Stay near Murrieta
Use Murrieta Hot Springs Resort as the trip anchor, then compare hotels or nearby town bases close enough for the soak, dinner, and the drive home.
California Hot Springs
Twelve California hot springs spanning the Eastern Sierra, Central Coast, Coachella Valley, Mendocino redwoods, the Mojave Desert, and the Sierra National Forest. Wild free travertine terraces, Japanese-onsen-adjacent private tubs, and the state's only red clay Club Mud.
12 hot springs
6+ regions
About California hot springs
California has the most geographically varied hot springs portfolio in the United States, with active geothermal systems running from the snow-line of the Eastern Sierra to the Mojave Desert below sea level. This guide spans six distinct regions, and the experiences range from a free wild travertine terrace soak above Bridgeport to an ultra-luxury private hilltop tub on the Central Coast.
The Eastern Sierra is the wild-soak corner. Travertine Hot Springs sits two miles outside Bridgeport on BLM land, with terraced pools sculpted by mineral deposition over centuries. Remington Hot Springs along the Kern River canyon is the volunteer-maintained free pool, and Mono Hot Springs (summer-only) is the 1935 High Sierra stone-cabin resort that anchors Edison Lake and the John Muir Wilderness gateway.
The Coachella Valley holds Two Bunch Palms, the adults-only desert wellness resort with the iconic Grotto. The Inland Empire holds Glen Ivy Hot Springs, the 19-pool day spa with Club Mud (California's only red clay mineral mud bath). Murrieta Hot Springs reopened in 2024 with 13 mineral pools after nearly three decades closed. The Central Coast holds Sycamore Mineral Springs (private hilltop oak-shaded tubs) and Avila Hot Springs (the family aquatic version) one mile apart on Avila Beach Drive. Calistoga is the Napa Valley spa town with two dozen-plus mineral and mud-bath operators, anchored by 1861 Indian Springs and Auberge-owned Solage. Wilbur Hot Springs is the off-grid solar-powered sanctuary 2.5 hours north of San Francisco, and Orr Hot Springs is the 27-acre clothing-optional retreat in the Mendocino redwoods. Tecopa is the Mojave Desert village at the edge of Death Valley.
The California hot springs we recommend first
Most iconic free wild
Travertine Hot Springs
Free Eastern Sierra travertine terrace pools above Bridgeport, with Sierra Crest views. The wild hot springs everyone photographs.
Day-spa rotation
Glen Ivy Hot Springs
19 pools, Club Mud red clay bath, and a structured spa rotation. 16-and-over only. The Southern California day spa.
Romantic couples
Sycamore Mineral Springs
24 private hilltop tubs in oak forest on the Central Coast. Each guest room also has a private balcony mineral tub.
Wine country pairing
Calistoga Hot Springs
Napa Valley spa town with two dozen-plus mud-bath and mineral-pool operators. Indian Springs (1861) and Solage are the anchors.
Adults-only desert
Two Bunch Palms
Coachella Valley adults-only wellness resort. The Grotto rock-lined mineral pool is the marquee.
Off-grid retreat
Wilbur Hot Springs
Solar-powered 1,800-acre nature preserve. Silent Fluminarium, BYO groceries, no WiFi, no cell service.
All California hot springs in this guide
California
Wilbur Hot Springs Health Sanctuary
California's deepest off-grid hot springs sanctuary: 1,800-acre nature preserve, solar-powered 1915 lodge, three silent flumes cal
California
Calistoga Hot Springs (Indian Springs anchor)
California's spa-town capital: 24+ mineral and mud-bath resorts across Napa Valley, anchored by Indian Springs (1861) and Solage (
California
Orr Hot Springs Resort
Northern California's redwood-shaded clothing-optional retreat: 27 acres of 1930s redwood architecture, Victorian porcelain claw-f
California
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort
Reopened in 2024 after a multi-million-dollar renovation; the closest serious mineral resort to San Diego and the LA basin.
California
Remington Hot Springs
Southern California's most-loved free wild hot springs: three cascading concrete-edged pools tucked against the Kern River canyon
California
Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa
Southern California's signature day spa, 19 pools, red clay Club Mud, 16+ only.
California
Avila Hot Springs
The Central Coast's family hot springs: a heated freshwater pool with double water slides plus a mineral hot pool, with on-site ca
California
Travertine Hot Springs
The Eastern Sierra's iconic free wild soak: travertine terrace pools on a hillside above Bridgeport Valley with Sierra Crest views
California
Mono Hot Springs Resort
The High Sierra's summer-only cabin resort: 1935 stone cabins along Mono Creek with multiple natural mineral baths, accessed by a
California
Tecopa Hot Springs
The Mojave Desert hot springs village at the edge of Death Valley: free county bathhouses, paid private operators, natural Tecopa
California
Two Bunch Palms Spa Resort
The adults-only Coachella Valley wellness resort with the iconic Grotto rock-lined mineral pool; quietest of the Southern Californ
California
Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa
Twenty-four private hilltop tubs hidden in oak woodland on the Central Coast; the romantic-soak resort of California.
By region
Eastern Sierra
Travertine Hot Springs and Mono Hot Springs along US-395 and CA-168. Wild free pools and a historic summer cabin resort.
Central Coast
Sycamore Mineral Springs and Avila Hot Springs on Avila Beach Drive, one mile apart. Adult private tubs and family pool.
Coachella Valley
Two Bunch Palms anchors the Desert Hot Springs cluster. Adults-only luxury wellness with the iconic Grotto.
Inland Empire
Glen Ivy Hot Springs (Corona) and Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. The 19-pool day spa and the recently reopened multi-tier resort.
Napa Valley
Calistoga, the spa town founded in 1862. Two dozen-plus operators including Indian Springs (1861) and Auberge-owned Solage.
Mendocino and Northern California
Orr Hot Springs (redwood-shaded clothing-optional retreat) and Wilbur Hot Springs (off-grid sanctuary).
Mojave Desert
Tecopa Hot Springs village near Death Valley. Free Inyo County bathhouses plus paid operators.
Kern River
Remington Hot Springs, free wild cascading pools volunteer-maintained by locals.
When to visit
California's geographic spread means there is always a hot springs in season somewhere in the state. Summer makes the Eastern Sierra and Mojave brutal (Tecopa pauses operations in peak heat) but opens Mono Hot Springs (May to October only, Kaiser Pass Road closed in winter). Winter shines on Calistoga, Sycamore, the Coachella Valley resorts, and the year-round Inland Empire properties. Spring and fall are universal sweet spots for the Eastern Sierra and Central Coast.
Where to stay for California hot springs
Start with the soak, then choose the town base that keeps the drive, dinner, and pool access simple. These links point to practical hotel searches near the main trip anchors.
Some hotel and experience links may earn Hot Springs Guide a commission at no extra cost to you. Operator and guide links stay editorially ranked; see our editorial policy.
Stay near Corona
Use Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa as the trip anchor, then compare hotels or nearby town bases close enough for the soak, dinner, and the drive home.
Stay near Avila Beach
Use Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa as the trip anchor, then compare hotels or nearby town bases close enough for the soak, dinner, and the drive home.
Stay near Desert Hot Springs
Use Two Bunch Palms Spa Resort as the trip anchor, then compare hotels or nearby town bases close enough for the soak, dinner, and the drive home.
Questions visitors ask about California hot springs
What are the best free hot springs in California?
Travertine Hot Springs near Bridgeport and Remington Hot Springs along the Kern River are the two best-developed free wild options in this guide. Buckeye Hot Springs in the Eastern Sierra, Wild Willy's near Mammoth, and Deep Creek in the San Bernardino Mountains are additional well-known free options.
Is Glen Ivy Hot Springs worth it?
Yes if you want the day-spa rotation experience: 19 pools, Club Mud, the Wafa drying chamber, saunas, and steam rooms across a 6 to 8 hour visit. Skip if you want a quiet single-pool soak; Glen Ivy is busy by design. The 16-and-over policy is enforced, which keeps the property adult.
How does Two Bunch Palms compare to Murrieta Hot Springs?
Two Bunch Palms is smaller, quieter, adults-only-throughout, and overnight-oriented. Murrieta is larger, has family pools alongside the adults-only zones, offers tiered day passes from $99, and reopened in 2024 with a full polished resort experience. Two Bunch for retreat; Murrieta for the bigger destination weekend.
Are any California hot springs clothing-optional?
Yes. Orr Hot Springs (Mendocino redwoods, 100% clothing-optional throughout) and Wilbur Hot Springs (clothing-optional in the bathing area) are the developed options. Travertine Hot Springs and Remington Hot Springs are de-facto clothing-optional in practice at the upper pools, even though they sit on public land.
Best California hot springs near Los Angeles?
Murrieta Hot Springs is the closest serious mineral resort at 90 minutes south. Glen Ivy is 80 minutes east. Two Bunch Palms in Desert Hot Springs is 2 hours east. Remington Hot Springs is 2.5 hours north for a free wild day. Avila Hot Springs and Sycamore are 3 hours north for the Central Coast weekend.
Best California hot springs for a winter trip?
Calistoga (mud baths plus winter wine country), Two Bunch Palms (mild Coachella Valley winter), Sycamore Mineral Springs (Central Coast year-round), and Glen Ivy (Inland Empire year-round) all run well in winter. Avoid Mono Hot Springs (winter-closed) and the Eastern Sierra free wild options (cold and weather-exposed).
What is the famous mud bath in California?
Calistoga is the canonical California mud bath: volcanic ash mixed with naturally heated mineral water. Indian Springs hand-digs its ash from the 17-acre property. Glen Ivy in Corona operates the only red clay mineral mud bath (Club Mud) in California; the experience is different from Calistoga's volcanic-ash mud.
How far is Calistoga from San Francisco?
About 80 miles, roughly 95 minutes by car via US-101 N and CA-29 N. The drive takes longer on weekends because of Napa Valley traffic; Friday afternoon and Sunday evening are the worst windows.