Hot Springs Near Colorado Springs: The Honest Answer, Mile by Mile

Short answer: there are no natural hot springs in Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs. Manitou’s famous springs are cold, carbonated mineral water, not soakable hot springs. The closest place to actually soak in warm water is SunWater Spa in Manitou Springs, about 15 minutes away, and it’s a spa with private tubs, not a geothermal spring. The nearest true natural hot springs are Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort near Buena Vista, roughly 100 miles and a two hour drive west. Below is the real breakdown, distances included, so you can plan the trip that actually matches what you want.

Why “hot springs near Colorado Springs” is a trick question

Despite the name, Colorado Springs has no geothermal hot springs. The city was named for the mineral springs in neighboring Manitou Springs, and those are cold and naturally carbonated, more like seltzer than a soaking tub. If you’re picturing a steaming outdoor pool a short drive from downtown, that place doesn’t exist inside city limits or in Manitou. What does exist is one close-in spa option and a real hot spring resort a couple hours west.

SunWater Spa: the closest place to soak

SunWater Spa sits at 514 El Paso Boulevard in Manitou Springs, about 15 minutes from downtown Colorado Springs. It’s not a geothermal hot spring. It’s a spa built around private cedar soaking tubs filled with the local mineral water, with Pikes Peak in view. They’re open Tuesday through Sunday, so plan around the Monday closure, and book ahead since the private tubs fill up fast on weekends.

Researched, not a firsthand visit. Verify current hours and pricing on SunWater Spa’s site before you go.

Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort: the real thing

For actual natural hot springs, Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort near Buena Vista in Nathrop is the closest option, roughly 100 miles and about a two hour drive west on US-24. The resort has multiple geothermal soaking pools plus a section where hot spring water mixes with the cold Chalk Creek, so you can chase the temperature you want. It’s open daily, and the resort adds lodging, a restaurant, and a summer water slide if you want to make it more than a soak.

Researched, not a firsthand soak. Confirm current pool hours and pricing on Mount Princeton’s official site before booking.

Firsthand: driving the Buena Vista and Salida corridor

Over Labor Day weekend 2026 I drove the Colorado Springs to Buena Vista to Salida corridor on US-24 and US-285, the same stretch Mount Princeton sits on in Nathrop. I didn’t stop to soak that trip, but the drive itself is worth knowing about if you’re already routing this way for the hot springs. One good pull-off along the way is Hecla Junction on the Arkansas River, a quiet spot to stretch your legs and look at the water before continuing to Salida. If you’re making a day of it, our Buena Vista and Salida day trip guide covers the rest of that corridor, including where to eat and what else to see between the hot springs and home.

If you’re willing to drive further

A handful of other Colorado hot springs are genuinely worth a weekend trip if Mount Princeton doesn’t fit your dates or you want something bigger.

Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, about 3.5 hours from Colorado Springs, has the world’s largest hot springs pool, kept around 93°F year-round, with water slides and a full athletic club on site.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs, also in Glenwood Springs, has 16 geothermal soaking pools of varying temperatures along the Colorado River, plus a freshwater pool for kids.

Strawberry Park Hot Springs, near Steamboat Springs and about 3 hours away, is a rustic, forested set of natural pools that requires four-wheel drive or a shuttle in winter. It goes clothing-optional after dark, adults only.

Ouray Hot Springs Pool, roughly 4.5 hours southwest, is a sulfur-free municipal pool downtown with a hotter soaking section and mountain views on nearly every side.

These are all researched, not firsthand visits. Distances are approximate and road conditions change with weather, so check drive times before you commit to a route.

What to know before you go

Reserve ahead in summer and on winter weekends, since the closer and more popular spots book up. Bring your own swimsuit, towel, and water. A few of the more remote, rustic springs go clothing-optional after dark and are adults only, so check the policy for wherever you’re headed if you’re bringing kids. If you’re making the drive to Buena Vista or Salida anyway, build in time for the town itself rather than treating the soak as the only stop.

More Colorado Springs Guides

• Buena Vista and Salida: A Day Trip From Colorado Springs
• Manitou Springs Day Trip Guide: Penny Arcades and Mineral Springs
• Scenic Drives Near Colorado Springs: The Routes Worth Your Gas Money

Author: Dominic