Hot Springs in Wyoming

Overview

Wyoming's hot-spring destination is Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, sitting on the Bighorn River about 75 miles south of Cody and 130 miles northeast of Riverton on US-20. The Big Spring at the center of the park discharges more than 1,040 gallons of water per minute from a source that emerges at around 135°F, one of the highest-volume mineral hot springs anywhere in the country. That water flows across pastel travertine terraces, picking up orange, cream, and rust deposits from iron and calcium minerals, before cooling to soaking temperatures in the park's bathhouse facilities. The park is free to enter and open year-round, and the State Bath House soaking is free too, which puts it in a category nearly by itself among natural hot spring destinations in the West.

Thermopolis is a small working town of just under 3,000 people with enough motels, a handful of restaurants, and the Wyoming Dinosaur Center at 110 Carter Ranch Road within easy reach of the park. Most visitors arrive by car on US-20, either south from Cody or north through Wind River Canyon from Shoshoni. That canyon drive, where the highway shares a narrow gorge with the Wind River and a freight rail line cut through 2.7-billion-year-old Precambrian rock, is reason enough to approach from the south rather than skipping it. The full context for building a Wyoming trip around Thermopolis is in the Wyoming Travel Guide.

What to Expect

Hot Springs State Park covers more than 1,000 acres and includes walking paths, a suspension footbridge over the Bighorn River, a small bison herd in a fenced paddock visible from the trails, and the travertine terraces themselves. The terraces build up slowly from the mineral-rich water flowing across them year after year. On a cold morning, steam drifts off the terraces and the soaking pools in a way that makes the whole park feel actively alive rather than just photogenic. A short loop trail connects the Big Spring overlook, the terraces, and the river, and the walk takes 30 to 45 minutes at an easy pace.

The Hot Springs State Park Bath House, at 168 Tepee Street in Thermopolis, is operated by Wyoming State Parks as a public facility where soaking is completely free. The system is simple: sign in at the front desk, choose the indoor or outdoor pool, soak for 20 minutes, sign out. Both pools are held at approximately 104°F. The 20-minute limit is enforced, and people generally honor it, which keeps the facility moving throughout the day. Bring a swimsuit, a towel, flip-flops for the wet floors, and a small padlock if you want to secure a locker. The facility is clean and functional, not a resort spa, and that is exactly the point.

The Wyoming Dinosaur Center rounds out Thermopolis as a full-day stop. It is a short drive from the park entrance and displays mounted fossil skeletons, information about active dig sites in the area, and exhibits explaining how this part of Wyoming spent much of the Jurassic period as shallow sea and river delta terrain, which is why the Morrison Formation beds here have produced so many significant paleontological finds. A morning at the hot springs followed by an afternoon at the dinosaur center is the standard Thermopolis day for good reason. For guided tours and regional operators across Wyoming, check the Tour Operators and Guides directory.

Best Season

The hot springs are accessible year-round, and the experience changes noticeably with the seasons. From October through February, cold air temperatures make the steam off the terraces and soaking pools visible from across the park, and a free outdoor soak in 104°F water while cold air hits your face is one of the more distinctly Wyoming experiences you can have. Thermopolis sits at about 4,326 feet of elevation, lower than Jackson at 6,234 feet or Yellowstone's interior roads above 7,000 feet, so hard winter conditions are uncommon and US-20 through Wind River Canyon is maintained year-round.

Summer brings more visitors to Thermopolis, particularly July and August, when warmer ambient temperatures make outdoor soaking feel less special and parking near the park fills earlier in the day. Early September is the sweet spot for a central Wyoming trip: the summer crowds at Yellowstone and Grand Teton have thinned, aspen on the canyon walls above Thermopolis start showing yellow, and the air is cool enough to make a midday soak worthwhile rather than just an early-morning activity. Late May and June also work well, with longer days and consistent road access through the canyon. The Scenic Drives page covers the Wind River Canyon route and other approaches to central Wyoming in more detail.

Typical Costs

Hot Springs State Park charges no entrance fee. The State Bath House is free to use with no reservation required. Sessions are limited to 20 minutes per visit per the posted facility policy.

Private soaking and water-feature facilities in Thermopolis charge for admission. Rates at commercial facilities in the area run roughly $10 to $18 per adult and $6 to $12 per child (estimated ranges; verify current rates before visiting, as these change seasonally). Some facilities offer day passes that include both pools and additional water park features.

Lodging in Thermopolis is modest compared to resort towns like Jackson or the Cody area in peak summer. Expect to pay an estimated $90 to $150 per night for a standard motel room, with rates toward the higher end in July and August. Meals run $12 to $25 per person at a sit-down restaurant in town.

Getting there adds the main variable cost. The nearest airports with regular commercial service are Riverton Regional (RIW), about 80 miles south via US-20, and Casper/Natrona County International (CPR), about 130 miles southeast. Rental car rates from CPR typically run $50 to $90 per day (estimate). Most visitors driving from Jackson, roughly 3.5 hours via US-26 and WY-120, or from Cody, about 1.5 hours on US-20, work Thermopolis into a longer Wyoming road trip rather than making it a standalone destination.

How to Book

The State Bath House operates on a walk-in basis with no reservations accepted. Hours change seasonally; the facility typically opens at 8 a.m. and closes in the late afternoon. Check the Wyoming State Parks website before you go for current hours, particularly outside summer. Private soaking facilities in Thermopolis also generally accept walk-ins, though calling ahead on summer weekends is reasonable if you want to confirm hours and availability.

If you're routing Thermopolis into a national park trip, it pairs well as an overnight between Cody and Casper, or as a one-night detour south from Cody before continuing into Yellowstone via the East Entrance. The Yellowstone and Grand Teton Road Trip itinerary covers how to build the full northwest Wyoming loop and where Thermopolis fits in the routing. Dude ranches in the Wind River and Bighorn Basin regions can also anchor a central Wyoming stay with Thermopolis as a day trip rather than an overnight stop. The Best Dude Ranches in Wyoming page lists options across the region.