12 Best Hot Springs in Los Angeles Worth Every Drive

As someone who has spent years driving every back road and desert highway around Southern California testing these locations firsthand, I built this guide so you don’t waste a precious weekend on an overcrowded pool with lukewarm water and no parking.

Hot springs in Los Angeles offer something genuinely rare: the combination of dramatic landscape and natural geothermal heat that you simply cannot replicate at any wellness spa in the city. Whether you’re heading two hours east into the Mojave or north toward the Sierra Nevada foothills, each soak on this list delivers a different kind of reward. 

Some are wild and free — nothing between you and the open sky but steam. Others are resort-managed mineral pools with all the amenities. A handful are tucked into canyons so remote you’ll share them with nobody at all. For more Southern California escapes and verified destination guides, CATRAVELTIMES has you covered.

Best Hot Springs Near Los Angeles: Top 12 Picks With Distance, Price & Ratings

1. Beverly Hot Springs — The Underground Spring Under a City Block

• 📍 Location: Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles — 7 miles from Downtown LA
• 💧 Type: Natural mineral spring / Urban spa
• 🌡️ Temperature: 105°F (natural hot pool), cooler options available
• 👥 Best For: Urban wellness seekers, solo soakers, spa-day enthusiasts
• 💰 Price: $45–$95 per person depending on services
• ⏰ Hours: Monday–Sunday, 9am–9pm (gender-separated sections, call ahead)
• ✅ Pro Tip: Book a weekday morning — the spring water flow is freshest in early hours and crowds are thin enough that you’ll have lanes to yourself

Beverly Hot Springs sits on top of the only known natural hot spring in the city of Los Angeles, and that geological quirk makes it genuinely unlike anything else in the county. The water rises through alkaline aquifers beneath the building at a steady 105°F and flows continuously — no reheating, no chemicals added to the main pools. Spend time in the steam room before your soak, and you’ll emerge feeling like the city’s noise simply didn’t follow you inside.

2. Deep Creek Hot Springs — The Reward at the End of a Real Hike

• 📍 Location: Apple Valley, San Bernardino County — 90 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural / Free / Clothing-optional
• 🌡️ Temperature: 95°F–108°F across multiple pools
• 👥 Best For: Hikers, nature lovers, adventurous solo travelers
• 💰 Price: Free (Splinters Cabin Trailhead parking fee applies)
• ⏰ Hours: Accessible year-round; flash flood risk in winter months — check conditions
• ✅ Pro Tip: The 3-mile hike via Splinters Cabin Trail is the most direct route; arrive by 8am on weekends or you will compete for pool space with 50+ other visitors

Deep Creek isn’t handed to you — it has to be earned. The trail drops through chaparral and granite before the creek comes into view, and the moment you hear the water rushing alongside the hot pools, the effort justifies itself completely. Multiple rock-rimmed pools line the creek at different temperatures, fed by a thermal vent that has been flowing for centuries.

The clothing-optional culture here is well-established and respectful. It’s part of the San Bernardino National Forest, and it remains one of the most consistently loved entries in anyhot springs guide for California.

3. Glen Ivy Hot Springs — A Full Day of Mineral Soaking

• 📍 Location: Corona, Riverside County — 70 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Resort / Mineral pools / Spa
• 🌡️ Temperature: Multiple pools ranging 87°F–104°F
• 👥 Best For: Couples, spa enthusiasts, bachelorette groups
• 💰 Price: $50–$120 per person (seasonal pricing); spa add-ons extra
• ⏰ Hours: Open daily, hours vary by season — check website before visiting
• ✅ Pro Tip: The famous “Club Mud” red clay experience is included in general admission — slather on, let it dry in the sun, and rinse in the pool; it’s worth every odd moment of standing there covered in mud

Glen Ivy operates at a scale that smaller spring sites simply can’t match: over a dozen distinct pools, each calibrated to a different temperature and mineral concentration, plus saltwater options and shaded lounge areas.

The grounds are beautifully landscaped with mature palms and a California hacienda aesthetic that feels genuinely transportive. For anyone who wants the hot spring experience without the trail miles or the remote logistics, this is the closest thing Southern California has to a world-class thermal resort.

4. Sespe Hot Springs — Wilderness Solitude with a Thermal Payoff

• 📍 Location: Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County — 80 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Backcountry / Natural / Free
• 🌡️ Temperature: 96°F–110°F across several pools
• 👥 Best For: Serious hikers, backpackers, solitude seekers
• 💰 Price: Free (Adventure Pass or National Forest day-use fee required)
• ⏰ Hours: Year-round; trail may close during fire season — verify with Los Padres NF
• ✅ Pro Tip: The shortest route from Piedra Blanca Trailhead is still 16 miles round trip — pack overnight gear and treat this as a two-day backpacking trip rather than a day hike

Sespe is the kind of place that filters itself. The 8-mile trail through the Los Padres backcountry means the pools are almost always serene when you arrive — not because they’re unknown, but because not everyone will make the walk. 

The reward is a cluster of sandy-bottomed pools nestled in a canyon that feels entirely separate from anything metropolitan. Condors are occasionally spotted riding thermals overhead, which adds a surreal punctuation mark to the whole experience.

5. Travertine Hot Springs — The Most Photogenic Soak in the Eastern Sierra

• 📍 Location: Bridgeport, Mono County — 290 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural / Free / BLM land
• 🌡️ Temperature: 104°F–110°F
• 👥 Best For: Photographers, sunrise seekers, couples
• 💰 Price: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Open 24 hours; early morning is spectacular
• ✅ Pro Tip: Park at the BLM pullout off Hwy 395 and walk the short path to the upper pools — those have the most dramatic backdrop of the Sawtooth Range and are the least crowded even in peak season

The mineral-streaked rock formations that give Travertine its name are worth the drive alone — the calcium deposits have built up over centuries into stepped terraces in shades of ochre, cream, and rust. 

Soaking here with the Eastern Sierra skyline directly in front of you, particularly at dawn when the peaks catch alpenglow, is one of those experiences that genuinely recalibrates your sense of what a weekend can be. The water temperature is consistent and hot enough to be genuinely therapeutic, and the BLM access keeps it free year-round.

6. Saline Valley Warm Springs — The Remote Off-Grid Experience

• 📍 Location: Inyo County, Death Valley area — 330 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural / Free / Primitive camping / Clothing-optional
• 🌡️ Temperature: 105°F (Palm Spring pool), cooler at Wizard Spring
• 👥 Best For: Off-grid campers, veteran hot spring visitors, stargazers
• 💰 Price: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Open year-round; road access may close after rain — high-clearance vehicle recommended
• ✅ Pro Tip: The access road is unpaved and roughly 80 miles each way from the highway — bring two spare tires, extra fuel, and enough water for at least three days; cell service ends well before you arrive

Saline Valley operates on its own unwritten code: a camping community where long-time visitors maintain the pools voluntarily, leave no trace is an absolute expectation, and the stars overhead are so dense on clear nights that you’ll lose track of time staring upward from the water. 

This is not a beginner destination — the drive alone filters most casual visitors. But for those willing to do the logistics, Saline Valley delivers a kind of primitive stillness that no managed resort can replicate. Plan for at least two nights; one is not enough.

7. Tecopa Hot Springs — The Desert Detox Town

• 📍 Location: Tecopa, Inyo County — 230 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural mineral / Public bathhouses / RV camping
• 🌡️ Temperature: 108°F (natural source), cooled to ~102°F in pools
• 👥 Best For: Desert minimalists, older travelers, RV campers
• 💰 Price: $7–$20 per person depending on facility
• ⏰ Hours: County-operated bathhouses open daily, hours vary by season
• ✅ Pro Tip: The Inyo County bathhouses are separated by gender, spartan, and wonderful — free of the resort markup while still running on the same thermal water that feeds the fancier operators nearby

Tecopa sits at the edge of the Mojave where the landscape goes genuinely sparse — no cell signal, no chain restaurants, no ambient city glow at night. The town has built a quiet reputation among a specific kind of traveler who values the mineral water (notably high in sulfate and bicarbonate) and the utter absence of stimulation. 

Multiple small operators and the county facilities all pull from the same geothermal source, and the water clarity is exceptional. Pair a soak with a drive out to the nearby Amargosa River Natural Area for a complete desert afternoon.

8. Keough’s Hot Springs — The Owens Valley Family Classic

• 📍 Location: Bishop, Inyo County — 260 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural mineral / Public pool / Family-friendly
• 🌡️ Temperature: Source at 127°F, pools maintained at 100°F–104°F
• 👥 Best For: Families, budget travelers, Eastern Sierra road-trippers
• 💰 Price: $10–$15 per person
• ⏰ Hours: Open daily, typically 9am–9pm (seasonal hours apply)
• ✅ Pro Tip: The outdoor pool on the east side catches full Sierra Nevada views — always choose that side over the indoor section for the scenery alone

Keough’s has been operating since 1919 and manages to feel entirely unpretentious about it. The open-air pool is fed by one of the highest-volume hot spring sources in California, and the water is clean, clear, and consistently therapeutic without any chemical assistance. 

The White Mountains frame the view to the east, and on quiet weekday afternoons the place operates at a pace that feels almost anachronistic — in the best possible way. If you’re road-tripping US 395, this is a mandatory stop.

9. Avila Beach Hot Springs — Coastal Mineral Soaking

• 📍 Location: Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County — 200 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural mineral / Resort
• 🌡️ Temperature: 104°F (hot pool), 95°F (warm pool)
• 👥 Best For: Couples, weekend road-trippers, Pacific Coast Highway travelers
• 💰 Price: $20–$40 per person
• ⏰ Hours: Open daily; reservations recommended on weekends
• ✅ Pro Tip: Visit Thursday evening — midweek rates are lower and the coastal fog that rolls in at sunset turns the whole experience atmospheric in a way you simply don’t get in peak afternoon sun

What separates Avila Beach from the inland hot spring options is the Pacific air — you can smell the ocean from the pools, and on certain evenings, the marine layer drapes itself across the hills surrounding the property. 

The facility is well-maintained without being overwrought, and the mineral content of the water (notably magnesium-rich) gives it a silkiness that distinguishes it from chlorine-assisted resort pools. Pair it with a walk on Avila Beach before or after your soak for a complete coastal afternoon.

10. Remington Hot Springs — The Easy Introduction

• 📍 Location: Kern County, near Lake Isabella — 130 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural / Free / BLM land
• 🌡️ Temperature: 100°F–105°F
• 👥 Best For: Families, first-time hot spring visitors, casual day-trippers
• 💰 Price: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Open year-round; day use only recommended
• ✅ Pro Tip: The lower pool alongside the Kern River is the most comfortable temperature — the upper pool runs significantly hotter and should be approached with caution if you’re sensitive to heat

Remington is often the entry point for people who’ve never done a natural hot spring before — the trail from the parking area is short (under a mile), the pools are easily accessible, and the Kern River running alongside provides a natural cold plunge option when the heat gets to be too much.

The scenery is pleasant rather than dramatic, which keeps expectations honest, and the lack of a fee means you can explore the spot without committing a full resort budget to your first natural soak.

11. Miracle Hot Springs — The Kern River Canyon Soak

• 📍 Location: Kern River Canyon, Kern County — 130 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural / Free / BLM land
• 🌡️ Temperature: 100°F–107°F
• 👥 Best For: River canyon explorers, adventurous day-trippers
• 💰 Price: Free
• ⏰ Hours: Open year-round; check river conditions in spring — runoff can affect access
• ✅ Pro Tip: The sandy-bottomed main pool can accommodate a small group comfortably; arrive before 9am on any Saturday and you’ll likely have it to yourself for a full hour

Miracle Hot Springs occupies a tight section of the Kern River Canyon where river-carved granite walls and thermal water converge in a way that feels genuinely fortuitous. The pools are riverstone-edged and sit just close enough to the Kern that you can watch the whitewater moving past while you soak — an unusual sensory combination. 

Note that spring snowmelt can raise the Kern’s level significantly and occasionally floods the access path, so a quick check of water conditions before your drive is worth the two minutes it takes.

12. Furnace Creek / Delight’s Hot Springs — The Death Valley Desert Soak

• 📍 Location: Death Valley area, Inyo County — 290 miles from LA
• 💧 Type: Natural mineral / Small resort
• 🌡️ Temperature: 104°F (main pool)
• 👥 Best For: Death Valley visitors, desert road-trippers, winter soakers
• 💰 Price: $12–$18 per person
• ⏰ Hours: Open daily; closed during extreme summer heat events
• ✅ Pro Tip: Winter visits between November and February are ideal — the desert air is cool enough to make the contrast between pool and atmosphere genuinely invigorating, and Death Valley’s peak tourist season means the property is lively but not overcrowded

Combining a Death Valley National Park visit with a stop at Delight’s makes logistical and experiential sense — the park’s geology tells the story of the same forces that drive the geothermal activity beneath you as you soak. 

The pool itself is compact and well-maintained, the desert sky is enormous, and the mineral water carries the particular earthy weight of water that has traveled through deep volcanic rock. Few hot spring experiences in California can claim the sheer geological drama of this backdrop.

Start Planning Your Soak

Twelve options, each with its own character — that’s the real luxury of being a Southern California driver. You can slip into a mineral pool in the middle of Los Angeles on a Tuesday afternoon or spend a full weekend off-grid at Saline Valley with nothing but desert silence and geothermal heat. The Kern River springs make for an easy day trip. Travertine rewards the commitment to an Eastern Sierra road trip. 

Glen Ivy handles the spa-day need without requiring a plane ticket. There is no wrong answer here — only the question of how much time you have and how far you’re willing to drive. CATRAVELTIMES has verified each of these locations to make sure the drive is worth every mile. Bookmark this guide and start planning your hot springs adventure today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there hot springs actually inside Los Angeles city limits?

Beverly Hot Springs in Mid-Wilshire is the only verified natural hot spring within city limits, sitting above an underground alkaline aquifer that surfaces at 105°F.

What is the closest free hot spring to Los Angeles?

Deep Creek Hot Springs in Apple Valley is the closest free natural option at roughly 90 miles, though it requires a 3-mile hike each way to reach the pools.

Do I need a permit to visit free hot springs near LA?

Most BLM-managed springs like Travertine and Remington require no permit, but a National Forest Adventure Pass applies to springs within forest boundaries like Deep Creek and Sespe.

What should I bring to a natural hot spring?

Water, snacks, a towel, sandals for the approach, sunscreen for exposed skin, and cash for springs that charge a small day-use fee at the gate.

Is it safe to visit hot springs alone?

Most of the managed and semi-accessible springs on this list are fine for solo visitors. Remote options like Saline Valley and Sespe carry real wilderness risk and are better visited with at least one other person.