Thermopolis Hot Springs, Wyoming: Which Soak to Choose

Where the springs are

The park address is 51 US Highway 20 North, Thermopolis, Wyoming, in Hot Springs County, and the grounds sit right against the Bighorn River where it runs through town. Grounds are open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so an early soak or an evening walk along the terraces fits inside the day. Because the park borders Thermopolis, you park once and walk to the bath house, the terraces and the river bridge.

Coming from out of town, US Highway 20 brings you into Thermopolis, and the park entrance is on that road rather than off a forest service route. That matters in winter, when mountain passes elsewhere in Wyoming dictate your timing but the in-town approach to the bath house does not. Fuel up and buy groceries in town before you settle in for a soak, since services are concentrated in Thermopolis itself.

The springs and the terraces

More than 1.8 million gallons of mineral water flow over the terraces every 24 hours, and the flow arrives at a constant 128 degrees Fahrenheit. That source water is far too hot to enter, which is why the soaking happens in managed pools cooled to a set temperature. The terraces themselves are the spectacle: colored mineral deposits stacked along the river, viewed from boardwalks and trails rather than walked on.

Plan the terrace walk as part of the soak rather than an afterthought. The Swinging Bridge, a suspension foot bridge across the Bighorn River, gives you a vantage point over the river and the mineral terrace, and it is the classic photo stop. If you are mapping a longer Wyoming hot springs trip, the terraces are what set this park apart from a plain pool complex.

The State Bath House pools

The State Bath House holds the water at 104 degrees for bathing, a temperature you can settle into for a long soak instead of a quick dip. It has both indoor and outdoor soaking pools, so a cold snap or a windy afternoon does not end the visit. The facility is free and public, which is the main reason Thermopolis works as a low-cost stop on a longer road trip.

Wyoming State Parks announced improvements to the outdoor soaking pool that include a new ADA-compliant lift chair, concrete work, new handrails and a heated sidewalk, with the outdoor pool closing temporarily for roughly a month during construction while the indoor pool stays open. Check the park's news page before you drive out if the outdoor pool is the reason for your visit. Soak with your head above the water and treat the mineral water as hot water to enjoy, not to drink or submerge in.

Hours and season

The bath house runs on two schedules. In summer it is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 7 p.m.; in winter the same days apply but the closing time moves to 5:30 p.m. The Sunday noon opening catches people out, so a late-morning arrival on a Sunday means waiting. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, and the park itself is open year-round.

Winter hours reward early soakers: you get the indoor pool while the terraces steam and the crowds stay home, and you are out well before dark. In summer, aim for the first hour of the morning or the last couple of hours before close to avoid the middle-of-the-day press. Because the park is day-use, your soak and terrace walk should end before the 10 p.m. grounds closing.

The other soak in town

Tepee Pool and Spa at 144 Tepee Street in Thermopolis is the commercial alternative, with posted hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. That later closing gives you an evening option after the bath house shuts in winter. Its layout is a pool-and-spa setup rather than a state bath house, so treat it as the place for a longer swim session or a family outing when you want more than a soak.

The decision between the two is simple. Choose the State Bath House for the 104-degree mineral pools, the terraces and the price of a public facility; choose Tepee Pool for a pool session with hours that stretch into the evening and a location on the town side of the park. Many visitors do both across a two-night stay, soaking at the bath house in the morning and swimming in town later.

Bison, trails and the rest of the park

The park is home to the central bison herd for Wyoming State Parks, and in late fall and winter the animals are fed a daily supplement, usually around 8:30 a.m., which gives off-season visitors a close view from the road. Stay in your vehicle and watch from there; these are large wild animals in a state park, not a drive-through petting zoo. An early winter start pairs well: catch the feeding, then walk to the bath house as it opens.

Beyond soaking, the park holds 6.2 miles of trails, including universally accessible paths and hiking routes, plus picnic areas, fishing access and a boat ramp on the Bighorn. The three large group picnic shelters are reservable and heavily used in summer, so groups should book through park headquarters well ahead. A half-day plan fits comfortably: soak, walk the terraces and Swinging Bridge, then eat lunch at a picnic table by the river.

Fees and day-use rules

The State Bath House is a free public facility, which keeps a family soak inexpensive compared with commercial pools. The park operates as a day-use area with no overnight camping, so tents and RVs belong in town rather than in the park. Day-use fees and permit questions are handled through Wyoming State Parks' permits and fees pages, which is where the current schedule of charges lives.

Follow the posted rules at the bath house and in the park rather than assumptions carried from other springs, and ask at park headquarters about group shelters and liquor permits if you are organizing an event. The park's rules and regulations page covers conduct across the grounds. In a developed state park like this, the posted signage is the authority on what is allowed in the pools.

Best time to go

Summer brings the park's flower gardens, full trail access and long evenings, along with the biggest crowds at the bath house and picnic shelters. Winter trades gardens for steam: the terraces are at their most atmospheric in cold air, the bison feeding draws photographers, and the indoor pool keeps the soak going. Spring and fall split the difference, with comfortable walking weather and thinner midweek traffic.

Midweek beats weekends year-round, and mornings beat afternoons in every season. If you are chasing a quiet soak, arrive at opening, take the pool first and walk the terraces afterward as day visitors arrive. If you want the bison and the steam, plan a cold-weather morning and dress for wind off the river.

What to bring

Bring swimwear, a towel and a water bottle, and plan to change at the bath house rather than in the parking lot. Secure valuables in your vehicle and keep the soak to a comfortable length, stepping out if you feel overheated. For the terraces and trails, add shoes with grip, since boardwalks and paths can be slick with mineral spray or winter ice.

In winter, add a warm layer for the walk between the bath house, the river bridge and the car, and expect steam to fog glasses and cameras. A small dry bag keeps phones safe near the pools. If you are combining Thermopolis with primitive soaks elsewhere in the state, keep camp gear separate from your town clothes so the developed stop stays easy.

Nearby springs for a road trip

Thermopolis makes a natural anchor for a Big Horn Basin loop, and a southern route leads toward Saratoga Hot Springs, Wyoming, where the soaking scene is built around a town pool and a riverside soak. Treat it as a separate overnight rather than a day trip. For a broader map of soaks across the state, including developed and primitive options, start with the Wyoming hot springs guide and pick your stops by region. If you are extending the loop northward, the Montana guide covers the developed soaks on the other side of the state line.

Northwest of Thermopolis, the Wind River Canyon Scenic Byway is the classic drive out of town, and it points you toward the mountain and forest soaks of western Wyoming. Granite Hot Springs in Bridger-Teton National Forest is a hike-in or snowmobile-in soak that pairs with a Jackson-area leg. On the western side of the state, Astoria Hot Springs Park offers a developed soak near the Snake River corridor. Each of these asks for different gear and timing, so build the route around one or two soaks rather than a checklist.

If your trip swings toward free and primitive soaks, plan those days separately from Thermopolis: they need their own water, maps and camp setup, and some require a hike that is not appropriate for a casual evening. The free hot springs in Wyoming round-up helps you sort which soaks need a fee, a reservation or a trailhead. Leave the developed pools to Thermopolis and save the backcountry for a different leg.

Where to stay and eat

Since Hot Springs State Park is day-use, base yourself in Thermopolis, where motels, RV parks and guest lodges sit within a short drive of the park entrance. Staying in town lets you walk to an early bath house opening and reach restaurants for dinner after the pools close. Book ahead for summer weekends and for the bison-feeding season, when off-season visitors have their own reasons to be in town.

Fuel, groceries and restaurants are all in Thermopolis, so you do not need to carry a full camp kitchen unless you are camping elsewhere. The town also hosts events through the year, which can fill rooms on short notice. A two-night stay is the sweet spot: one day for the bath house and terraces, one for the town pool and the canyon drive.

Plan Your Soak

Thermopolis works as a hot-spring stop because it asks so little of you: park once, walk to the bath house, soak at 104 degrees, then wander the terraces and the Swinging Bridge with a towel over your shoulder. The day-use layout and the bath house's two schedules shape the trip more than any permit does, so build your day around the opening hour and the season you are visiting.

For the rest of the state, pair Thermopolis with one or two soaks that suit your gear and your appetite for a hike, and leave the long list for another trip. Check the State Bath House page for current hours and any construction updates before you go, then let the terraces and the river fill the rest of your day. For every soak in the state, start with our guide to Wyoming hot springs.