsCampingRiverPets Ok

Big Bend

Kosk Hot Springs

Big Bend

Kosk Hot Springs

A hand-built rock pool for about three people sits on the bank of Kosk Creek, about a quarter mile downstream of Hunt Hot Springs, fed by warm water emerging from a stone cliff. Day use and camping on this private land have been sold through Hipcamp since 2025.

Water: 100–110 °F
Price: Day pass $15 per person
Lodging: Campground only (Hipcamp listing Kosk Creek Campgrounds: 30 first-come sites, tent and RV, no hookups, no potable water)
Clothing: Optional

PoolsCampingRiverPets Ok

Stinson Beach

Marin Tidal Hot Springs (Rocky Point Hot Springs)

Stinson Beach

Marin Tidal Hot Springs (Rocky Point Hot Springs)

Geothermal vents in a rocky grotto under a large boulder on Steep Ravine Beach, in Mount Tamalpais State Park, surface only at tides of minus one foot or lower, for about two hours. A steep, eroded trail leads down to the beach. Volunteers maintain the site, which runs on no-soap, no-glass, pack-it-out rules.

Water: 100 °F
Price: —
Lodging: —
Clothing: —

Views

Gaviota

Gaviota Hot Springs

Gaviota

Gaviota Hot Springs

Also known as Las Cruces Hot Springs, these springs lie about half a mile up the Gaviota Peak trail in Gaviota State Park. An upper rock-and-concrete basin built by the WPA is warmer and clearer than the milky lower pool. Pools run about 95 to 100°F, warm rather than hot, and poison oak grows along the trail.

Water: 95–100 °F
Price: Springs free; $2 trailhead parking fee (hikespeak, updated 2025-12-06, checked 2026-10-12)
Lodging: —
Clothing: —

Pools

Ojai

Sespe Hot Springs

Ojai

Sespe Hot Springs

Reachable only on foot in the Sespe Wilderness of Los Padres National Forest, these springs lie 7.5 to 17 miles one way from the nearest trailheads, depending on route, so most visitors backpack in over several days. The source emerges near 194°F. Summer heat tops 100°F, winter flash floods hit creek crossings, and clothing is optional by custom.

Water: 105 °F
Price: Springs free; Adventure Pass required to park at Piedra Blanca and Johnston Ridge trailheads (hotspringsguides updated 2026-09-21; calihotsprings) - checked 2026-10-12
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsCampingRiver

Bodfish

Remington Hot Springs

Bodfish

Remington Hot Springs

Volunteers known as the Kern River Hot Springs Angels keep up the stone-and-cement tubs at this free spot on the Kern River in Sequoia National Forest. A steep quarter-mile trail drops about 300 feet from a small pullout lot that fills on weekends. The main source runs about 106°F, and strong currents and dam releases make the river hazardous.

Water: 100–106 °F
Price: Free; free dirt parking lot for about 15 cars (hotspringsguides updated 2026-09-21, checked 2026-10-12)
Lodging: —
Clothing: —

PoolsRiver

Bridgeport

Travertine Hot Springs

Bridgeport

Travertine Hot Springs

Hot water flows from fissures across travertine terraces at about 6,700 feet, two miles southeast of Bridgeport, where volunteers built primitive rock pools and a concrete tub. Soaking is free, with a pit toilet at the parking area and no camping. The dirt access road is not maintained in winter, and BLM has closed the site at times for tribal ceremonies.

Water: —
Price: Free
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

Pools

Mammoth Lakes

Wild Willy's Hot Spring

Mammoth Lakes

Wild Willy's Hot Spring

Two naturally fed pools with earth floors sit at the end of a quarter-mile boardwalk on BLM land in the Long Valley Caldera. The main pools run about 95 to 105°F, and a smaller heart-shaped pool is hotter. Entry is free; the dirt access road can be impassable after rain or snow, and the lot fills on summer weekends.

Water: 95–105 °F
Price: Free
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsViewsPets Ok

Mammoth Lakes

Hilltop Hot Spring (Pulky's Pool)

Mammoth Lakes

Hilltop Hot Spring (Pulky's Pool)

Hilltop, also known as Pulky's Pool, is a rock-and-cement tub on a rise above the marsh. Gate valves blend cold water with geothermal water piped from a source near 130°F for a soak of roughly 100 to 110°F. There is no fee; a quarter-mile path and boardwalk lead from parking, and the dirt road may close in heavy snow.

Water: 100–110 °F
Price: Free
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsViews

Mammoth Lakes

Shepherd Hot Spring

Mammoth Lakes

Shepherd Hot Spring

Parking sits beside Shepherd's concrete-and-rock tub on public land in the Long Valley Caldera, so no walk is needed. A valve on the inlet pipe controls water piped from a natural hot spring about 150 feet away, and the tub runs about 100 to 110°F. Soaking is free, but the dirt roads can be impassable after rain or snow.

Water: 100–110 °F
Price: Free
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsViews

Mammoth Lakes

Rock Tub Hot Spring (Whitmore Tubs)

Mammoth Lakes

Rock Tub Hot Spring (Whitmore Tubs)

Often called Whitmore Tubs, but separate from the town's Whitmore Pool, Rock Tub is a rock-and-concrete tub next to the parking area on BLM land. Hot water arrives through a long pipe from a source on the hillside. No fee is charged; access is via unpaved Whitmore Tubs Road, which can be impassable in snow and muddy after storms.

Water: —
Price: Free
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsViews

Big Pine

Saline Valley Palm Spring

Big Pine

Saline Valley Palm Spring

Palm Spring is one of the Saline Valley Warm Springs in Death Valley National Park, reached on a long unpaved road that requires a high-clearance vehicle. Two soaking tubs, Volcano Pool and Wizard Pool, run about 98 to 112°F, and the area is clothing-optional. The park entrance fee applies; neighboring Lower Springs was closed after a September 2026 fire.

Water: 98–112 °F
Price: Death Valley NP entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, $25 motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bicycle (all valid 7 days), annual pass $55; no separate fee for the springs
Lodging: —
Clothing: Optional

PoolsCamping

Reference

All 49 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
Agua Caliente County Park	San Diego & Imperial Backcountry	Town & Family Pools	County campground: about 140 tent and RV sites (some with hookups) and camping cabins	Yes	—	90–102 °F	—
Avila Hot Springs	Central Coast	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Tent and RV campsites; cabins (official site lists monthly cabin rentals)	Yes	Adults 16+ $29, ages 15 and under $26, seniors 55+ $26; morning pass (8am-noon) $18, Sundowner (after 5pm) $18	104 °F	Required
Azure Palm Hot Springs	Greater Palm Springs	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	22 spa suites with private in-room mineral water tubs	Yes	Oasis Day Pass $79 plus $1 per pass for the city's children's program; $10 off the pass when booking a spa treatment	104 °F	Required
Calistoga Spa Hot Springs	Napa Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Hotel rooms with kitchenettes	No	No standalone day pass: pool access for non-guests only with a spa treatment (pool pass price not published); Plus One companion of a spa guest $75; Extended Pool Pass for departing hotel guests $50 (ages 2+, until 9pm)	104 °F	—
Death Valley Hot Springs (formerly Delight's Hot Springs Resort)	Amargosa Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Cabins, cottages, motel rooms, RV park	Yes	Day pass Mon $30, Tue-Wed $25, Thu $30, Fri-Sun $35 (8am-5pm); night pass $35 after 4pm	102–104 °F	—
Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs	Napa Valley	Historic Spas & Vapor Caves	Hotel rooms (type and count from third-party pages only)	Yes	Daycation Pass from $90 ages 5+, ages 0-4 free (up to 2 per adult) via ResortPass; daybed from $168 for 2, cabanas from $224 for 2	104 °F	Required
Esalen Institute Hot Springs	Central Coast	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Workshop and retreat stays: shared and private rooms, bunk rooms, sleeping bag spaces, yurts and suites; three meals daily included	Yes	Healing Arts day pass from $380 (includes one massage or bodywork service, three meals and hot springs access 8:30am-8:30pm), extended hours +$110; stays from $560 for 2 nights (sleeping bag space) to $3,160-$5,300 for 2 nights (suites), meals included	—	Optional
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa	Sonoma Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Resort hotel	Yes	Spa day access: resort guests $69 per person per day, non-resort guests from $99 to $199 per person; access fee waived for non-resort guests booking qualifying spa services Mon-Thu (excluding holidays), Fri-Sun a $59 access fee applies on top of treatment price	—	Required
Franklin Hot Springs	Central Coast	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Campground only (tent and RV sites)	Yes	Adults $10, under 14, seniors and military $8 (all-day pass); camping $30 tent or RV, sites $75-85, plus admission	97–100 °F	Required
Gaviota Hot Springs	Santa Barbara & Ojai Backcountry	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Springs free; $2 trailhead parking fee (hikespeak, updated 2025-12-06, checked 2026-10-12)	95–100 °F	—
Glamis North Hot Springs Resort	San Diego & Imperial Backcountry	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	RV sites, camping cabins, tent/dry camping	Yes	—	—	—
Glen Ivy Hot Springs	Inland Empire	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	No	Yes	Day pass from $75 Mon-Fri / from $95-$105 Sat-Sun (October 2026), from $75 / from $85-$95 (November-December 2026); Deal of the Day from $65 on select days; evenings-only $60 (Fri-Sun, October 2-25)	104 °F	Required
Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa & Resort	Napa Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	28 hotel rooms, some with private hot springs spas, plus two-bedroom units	No	No day use of the pool; complimentary pool access with any spa treatment: couples and friends mud bath $128 per person Mon-Thu / $138 Fri-Sun and holidays, single mud bath $169	85–104 °F	Required
Grover Hot Springs State Park	Northern Sierra	Town & Family Pools	Campground only (state park campground, 76 sites; winter campground)	Yes	Pool: adults $10, children $5; day-use parking $8 per vehicle ($7 seniors)	102–104 °F	Required
Harbin Hot Springs	North Coast Ranges	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Grove Cottages, Harbin Domes, Creekside Caravans + camping (meadow and car camping)	Yes	Membership required for all guests 18+: one month $15, one year $35, lifetime $300 (members may bring up to 3 children 0-17). 6-hour day visit: adults $45/$55, children $25 (weekdays/Fri-Sun); 3-hour Harmony Pass adults and children $25/$30; 3-hour Lake County Local Pass $20/$25 (proof of residence); 24-hour visit with camping adults $60/$75, children $40/$55; $5 walk-in fee without online reservation	98–115 °F	Optional
Hilltop Hot Spring (Pulky's Pool)	Long Valley & Mammoth Lakes	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free	100–110 °F	Optional
Hunt Hot Springs	Pit River Country	Wild Natural Springs	Campground only (Hipcamp listing Kosk Creek Campgrounds: 30 first-come sites, tent and RV, no hookups, no potable water)	Yes	Day pass $15 per person	100–120 °F	—
Indian Springs Calistoga	Napa Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Historic cottages, bungalows and lodge rooms on 17 acres	No	No standalone day pass: pool pass $50 for day spa guests who book a 50-minute spa service, limited number, every day except Saturday, reserve in advance	92–102 °F	Required
Jacumba Hot Springs Hotel	San Diego & Imperial Backcountry	Historic Spas & Vapor Caves	Hotel of about 20 rooms for adults 21+ (hiddensandiego.com); suites, casitas with private soaking tubs, The Lodge, The Village House and La Ranchita guest house (official homepage); off-site casitas allow children and pets	Yes	Ritual Pool Pass from $25, Solstice Pool Pass from $50, Ritual Star Soak (evening) Pass from $20; pool access 21+ (official /pages/pool-pass, checked 2026-10-12)	90–103 °F	—
Kosk Hot Springs	Pit River Country	Wild Natural Springs	Campground only (Hipcamp listing Kosk Creek Campgrounds: 30 first-come sites, tent and RV, no hookups, no potable water)	Yes	Day pass $15 per person	100–110 °F	Optional
Marin Tidal Hot Springs (Rocky Point Hot Springs)	Marin Coast	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	—	100 °F	—
Morton's Warm Springs Resort	Sonoma Valley	Town & Family Pools	No	Yes	Day visit sliding scale (online): standard $23, Replenish $30, hardship $18 Tue-Fri / $20 Sat-Sun and holidays; $25 at the gate without reservation; ages 2 and under free (swim diaper required)	90 °F	Required
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort	Inland Empire	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Resort hotel rooms and suites	Yes	Hot Spring Day Pass from $109; Twilight Pass (from 4pm) from $59; Local Resident Day Pass from $59 with local ID; children 2 and under free	—	Required
Orr Hot Springs Resort	North Coast Ranges	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Rooms, yurts, cottages and a creekhouse + camping; shared communal kitchen, no food sold on site	Yes	Day use $50 per person; rooms and yurts $260 + tax per night for 1-2 adults; cottages and Creekhouse $325 + tax per night for 1-2 adults; additional adult $80; camping $80 + tax per adult, $35 per child (no children under 9)	104–108 °F	Optional
Remington Hot Springs	Kern River Valley	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free; free dirt parking lot for about 15 cars (hotspringsguides updated 2026-09-21, checked 2026-10-12)	100–106 °F	—
River Oaks Hot Springs Spa	Central Coast	Historic Spas & Vapor Caves	No	No	Private mineral spa 1 hour $30 per person; Tue-Wed midweek special 2 people $38; Sip & Soak 1 hour $65 per guest; towel rental $3	—	—
Rock Tub Hot Spring (Whitmore Tubs)	Long Valley & Mammoth Lakes	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free	—	Optional
Roman Spa Hot Springs Resort	Napa Valley	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Hotel rooms and suites (Classico, Superiore, Splendido Suite with Jacuzzi tub)	No	No standalone day pass: pool access for spa guests with a treatment of 45 min or more, Sunday-Friday, extra charge not published; mud bath $145 Mon-Fri / $150 Sat-Sun, mineral bath $110	92–103 °F	—
Saline Valley Palm Spring	Death Valley National Park	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Death Valley NP entrance fee: $30 per private vehicle, $25 motorcycle, $15 per person on foot or bicycle (all valid 7 days), annual pass $55; no separate fee for the springs	98–112 °F	Optional
Sam's Family Spa Hot Water Resort	Greater Palm Springs	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Motel rooms, tiny homes, RV sites	Yes	Day pass $25 Mon-Fri / $30 Sat-Sun and holidays, ages 4 and under free, pets $10	104 °F	—
Sespe Hot Springs	Santa Barbara & Ojai Backcountry	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Springs free; Adventure Pass required to park at Piedra Blanca and Johnston Ridge trailheads (hotspringsguides updated 2026-09-21; calihotsprings) - checked 2026-10-12	105 °F	Optional
Shepherd Hot Spring	Long Valley & Mammoth Lakes	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free	100–110 °F	Optional
Shoshone Hot Springs Pool	Amargosa Valley	Town & Family Pools	Shoshone Inn (17 rooms), campground, RV park, vacation rentals	No	Included with an overnight stay; not sold as a standalone day pass	90 °F	—
Sierra Hot Springs	Northern Sierra	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Main Lodge rooms, Globe Hotel rooms in Sierraville, tent/RV campground (no hookups)	Yes	Day use (Thu-Sun 10:30am-5:30pm): adults $35 Thu-Fri / $40 Sat-Sun and holidays, children $25; evening soak (Wed-Sun 4-11pm): adults $35 Wed-Thu / $40 Fri-Sun and holidays; membership required for at least one person per party (30 days $5, 1 year $20, lifetime $300); lodging from $160/$198 per night (Wed-Thu / Fri-Sun, double occupancy, tax included); camping $45/$60 per person per night	95–112 °F	Optional
Surprise Valley Hot Springs	Surprise Valley	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Standard and deluxe rooms and 1-2 bedroom suites, each with a private hot springs tub (15 outdoor, 4 indoor)	No	No day use; rooms Sun-Thu / Fri-Sat: Standard $117/$147, Deluxe $137/$167, 1-bedroom suite $147/$177, 2-bedroom suite $167/$197, plus 4% bed tax; two-night minimum	—	—
Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (Tassajara Hot Springs)	Central Coast	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Summer guest season only: creekside cabins, mountain path cabins and yurts, shared dorms; three vegetarian meals daily included	No	—	—	Optional
Tecopa Hot Springs Park and Campground	Amargosa Valley	Town & Family Pools	Campground with 200+ sites, some with electric hookups	Yes	Bath pass $10/day, $65/week, $200/month; private pool $25/hr ($10/hr for campers); campsites from $21	—	—
Tecopa Hot Springs Resort	Amargosa Valley	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	12-room motel, 4 cabins, campground	Yes	Day pass $20/person; included for overnight guests	104 °F	—
Tecopa Palms Therapeutic Hot Springs Resort	Amargosa Valley	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Tiny house, cabins, bunk house, RV and dry camping sites	Yes	Pool pass $30/person; $25 for age 62+, military, or groups of 4+	102–104 °F	—
The Inn at Benton Hot Springs	Bridgeport & Northern Mono County	Cabins, Ranches & Private Rentals	Inn rooms (breakfast included), cabins, house rentals, vintage Airstream; 15 tub campsites with private hot tubs (no hookups)	No	Tub sites $95/night (sites 1-3, 11-12, up to 2 people) or $105/night (sites 4-10 and 13, up to 3 people), extra person $10; Dark Skies sites 14-15 $125/night (max 2); inn rooms $169/night for 2, extra guest $15/day	98–108 °F	Optional
The Inn at Death Valley	Death Valley National Park	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Historic 66-room hotel plus 22 casitas	No	Pool is exclusive to Inn guests	87 °F	Required
The Ranch at Death Valley	Death Valley National Park	Big Resorts & Iconic Pools	Hotel rooms and cottages inside Death Valley NP	Yes	Pool passes sold to the public at the Ranch registration desk; price not published online	87 °F	Required
The Spa at Séc-he (Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza)	Greater Palm Springs	Historic Spas & Vapor Caves	No	Yes	Taking of the Waters day pass $135 Mon-Thu / $165 Fri-Sun and holidays; with a spa service of $200+ the pass is $25 / $35	105 °F	Mixed
Travertine Hot Springs	Bridgeport & Northern Mono County	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free	—	Optional
Tuscan Springs Hotel & Spa	Greater Palm Springs	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	16 boutique hotel rooms (Garden and Mountain View Private Terrace), continental breakfast included	Yes	Day use of pools and dry sauna $50 per person for 4 hours; pool use free with any spa treatment at La Bella Spa	—	—
Two Bunch Palms Resort & Spa	Greater Palm Springs	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Rooms and suites (67 per hotspringsguides.com)	Yes	—	—	—
Vichy Springs Resort	North Coast Ranges	Historic Spas & Vapor Caves	Rooms, suite and cottages (26 rooms and cottages; three cottages built in 1852 still in use)	Yes	Day use per person (2026): up to 2 hours $45, up to 3 hours $65, all day $110, all day with a spa service $55; towel rental $3, swimsuit rental $3, bathrobe rental $13; holiday periods two-hour day use only	—	Required
Wilbur Hot Springs	North Coast Ranges	Wellness Retreats & Eco Lodges	Cabins, cabin suite, Solar Lodge rooms, historic hotel rooms, bunk room + seasonal camping (April-October)	Yes	Day use $68.82 weekdays, $76.59 weekends and holidays (10am-5pm, includes 11% land management fee); no children or senior rates listed	100–109 °F	Optional
Wild Willy's Hot Spring	Long Valley & Mammoth Lakes	Wild Natural Springs	No	No	Free	95–105 °F	Optional

Reference

Frequently asked

The most common ways people slice this list — by cost, by day access, by clothing rules and by where to stay.

Are there free hot springs in California?

Yes. 6 of the 49 springs on this page list no fee, most of them among the 12 wild springs on public land — such as the soaking tubs of Long Valley near Mammoth Lakes and Travertine near Bridgeport. Some wild springs sit inside parks or forests that charge an entrance or parking fee; each card says what applies.

Can I visit California hot springs for the day?

Many of them, yes. 27 of the resorts, spas and retreats on this page sell day passes or day use, and the wild springs need no booking. Others are for overnight guests only, and some day passes must be reserved ahead, especially on weekends — check the day-access line on each card.

Which California hot springs are clothing-optional?

15 springs on this page are marked clothing-optional, including several wild springs and a few retreats. Most resorts and town pools require swimwear. Where the rule could not be confirmed, the card leaves the clothing line blank.

Where can I stay overnight at a California hot spring?

34 springs on this page have lodging or camping on site — from the spa hotels of Calistoga and Desert Hot Springs to state park and county campgrounds. The near-city pages below sort them by drive time from San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego and Mammoth Lakes.

Why are some well-known springs missing?

This page lists only springs we could confirm as open. Places closed for repairs, closed after fires, or with unclear access or status are left off until an official source confirms them — for example, the Lower Springs area of Saline Valley in Death Valley National Park, closed after a wildfire in September 2026.