Are There Hot SpringsAre there hot springs in Georgia?
No. Georgia has no hot springs of its own. It has warm ones: the springs at Warm Springs in Meriwether County flow at about 88°F, the warmest and strongest in the area, and Franklin D. Roosevelt swam in them from 1924.
You cannot bathe in Roosevelt's old pools, and the state lists the pools and their museum as closed for repair. For natural hot water, the nearest is Hot Springs, North Carolina, about 170 miles from Atlanta in a straight line.
The nearest hot springs to Atlanta and Savannah
From north Georgia, Hot Springs, North Carolina, is close enough for a weekend, with soaking tubs by the French Broad River.
| From | Nearest hot springs (straight line) | Next nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | Hot Springs, North Carolina170 miles | Bath County, Virginia, 390 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 500 miles |
| Savannah | Hot Springs, North Carolina280 miles | Bath County, Virginia, 410 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 710 miles |
From Savannah the same town is still the nearest, about 280 miles away. Bath County, Virginia, comes next for both cities, and Arkansas is farther than either.
Warm Springs and Franklin D. Roosevelt
The springs flow from Pine Mountain at a steady 88°F, and the spot was already called Warm Springs on maps of the 1860s. A small resort grew up around them, and in 1924 Franklin D. Roosevelt, struck by polio in 1921, came to swim in the warm, buoyant water.
The water was no cure, but swimming in it helped him, and he bought the resort and set up the Georgia Warm Springs Foundation to treat polio patients. He built a cottage on the mountainside, later called the Little White House, and died there in April 1945. The house has been open to the public since 1948.
Today the Little White House is a state historic site, open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., with adult admission of $13 plus tax in November 2026. The restored pools next to the springs, filled with spring water for visitors to see, are closed for repair, so check before planning a visit around them.
Nearby F.D. Roosevelt State Park, on land Roosevelt once owned, covers more than 9,000 acres and is the largest state park in Georgia. Its Liberty Bell Pool is spring-fed and opens in summer.
The best springs, spas and heated pools in Georgia
Roosevelt's pools and home at Warm Springs, and a spring-fed swimming pool in the state park on Pine Mountain.
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Tour only
Roosevelt Warm Springs Pools
Warm SpringsFDR's restored pools, filled with 88°F spring water; the state lists the pools and museum as closed for repair.
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Historic site
Roosevelt's Little White House
Warm SpringsRoosevelt's Warm Springs home and museum, a Georgia state historic site.
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Spring-fed pool
Liberty Bell Pool
Pine MountainThe largest spring-fed pool in Georgia, at F.D. Roosevelt State Park, open in summer.
Map of springs, spas and heated pools in Georgia
Where each of the 3 places in Georgia is. Pin shapes show the type; open the larger map for more detail.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Planning a soak in Georgia
Best time to visit
The Little White House is open all year except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Liberty Bell Pool opens only in summer, so June to August is the time to swim.
Prices and fees
Little White House admission in November 2026: $13 for adults, $9.75 for seniors, $7.50 for ages 6 to 17, plus tax; under 6 free. The state park charges its own parking fee and pool admission.
How to get there
Warm Springs is in west Georgia, about 60 miles south of Atlanta and 20 miles south-east of LaGrange. F.D. Roosevelt State Park is a short drive away along the Pine Mountain ridge.
Rules and good manners
Before you go to Warm Springs.
- Check what is openThe pools and pool museum are closed for repair; the Little White House and its museum are open.
- Allow time for the museumThe Little White House site includes a museum and film as well as the house.
- Swim in summer onlyLiberty Bell Pool is a seasonal pool; outside summer there is nowhere at Warm Springs to get in the water.
Common questions
Are there hot springs near Atlanta?
Not in Georgia. The nearest is Hot Springs, North Carolina, about 170 miles away in a straight line. In Georgia, the springs at Warm Springs are about 88°F.
Can you swim in the springs at Warm Springs, Georgia?
No. Roosevelt's historic pools are for viewing, not swimming, and they are closed for repair. Liberty Bell Pool in F.D. Roosevelt State Park is spring-fed and open in summer.
How warm is the water at Warm Springs?
About 88°F all year: warm and buoyant, but well below hot spring temperatures.
Why did Roosevelt go to Warm Springs?
He had polio and hoped the warm water would help. Swimming there improved his strength, though it was not a cure, and he founded a polio treatment center there in 1927.
Is the Little White House open?
Yes, daily from 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Pictures of places to soak in Georgia
Photos of Roosevelt's Little White House, a place to soak in this guide. We only use photos whose license allows reuse and credit the photographer under each one. The full credits are on our photo credits page.
Sources
Reviewed on against the sources below.
- Georgia State Parks: Roosevelt's Little White House (hours, admission, pools closed for repair)
- City of Warm Springs: About Warm Springs (88°F, 1860s maps, largest state park)
- Georgia State Parks: Roosevelt Warm Springs Pools restoration (the restored pools)
- Explore Georgia: FDR and the Spirit of Warm Springs (Georgia Warm Springs Foundation)
- Georgia State Parks: F.D. Roosevelt State Park (Liberty Bell Pool)
Other states with hot springs
Every other state with a hot springs guide.