Are There Hot Springs

Hot Springs in Minnesota: Saunas, Spas and Heated Pools

There's no soaking in hot springs in Minnesota; the nearest are across the Dakotas in the Black Hills. Minnesota has a sauna tradition instead, more than a century old and brought by Finnish immigrants, and a new wave of lakeside and floating saunas. Here is where to warm up.

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Photo: Mike Arney mikearney, CC0

Minnesota: the essentials

Minnesota warms up in saunas and heated pools; its oldest public sauna has been open since 1915.

Heated mineral pool
Just For Me Spa, Stillwater
In this guide
3 places
Natural hot springs
None
Oldest public sauna
Ely Steam Sauna, since 1915
Nearest hot springs
Hot Springs, South Dakota, about 520 miles from Minneapolis

Are there hot springs in Minnesota?

No. Minnesota has no natural hot springs. Its warm soaks are spas and saunas: Just For Me Spa in Stillwater has a heated mineral pool, and the Hewing Hotel in Minneapolis has a rooftop sauna and spa pool.

The nearest water that comes out hot is in Hot Springs, South Dakota, about 520 miles from Minneapolis in a straight line, where Evans Plunge has spring-fed pools open all year.

How far are hot springs from Minneapolis and Duluth?

Every hot spring near Minnesota lies to the west, in the Black Hills or the Rockies.

FromNearest hot springs (straight line)Next nearest
MinneapolisHot Springs, South Dakota520 milesBoulder, Colorado, 700 milesSaco, Montana, 720 miles
DuluthHot Springs, South Dakota600 milesSaco, Montana, 730 milesThermopolis, Wyoming, 810 miles

Hot Springs, South Dakota, is the clear first choice from both cities. Montana's Sleeping Buffalo, near Saco, is the next nearest from Duluth.

Minnesota's sauna tradition

Finnish immigrants brought the sauna to Minnesota in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and it spread with them through the farms of central Minnesota and the mining towns of the Iron Range. In Ely, in the far north, the Ely Steam Sauna has been open since 1915, which makes it the state's oldest public sauna.

The tradition is having a revival. In Duluth, Cedar + Stone Nordic Sauna runs guided sessions with a view of Lake Superior, a harbor-side cold plunge and a sauna barge on the lake. Up the North Shore in Grand Marais, Sisu + Löyly floats its sauna on Lake Superior, and Silvae Spiritus in Finlayson has a wood-fired sauna and hot tub at a nature retreat.

In Minneapolis, Watershed is a communal bathhouse near the Mississippi with a seven-part bathing ritual, booked in three-hour blocks or by membership. Hotel saunas include the Hewing's rooftop, for registered guests.

Map of spas in Minnesota

Where each of the 3 places in Minnesota is. Pin shapes show the type; open the larger map for more detail.

Spring site Spa or resort Heated pool

The best spas in Minnesota

A heated mineral pool by the St. Croix, a rooftop sauna and spa pool in Minneapolis, and a lake resort spa with an outdoor hot tub.

  • Mineral pool

    Just For Me Spa

    Stillwater

    A heated mineral pool, infrared saunas, a cold bucket shower and a Himalayan salt cave.

  • Rooftop pool

    Hewing Hotel

    Minneapolis

    A North Loop hotel with a rooftop sauna and heated spa pool, open all year.

  • Resort spa

    Grand View Lodge

    Nisswa

    Glacial Waters Spa, with a co-ed sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub, on Gull Lake.

Questions about soaking in Minnesota

Where are the nearest hot springs to Minnesota?

In Hot Springs, South Dakota, about 520 miles from Minneapolis in a straight line. The next nearest are near Boulder, Colorado, about 700 miles away.

What is the oldest public sauna in Minnesota?

The Ely Steam Sauna, open since 1915, according to Explore Minnesota.

Where can you swim in a heated mineral pool in Minnesota?

Just For Me Spa in Stillwater has a heated mineral pool, infrared saunas and a salt cave.

Is there a floating sauna in Minnesota?

Yes. Sisu + Löyly runs a floating sauna on Lake Superior at Grand Marais, and Cedar + Stone in Duluth has a sauna barge.

Are there hot springs near Duluth?

No. The nearest is Hot Springs, South Dakota, about 600 miles away in a straight line.

When to go, costs and getting there

When to visit

All three places work in winter, which is when a heated pool under snow feels best. Lakeside saunas are busiest from late fall to early spring.

Costs

Spa sessions are paid; the Hewing's rooftop is for hotel guests, and Grand View's spa may be limited to guests or spa clients.

Getting around

Stillwater is about 30 minutes east of Minneapolis on the St. Croix River. Nisswa is in the Brainerd lakes area, about 2.5 hours north. Ely is about four hours north of the Twin Cities.

Safety and etiquette

Sauna etiquette, Minnesota style.

  • Shower firstRinse before a sauna or shared pool; it keeps the benches and water clean.
  • Cool down safelyIf you plunge into a lake, go in slowly, keep it short and never alone.
  • Drink waterLong sauna sessions dehydrate you; drink between rounds.

Pictures of places to soak in Minnesota

Photos of Just For Me Spa, Hewing Hotel and Grand View Lodge, all places 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.

Christmas list for Santa (Unsplash)
Christmas list for Santa (Unsplash)Photo: Mike Arney mikearney, CC0
Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis
Hewing HotelPhoto: Gobonobo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Grand View Lodge, Nisswa
Grand View LodgePhoto: McGhiever, CC BY-SA 4.0
Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis
Hewing HotelPhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0
Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis
Hewing HotelPhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0

Sources

Reviewed on against the sources below.

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