Tecopa Hot Springs

The Inyo County public bathhouses in the village are free. They are gendered communal pools (no swimsuits required indoors, segregated by gender) operated by the county. The paid private operators (Death Valley Hot Springs (formerly Delight's), Tecopa Hot Springs Resort and Campground, and others) charge for day-use or overnight stays. Most visitors do the free Inyo County pools plus one or more paid operators.

Now called Death Valley Hot Springs. The resort has a large outdoor swimming pool and four private bathhouses each with a small pool, shower, and changing area, all at 102 to 104 F. Cabins, cottages, houses (1 to 3 bedroom), motel rooms, and an expansive RV park with 50- and 30-amp hookups cover the lodging. The on-site Bistro restaurant runs Wednesday through Sunday with Saturday live music.

Yes, about 10 miles from the southeastern entrance to Death Valley National Park. The village of Tecopa is a natural Death Valley gateway base for visitors who want a hot springs night before or after the park. From Las Vegas the drive to Tecopa is 100 minutes south on I-15 and CA-127. From Los Angeles it is 4 hours via I-15 north. Furnace Creek (Death Valley's main visitor area) is 60 miles, 75 minutes from Tecopa.

Yes, the natural clay deposits near Tecopa are mixed with mineral water for natural mud baths used in skin treatments. The clay chemistry is different from Calistoga's volcanic-ash mud baths in Napa Valley. Multiple operators in Tecopa offer mud bath services. The clay and the mineral water are the village's twin commercial features; the small-village setting is informal compared to Calistoga's polished resort town.

In Inyo County, in the Mojave Desert, just east of the southeastern boundary of Death Valley National Park. From Las Vegas the drive is 90 miles southwest, 100 minutes via I-15 south to NV-160 then CA-127 north. From Los Angeles it is 250 miles northeast, four hours via I-15. The village population is under 200; commercial services are limited and the dining options are mostly tied to the Death Valley Hot Springs Bistro.

The operators run year-round but summer is genuinely brutal. The Mojave Desert in July and August routinely hits 110 F+ daily highs in Tecopa, which makes a hot soak in 104 F mineral water uncomfortable. The high season for Tecopa runs October through April. Some operators reduce or pause summer operations; the Bistro keeps reduced hours through the hottest months. Most visitors skip Tecopa in July and August.

Death Valley National Park (10 miles west) is the main draw: Badwater Basin, the Mesquite Sand Dunes, Dante's View, Zabriskie Point. Shoshone Village (5 miles north) has a small inn and cafe. Pahrump, Nevada (45 miles east) has full-service amenities. The China Ranch Date Farm is 5 miles south on CA-127 and is a popular short side trip. Stargazing at Tecopa is part of the appeal; the village sits in a Dark Sky zone.