Are There Hot SpringsAre there hot springs in Kentucky?
No. Kentucky has no natural hot springs. It has many mineral springs, which supported resorts across the state for about a century, but they all flow at ordinary temperature.
The nearest water that comes out hot is in Hot Springs, North Carolina, about 170 miles from Lexington in a straight line, where private tubs of natural mineral water sit beside the French Broad River.
How far are the nearest hot springs from Kentucky?
Both cities are within easy reach of Hot Springs, North Carolina, and eastern Kentucky is closer still.
| From | Nearest hot springs (straight line) | Next nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville | Hot Springs, North Carolina230 miles | Bath County, Virginia, 320 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 480 miles |
| Lexington | Hot Springs, North Carolina170 miles | Bath County, Virginia, 250 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 530 miles |
Kentucky is well placed: two hot spring towns, in North Carolina and Virginia, are within about 320 miles of both cities.
Kentucky's mineral spring resorts
Like Virginia, the state it was carved from, Kentucky was full of mineral springs, and from the early 1800s resorts grew up around them. Guests came to drink sulphur, iron and salt waters for their health and to enjoy a summer social season away from the towns.
Crab Orchard Springs in Lincoln County was among the best known. Its first resort opened in 1827, and it ran as a popular watering place until the early 1930s, famed for the number and quality of its springs; Crab Orchard salts, sold as a remedy, were made there by evaporating the water. Guests often numbered more than 400 a night.
Others included Grayson Springs, a sulphur spa from the mid-1820s in Grayson County, and the Chameleon Spring Hotel in Edmonson County, which opened in 1804 and offered five different mineral waters. In the west, Dawson Springs was known for its mineral spring bathhouses; today it is Kentucky's first certified Trail Town, next to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.
The best spas, heated pools and springs in Kentucky
A thermal spa near Red River Gorge, a spring-fed quarry for swimming, and the old bathhouse town of Dawson Springs.
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Thermal spa
The Hive at High Rock
Red River GorgeA glamping retreat with a private outdoor thermal spa: soaking tubs, a sauna and a cold plunge.
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Spring-fed swim
Bluegrass Spring Quarry
La GrangeA spring-fed swimming hole for adults 18 and over.
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Spring history
Dawson Springs
Dawson SpringsKentucky's first Trail Town, once home to popular mineral spring bath houses.
Map of spas, heated pools and springs in Kentucky
The map shows all 3 places we list in Kentucky. Zoom in on the larger map for more detail.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
How to visit
When to go
The Quarry is an outdoor swimming hole, so it is a warm-weather trip; check its season. The Hive's thermal spa works all year. Dawson Springs hosts Mule Days each May.
What it costs
Both The Hive and The Quarry charge for entry or sessions; book the spa ahead.
Getting there
Red River Gorge is about an hour east of Lexington. La Grange is north-east of Louisville. Dawson Springs is in western Kentucky, near Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park.
Before you soak in Kentucky
A few practical points.
- Check the age ruleBluegrass Spring Quarry is for adults 18 and over.
- Look for the markersKentucky's old spring resorts are mostly marked by state historical markers rather than buildings; Crab Orchard's stands in town.
- Pair Dawson Springs with a hikePennyrile Forest State Resort Park has a 13-mile trail, and the Tradewater River is good for easy paddling.
Questions about soaking in Kentucky
Are there hot springs near Louisville?
Not in Kentucky. The nearest is Hot Springs, North Carolina, about 230 miles away in a straight line, then Bath County, Virginia, about 320 miles away.
How many spring resorts did Kentucky have?
Many. Crab Orchard Springs ran from 1827 to the early 1930s, Grayson Springs from the 1820s, and Dawson Springs had popular mineral bathhouses.
What were Crab Orchard salts?
A remedy made at Crab Orchard Springs by evaporating its mineral water, according to the Kentucky Historical Society's marker.
Is there anywhere to soak in warm water near Red River Gorge?
The Hive at High Rock has a private outdoor thermal spa with soaking tubs, a sauna and a cold plunge.
Are any Kentucky springs warm?
No. Its old resort springs, from Crab Orchard to Grayson Springs, all flow cool, and none is on NOAA's list of US thermal springs.
Pictures of places to soak in Kentucky
Photos of Dawson Springs, 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.
How we checked this page
This guide was reviewed on . Facts come from the official sources listed below.
- Kentucky Historical Society: Crab Orchard Springs marker (1827 to early 1930s, Crab Orchard salts)
- ExploreKYHistory: Crab Orchard Springs (first resort 1827)
- City of Crab Orchard: History and tourism (more than 400 guests a night)
- ExploreKYHistory: Grayson Springs (sulphur spa from the 1820s)
- Kentucky Historical Society: Chameleon and Chalybeate springs marker (1804, five mineral waters)
- Kentucky Tourism: Kentucky Trail Towns (Dawson Springs bath houses)
- Kentucky Tourism: Top swimming holes in Kentucky (The Quarry, 18+)
- NOAA: Thermal Springs List for the United States
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