Are There Hot SpringsAre there hot springs in Maine?
No. Maine has no natural hot springs, and NOAA lists no thermal springs in the state. Warm-ups here mean saunas and hot tubs: Washington Baths in Portland has a hot tub and cold plunge, and lakeside and riverside saunas pair heat with an icy dip.
The nearest water that surfaces hot is in Bath County, Virginia, about 630 miles from Portland in a straight line.
How far are the nearest hot springs from Maine?
Maine is about as far from a hot spring as you can get in the lower 48, and the closest options are in the Virginia and North Carolina mountains.
| From | Nearest hot springs (straight line) | Next nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Portland | Bath County, Virginia630 miles | Hot Springs, North Carolina, 850 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 1,370 miles |
| Bangor | Bath County, Virginia740 miles | Hot Springs, North Carolina, 960 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 1,470 miles |
From Bangor, Bath County is about 740 miles away. In practice, a Maine soak means a sauna and a cold plunge, not a hot spring.
Maine's saunas, and the Poland Spring story
Visit Maine's sauna guide lists about a dozen places across the state, several of them wood-fired and set beside cold water: Cedar Grove's pond saunas in Montville, Rest Day Sauna by Lake Hebron in Monson, private wood-fired saunas at Riverside Lodge in South Paris, Sea Smoke Sauna on North Haven island and mobile saunas from Selkie on Mount Desert Island. At Glidden Point in Edgecomb, a sauna session ends with a cold plunge and oysters. Some open only in the cold months or by appointment, so check before you go.
Maine's spring water has a famous history too. Poland Spring, in the same town as Wolf Cove Inn, grew into a grand summer resort, a famous watering place at the turn of the 20th century. After the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, its owners, Hiram Ricker & Sons, bought the fair's Maine State Building for $30,000, shipped it east on a 16-car train and rebuilt it at the resort, where it was dedicated in 1895 as a library and art building.
Poland Spring's fame came from drinking water, not heat; its springs are cold. The resort declined as the automobile changed how people travelled, but the Maine State Building still stands there and is listed on the National Register.
Maine spas on a map
Where each of the 5 places in Maine is. Pin shapes show the type; open the larger map for more detail.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Maine spas
A bathhouse in Portland, a Nordic circuit in Midcoast Maine, lakeside and river saunas, and an inn spa on the coast.
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Bathhouse
Washington Baths
PortlandA downtown bathhouse with a hot sauna, hot tub, cold plunge and café.
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Nordic circuit
Waterstruck Wellness
NewcastleA hot-and-cold Nordic circuit with a Finnish sauna, cold water, a pool and outdoor terraces.
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Lakeside sauna
Wolf Cove Inn
PolandOutdoor saunas and an ice bath on Tripp Lake, open to non-guests too.
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Inn spa
The Spa at Stage Neck
York HarborBook $50 or more in treatments and non-guests can use the inn's indoor pool, hot tub and sauna that day.
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Floating sauna
Sea Sauna
KennebunkA wood-fired cedar sauna floating on the Kennebunk River.
When to go, costs and getting there
Best time to visit
Many Maine saunas run in the cold months only, so check each website before you go. Indoor pools and hot tubs work year-round.
Prices and fees
Sauna sessions and spa visits are paid. At Stage Neck, booking $50 or more of treatments includes the pool, hot tub and sauna.
How to get there
Portland is the hub; York Harbor and Kennebunk are to the south on the coast, Poland is about 30 miles north, and Newcastle is in Midcoast Maine.
Safety and etiquette
How to do hot and cold safely.
- Ease into the coldEnter a cold plunge or winter lake slowly, keep it short, and never go in alone.
- Drink water between roundsSauna heat dehydrates you faster than a warm bath.
- Book aheadMany saunas take small groups by appointment only.
Questions about soaking in Maine
Are there hot springs in Maine?
No. The nearest are in Bath County, Virginia, about 630 miles from Portland in a straight line.
Where can you use a hot tub and cold plunge in Portland, Maine?
Washington Baths, downtown, has a sauna, hot tub and cold plunge, plus a café.
Can non-guests use the sauna at Wolf Cove Inn?
Yes. You do not need to stay at the inn to book a sauna or spa session.
Is Poland Spring a hot spring?
No. Poland Spring is a cold spring, famous for its drinking water and the resort that grew up around it.
When are Maine's saunas open?
Many are seasonal, open only in the colder months, and some work by appointment, so check before you go.
How we checked this page
Information here was checked on against the sources below.
- Visit Maine: Saunas from Finland to Maine (saunas around the state)
- Visit Maine: Spring in Maine (Sea Sauna)
- Visit Maine: The Spa at Stage Neck (pool, hot tub, sauna)
- NPS: Maine State Building, National Register nomination (moved to Poland Spring, 1895)
- NOAA: Thermal Springs List for the United States
Other states with hot springs
Other states where we list hot springs.