Discover the best hot springs in Texas!
The Lone Star State is known for its food, southern culture, and sheer size, but did you know it also hosts a handful of beautiful hot springs?
Hidden throughout the cities and desert landscape are natural springs that bubble up from under the ground and fill pools with natural hot mineral water that relaxes and heals the body.
Since it is the second most populated state in the US, visiting Texas can feel very busy and bustling. That’s where hot springs come in. Soaking in warm natural mineral water is an excellent escape from the city that will leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
In this guide, we are going to explore all five hot springs in Texas and what each little gem has to offer.
5 Hot Springs in Texas
Even though there are only a few to choose from, Texas has a good selection of different types of hot springs.
Apart from having both developed and primitive hot springs, Texas also offers both warm springs and hot springs. Across all the hot springs in the state, the water temperature varies between 68 F and 105 F, depending on your location.
Now, let’s look at the five hot springs in Texas:
Barton Springs Municipal Pool
Barton Springs Pool is known as one of the best hot springs in Texas for a few reasons. Not only is it beautiful and long, but it’s also situated in the heart of Austin. This makes it an easy spot to go and spend the day without driving out of the city.
This is not just any swimming pool, however.
Barton Springs appears to be a meandering river winding around the corner, but it is, in fact, a 900ft long, 18ft deep mineral water swimming pool that is clean and totally safe to swim in. The water is crystal blue and sits around 68-74 F, which makes it very inviting for visitors all year round. This temperature means that it is technically classified as a warm spring rather than a hot spring.
Initially used for purification rituals but the Tonkawa people, the Main Barton Spring was eventually rerouted into what was to become Barton Springs Pool. It has been promoted as a tourist attraction in Austin since the late 1830s and has remained popular ever since.
In 1947 a bathhouse was built nearby that can still be enjoyed to this day.
The pool is flanked on either side by wide walkways and sloping banks where visitors can sit and relax between dips in the warm mineral water. The way the pool changes in depth and shape means that it is suitable for swimming laps or just sitting and soaking in the sunshine.
We highly recommend this spot for families as it’s a space that someone of any age can enjoy.
Chinati Hot Springs
Chinati Hot Springs is a rustic oasis in the Chihuahua Desert that provides a simply beautiful hot springs experience.
Opened in the 1930s as a healing place to soak, the hot springs are only available to overnight guests, so you are guaranteed to have a more private and exclusive experience than a regular resort. The focus of Chinati Hot Springs is peace and relaxation, so there is no cellphone service or wifi, so you can sit back and soak in complete tranquility.
There are a series of pools to choose from when it comes to soaking. The larger main pool has a beautiful view of the natural surroundings and is an incredible spot to star gaze at night. This pool is around 70 F.
Then there is a smaller outdoor hot tub that sits at a toastier 105 F and holds just a few people at a time. However, if you want an indulgent private soak, there are individual stone hot tubs available inside that are between 104 and 109 F.
For accommodation, Chinati Hot Springs has a number of stone cabins to choose from painted in a host of appealing bright colors. They are the perfect rustic getaway in the Texas countryside to truly switch off and relax.
These hot springs were also previously known as Ruidosa Hot Springs or Kingston Hot Springs.
Jacob’s Well Natural Area
Jacob’s Well is a stunning example of natural springs that are so named because of the deep web of underwater caves beneath the surface. However, these caves are not explored by the average visitor who is just there to enjoy swimming in the beautiful natural hot spring pool.
Located just a short drive from Austin. Jacob’s Well Hot Spring is a gorgeous primitive escape from the city. The crystal clear pool is 12 ft across on the surface and over 30 feet deep. This depth means that it’s safe to spend the day jumping into the 68 F water from the rocky cliff face alongside it.
The hot spring is open between 1 May and 30 September, but the area is available for hiking all year round.
Although this hot spring is primitive, it is a very popular spot, so you will need to make a reservation in advance and pay a small fee to access Jacob’s Well.
Please note that there is no camping allowed around the hot spring.
Krause Springs
Krause Springs is the spot you are looking for if you truly want an aesthetic escape in a beautiful location.
Officially founded in 1955, Krause Springs is listed on the National Registry of Historical sites, and for a good reason. The grounds are spectacular, with historic stone buildings and lush green gardens surrounding you on all sides as you take a stroll or head to the hot springs for a dip.
There are 32 springs on the property, and they are fed via waterfalls into two main pools. The natural pool is the larger of the two, so it is very popular. The surrounding trees and banks enclose the natural pool to create a stunning scenery that is the perfect location to soak in healing mineral water.
The upper pool is a man-made pool filled with the same mineral water that is a more chic, put-together option. It has a wonderful view and space for sunloungers on either side. Whichever pool you choose, you can expect a water temperature of around 70 F, which means this is actually a warm spring.
There are no official accommodations on the Krause Springs grounds, but there are areas for tent camping and RV hookups. This way, you can enjoy the hot springs for multiple days in a row.
The hot spring is closed from November to February.
Langford Hot Springs
Also known as Boquillas Hot Springs, Langford Hot Springs can be found in Big Bend National Park, and it has a fascinating history.
Located along the Rio Grande River, where it meets Tornillo Creek, the Langford Hot Springs used to be a key part of a small village called Hot Springs. It was a popular, if modest, spot during the early 1900s, which led to the building of a bathhouse for locals to take advantage of the natural hot spring that was the town’s namesake.
However, it has been abandoned since the 1940s, and the bathhouse eroded down to merely the foundations. Now the hot spring bubbles up and fills these foundations to become the hot springs we know today.
Without any frills or amenities, this pool provides a simple but relaxing view of the river while you soak in the 105 F water.
Since the water is so hot and the mineral levels are high, you need to soak in these pools at your own risk and preferably limit the amount of exposure that small children get to the water.
The hot springs can be reached by the Hot Springs dirt road, which will lead you to the trailhead. From there, it is a 0.5-mile roundtrip to the hot springs, so it’s nothing too strenuous.
No camping is allowed near the hot springs, but there are a number of campsites nearby in Big Bend National Park.
Full List of Texas Hot Springs
Despite its gargantuan size, Texas only has a handful of hot springs scattered throughout the state. Overall, the hot springs are clustered around Austin and along the border with Mexico.
| Hot Spring | Location in Texas | Developed or Primitive |
| Barton Springs Municipal Pool | Austin | Developed |
| Chinati Hot Springs | Ruidosa | Developed |
| Jacob’s Well Natural Area | Wimberley | Primitive |
| Krause Springs | Spicewood | Primitive |
| Langford Hot Springs | Big Bend NP | Primitive |
Types of Hot Springs in Texas
In a lot of states that have hot springs, there will be both primitive and developed hot springs, and Texas is no different.
Let’s take a look at the two categories of hot springs in Texas and the difference between the two.
Primitive
The majority of the hots springs in Texas are primitive.
Some of these feature natural pools, while others have been helped along by a little human intervention to create a pool for the spring to collect.
If you’re looking for a totally natural hot spring experience surrounded by a stunning view, then a primitive hot spring may be precisely what you’re looking for.
The great thing about these hot springs is that they are usually free to use or only require a small fee, depending on what spring you’re visiting. Developed hot springs, especially resorts, can get very expensive, so these are a good alternative. They also come with the added bonus of being less busy than a resort.
Please keep in mind that you may need to hike to reach some of these hot springs, meaning that they may not be accessible to everyone. A key part of hiking to and using hot springs in nature is taking enough water for the whole trip. We suggest bringing more rather than less because soaking in a hot spring can make you dehydrate very easily.
Developed
Sometimes, a developed hot spring will refer to a luxury hot springs resort that has a lot of fancy amenities. In Texas, however, things are slightly more casual.
For instance, Barton Springs Pool seems to be the perfect combination of developed and primitive. The pool has concrete walkways, steps, and lifeguard stands but still manages to look like a vast natural river. So while it may look naturally beautiful and provide plenty of space to swim, the location is much easier to access by more people.
This kind of hot spring is also much less expensive for a day pass than a resort would be, so it’s a great way to spend a summer day with the family.
However, if you want to stay near a hot spring and have a few options when it comes to soaking, you can try the Chinati Hot Springs. This is a rustic hot spring resort with larger pools and hot tubs as well as accommodations nearby.
Texas is a state that has a lot of attractions to offer, and hot springs are no exception. The next time you pay a visit to the Lone Star state, why not add a few hot springs to your itinerary and take full advantage of the relaxing, healing mineral water?