Travel Tips
The Best Hot Springs Near Yellowstone
Yellowstone is the adventure of a lifetime, but it’s always best to balance a little R&R with a lot of adventure – these are the best hot spring destinations near Yellowstone National Park.
Montana Hot Springs
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
The Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Montana has everything you need for a relaxing getaway. Think golf, an in-house spa (deep-tissue massage anyone?), fine dining, and of course – hot springs and mineral pools! This resort has not one, but two Olympic-sized swimming pools and two Mineral Soaking pools. After a fun-filled trip to Yellowstone with the family, this resort has everything you and your family could ever need to relax and unwind (including a slide that is open year round!).
Norris Hot Springs
Do you love soaking in hot springs? Do you love listening to live music? Do you love locally grown foods? If you said yes to all three of these questions, you should check out the Norris Hot Springs, located in Norris, Montana! This unique hot spring has a tented stage where it hosts musical acts throughout the year and you can watch while you soak. They also have a restaurant on site that is supplied by food grown and raised on site, or brought in from local farmers.
Photo credit: Norris Hot Springs
Photo credit: Ultimate Hot Springs Guide
Upper Potosi Hot Springs
Upper Potosi Hot Springs in Pony, Montana is a public and free geothermal, rock-walled, gravel-bottomed pool. You can camp at the Potosi Campground and from there it is a short 1.5 mile hike to the pool. This is a small, primitive pool that can only fit about 6 people, so we wouldn’t recommend it if you are with a large group. This is one of the hot springs near Yellowstone where pets are permitted at the site, but please don’t let them go in the pool. Make sure that you clean up after yourself and your pets and are respectful of the area.
Idaho Hot Springs
Green Canyon Hot Springs
Green Canyon Hot Springs in Newdale, Idaho is one of the mom-and-pop owned indoor hot springs near Yellowstone. The facilities here are basic, but outdoor camping is available for overnight stays. The staff is accommodating and the pool is clean and ready for you to take a soak or a swim lesson! For a mellow hot springs experience, we would recommend it here!
Photo credit: Green Canyon Hot Springs
Photo credit: Heise Hot Springs
Heise Hot Springs
If you are looking for a hot springs destination that has something for the whole family, check out the Heise Hot Springs in Ririe, Idaho. This year-round historic hot spring has a large outdoor swimming pool for summer use with a diving board and a 350-ft water slide (so fun!) as well as the 104 degree hot pool for year-round use. There is also a full service pizza restaurant to fuel your visit and on-site camping. In the summer Heise Hot Springs also offers zip-lining, golfing, and fishing on the Snake River!
Goldbug Hot Springs
Goldbug Hot Springs, just south of Salmon, Idaho is a great backcountry hot springs option. To get out to these hot springs requires a two mile hike (4 miles roundtrip) with about 1,350 feet of elevation gain. You can backpack in and camp near these beautiful pools, but remember to pitch your tent at least 500 feet away from the water and to practice Leave No Trace ethics so that this pristine location stays that way.
Wyoming Hot Springs
Hot Springs State Park
Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming has a free public bath house as well as accessible trails throughout the park. Along with getting a nice soak and a walk, you can also see bison roaming throughout the park (just in case you didn’t get enough of them in Yellowstone – we know we never do!). There are group picnic shelters, but it is worth noting that this state park is day-use only, so you won’t be able to camp here.
Want to make a whole road trip based on soaking in some of the Rocky Mountain’s best hot springs? Click here to see our perfect hot springs road trip itinerary!
Astoria Hot Springs
The Astoria Hot Springs Park, located near Jackson Hole, Wyoming has a historic past. These hot springs near Yellowstone have been used long before the 1800’s by the Native Americans who lived there and in the 1960’s structured pools were built for the community. More recently the pools have been revitalized by the Astoria Park Conservancy in an effort to protect and preserve the area for the community. The Astoria Hot Springs has five pools, a snack bar, picnic tables and a playground so you can really spend all day here enjoying the pools with your family!
Photo credit: Astoria Hot Springs and Park
Photo credit: Hobo Hot Pool
Hobo Hot Springs
Looking for a free hot spring destination that is also open to the public 24 hours a day? Look no further than Saratoga, Wyoming’s Hobo Hot Springs. This hot spring is considered to have natural healing properties, and the historic pool that brought the first settlers into the North Platte River Valley still attracts tired travelers and locals alike.
