Spa & wellness · HOT SPRINGS IN THE USA

Where to Book: the 15 Best Hot Springs in the USA

42 treatments  ·  from $33 a head

The good rooms fill up first and the famous ones fill up weeks ahead. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour - The ride from Fairbanks to Chena
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Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

1.Northern Lights & Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,278 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $250Our pick

Leave Fairbanks around 4 p.m. for Chena Hot Springs Resort with a guide such as Savvy, Jessica, Tyler, or Shannon. Tour the Aurora Ice Museum, eat dinner if you wish, soak in the 106°F springs, then search for the aurora on the resort grounds and along the return road. Pickup, transport, pool access, and museum admission are included.

“Our guide was the most informative about the Northern Lights and though it was great chances of seeing them, she could not control the weather. The sky became overcast and it began to snow. Bummer but she gave tips and offered plenty of info on how to see them on a clear night. She also shared knowledge about the Natives in Alaska along with some of their interpretations of the Lights. It was fun and exciting. The Aurora Ice Museum was amazing!! I didn't get in the hot springs but there was plenty to do in the Activity Center. On the way back to our hotels, we were able to…”

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Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs - What happens from arrival to final landing
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Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs

2.Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 711 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $66Best value

Meet your guide at Adventureworks in Hot Springs for a 90-minute forest zipline tour. After a safety briefing and gear check, you’ll ride 10 ziplines over old-growth trees and ponds, including an 850-foot line 70 feet above the ground. Guides such as PJ, Tanner, Keeley, and Ruby are known for patient instruction and lively humor.

“The zip line was an amazing experience over a large piece of property. You had two tour guides and 10 to 12 zip lines. There was an informational video and an informational example done in person. The overall last from an hour and a half to about two hours.”

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Hoover Dam & Hot Springs Kayak Tour with Lunch & Expert Guide - Arizona Hot Springs and the sauna cave
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Hoover Dam & Hot Springs Kayak Tour with Lunch & Expert Guide

3.Hoover Dam & Hot Springs Kayak Tour with Lunch & Expert Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 318 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $289

Kayak from the base of Hoover Dam through Black Canyon on a 12-mile flat-water route. You will visit Arizona Hot Springs, warm up in a sauna cave, and watch for bighorn sheep, eagles, falcons, coyotes, and waterfowl. Guides such as Ryan, Faith, Chris, Michael, and Ashley lead small groups, with lunch, snacks, water, and equipment included.

“The views The scenery Hot springs The guide The education The physical activity Ashley our guide was AMAZING!!!”

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Chena Hot Springs Day Tour - Arriving at the resort: five hours to set your own pace
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Chena Hot Springs Day Tour

4.Chena Hot Springs Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 264 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $210

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs in a small group of up to 14. Guides such as Jean, Ray, Gina, and Amanda share local stories along the drive. You’ll soak in the 106°F outdoor pool, tour the Aurora Ice Museum, and have time for lunch, trails, and optional geothermal exhibits.

“We had a great day at the hot springs. Our guide was a local who friendly and knowledgeable. Thx so much for a fun day”

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Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour | Wildlife & Hot Springs | PRIVATE - Grand Prismatic Spring from boardwalk and overlook
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Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour | Wildlife & Hot Springs | PRIVATE

5.Yellowstone Lower Loop Tour | Wildlife & Hot Springs | PRIVATE

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $424

Start early from West Yellowstone for an eight-hour private tour led by guides such as Tin, Mike, Lisa, Kat, or Spencer. You’ll visit Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon, Hayden Valley, West Thumb, and more. A naturalist guide, lunch, snacks, drinks, binoculars, and a spotting scope are included.

“Our private tour with Mike was perfect. Mike loves Yellowstone Park and knew everything!!! He knows all the secret places and all the info!! Go early, as he suggested , you will not be disappointed. If we went on our own, we would of went home early. When leaving the park, a grizzly bear crossed the road in front of us!!!! Everything was beautiful!!! Thanks Mike for a fabulous tour!!!”

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Chena Hot Springs Day Tour from Fairbanks - The optional geothermal tour at 2 p.m.
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Chena Hot Springs Day Tour from Fairbanks

6.Chena Hot Springs Day Tour from Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 117 reviews · 6 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $200

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs with an English-speaking driver-guide, stopping at the Fairbanks Ice Museum before soaking in the thermal pools. The six-and-a-half-hour trip includes hotel pickup, bottled water, live commentary, and an optional geothermal tour. Guides such as Ash, Paul, Joe, Jeff, and Ed have been praised for adding wildlife stops and colorful Alaska stories.

“Jeff, out your guide provided information on the area. He made a couple of detours showing us a beaver lodge and dam, plus a pretty lake. . He spotted a moose and stopped for additional viewing time. We were able to see the ice museum. Interesting place. If interested, you can drink martini from an ice martini glass. The hot springs were wonderful. Various temperatures and water guns. The water guns had cool water, very warm water, and with strong pressure with warm water that you could allow to hit your back. It was like getting a deep tissue massage. It felt magnificent. There is also a hot tub and…”

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Fairbanks: Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour - The 60-mile ride from Fairbanks
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Fairbanks: Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour

7.Fairbanks: Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · from $215

Travel 60 miles from Fairbanks with a guide such as Gina, Greg, or Ron to Chena Hot Springs. Tour an ice museum, eat at the resort, soak in 106°F mineral water, and search for the aurora. The 14-person tour returns around 2 to 3 a.m., and the lights are never guaranteed.

“The tour was great the people were very nice and friendly, unfortunately we did not see the Northern Lights. Evan was our guide and he went above and beyond to try and find the Lights but unfortunately to no avail.”

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Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks - Inside the Ice Museum
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Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks

8.Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Night Tour from Fairbanks

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 115 reviews · 10 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $240

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for an evening of ice sculptures, mineral bathing, dinner on your own, and a long wait for the aurora. Guides such as Ed, Jake, Randy, Paul, and JT have made the ride especially enjoyable, but service at the resort can feel self-directed. Pickup is from major Fairbanks hotels, with groups limited to 12.

“Ed, our driver/guide was amazing! On the way there and while waiting for the Aurora, he told us about the source of the Aurora, interesting facts about bears, moose and caribu. Being a biologist, his explanations were great. As for the resort, the ice castle was closed due to some melting from the warm summer. There was a $21 tour to the ice bar, but missed it because we didn’t know. Bring your own towel if going into the hot springs, pool or hot tubs. If not, Pay $5 to rent one!! Food in the restaurant was good, but long wait. If you are having dinner, put your name in…”

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Yellowstone Lake & Hot Springs / 3 Hour Morning or Twilight Tour - The paddle across Yellowstone Lake
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Yellowstone Lake & Hot Springs / 3 Hour Morning or Twilight Tour

9.Yellowstone Lake & Hot Springs / 3 Hour Morning or Twilight Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 94 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $125

Launch from Grant Marina for a guided morning or twilight kayak trip across Yellowstone Lake. Guides such as Dylan, Maddie, Tiffany, and Allen provide safety instruction and explain the lake’s geology, wildlife, and thermal features. You’ll paddle about four to five miles, with a chance to see geysers from the water, then return to Grant Marina.

“Fantastic. We saw elk, geysers, and sunsets galore! And our guide was a sweetheart, patient, and knowledgeable”

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Spectacular Hot Spring Experience with Northern Lights - Dinner at the resort, with a little planning
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Spectacular Hot Spring Experience with Northern Lights

10.Spectacular Hot Spring Experience with Northern Lights

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.) · from $245

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for a hot soak, the resort’s Ice Museum, optional dinner, and an aurora chase. Guides including Tony, Chris, Savvy, Gina, and Kevin are praised for local stories, careful driving, photo help, and persistence when the lights appear late. Expect pickup, a small group, and a very late return.

“It was great & spectacular experience! Being a 1st timer here at Alaska, i can say that it was really an amazing tour.”

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From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour - Soaking at Chena Hot Springs around 8 p.m.
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From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour

11.From Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 59 reviews · 10 hours · from $240

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs in a small group of up to 10. Tour the Aurora Ice Museum, soak in the outdoor springs, and watch for the Northern Lights until about 2 a.m. Guides such as Joe, Ryan, Daniel, and Ed are known for helpful local knowledge and flexible aurora stops.

“Ed was a fabulous guide and very knowledgeable. His enthusiasm for Alaska and talking about the Northern Lights was very contagious and he got the entire group involved with how the lights happen and best ways to capture them on our own cameras (not as easy as you might think) and also to take a moment to just breath it all in. I fully recommend this tour and be sure to ask for Ed as your guide!”

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Hot Spring and Northern Lights Photography Tour - Leaving Fairbanks at About 5pm
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Hot Spring and Northern Lights Photography Tour

12.Hot Spring and Northern Lights Photography Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 39 reviews · from $225

Leave Fairbanks around 5pm with guides such as Kevin or Tabitha for ice art, a local dinner stop, Chena Hot Springs, and Aurora watching. The roughly eight-hour outing includes hotel pickup, photography help, and a small group of up to 12. Bring money for dinner, a towel, water, and flip-flops.

“Kevin and tabitha were very nice. Although we weren’t able to see the northern lights, Kevin tried his hardest to find them, the hot spring was amazing”

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Hot Springs Aurora Viewing Dream in Alaska - Chena’s hot springs from 8 PM to 10:30 PM
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Hot Springs Aurora Viewing Dream in Alaska

13.Hot Springs Aurora Viewing Dream in Alaska

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 35 reviews · 7 hours (approx.)

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs in a small group of up to 14. Soak under the Alaska night sky, tour the Ice Museum and Ice Bar, eat at the resort, and watch for the aurora. Guides such as Kevin, Andrew, Andre, and Tristan are praised for friendly help, photography, and clear advice. Aurora sightings depend on weather.

“Saw the Northern lights on the way to the hot springs which was awesome. Great night. Thanks Nick and Lacy. Pat and Lauren”

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Full Day Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Tour - The drive from Fairbanks to Chena
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Full Day Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Tour

14.Full Day Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 32 reviews · 7 hours · from $200

Leave Fairbanks around 11 AM for an ice museum with an ice bar and frozen chandeliers, then tour Chena Hot Springs’ geothermal projects before relaxing in the pools. English-speaking guides, hotel pickup, museum entry, and pool admission are included. Food, drinks, towels, and Airbnb pickup are not.

“the ride from fairbanks the chena hots springs was about an hour. Our driver Paul was very entertaining and knowledgeable. We did the hots springs, the indoor pool and lunch there it was a great experience.”

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Fire & Ice: Chena Hot Springs, Ice Museum + Aurora Adventure - Soaking at Chena Hot Springs
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Fire & Ice: Chena Hot Springs, Ice Museum + Aurora Adventure

15.Fire & Ice: Chena Hot Springs, Ice Museum + Aurora Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $270

Travel from Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs for a mineral-water soak, glowing ice sculptures, and an optional ice-glass cocktail. Your guide, including experienced guides such as Gina, then seeks out the Northern Lights. The private tour lasts about nine hours and returns late at night.

“Gina was an amazing guide! She is thoughtful, a great communicator, and truly cares about giving you the best experience. I had never seen the Northern lights before, and Gina stayed a little extra long to ensure we did! It was an forgettable experience!”

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