Are There Hot SpringsAre there hot springs in New Hampshire?
No. New Hampshire has no natural hot springs. Its bedrock is cool: when the USGS logged deep wells around the state, the warmest water at the bottom was only about 63°F.
The nearest water that comes out hot is in Bath County, Virginia, about 550 miles from Manchester in a straight line. In the state, the closest thing to a mineral soak is the year-round heated outdoor mineral spa at The Lake Estate on Winnisquam in Tilton, which opened in 2025.
How far are hot springs from Manchester and Concord?
Everything is far: the Virginia mountains first, then western North Carolina.
| From | Nearest hot springs (straight line) | Next nearest |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | Bath County, Virginia550 miles | Hot Springs, North Carolina, 780 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 1,300 miles |
| Concord | Bath County, Virginia560 miles | Hot Springs, North Carolina, 780 milesHot Springs, Arkansas, 1,300 miles |
From the Seacoast or the White Mountains the numbers barely change, so a hot spring trip from New Hampshire means a long drive or a flight west.
Why New Hampshire's water stays cold, and its resort past
In 2012 the USGS and the New Hampshire Geological Survey lowered temperature probes into deep bedrock wells across the state to measure how fast the rock warms with depth. At the bottom of the logs, the groundwater was 11.7 to 17.3°C, roughly 53 to 63°F, and a second round of wells in 2013 came out cooler still. Water would have to come from much deeper, and rise much faster, to reach the surface hot.
Instead of hot springs, New Hampshire built mountain resorts. In their heyday, roughly two dozen grand hotels were spread through the White Mountains, and the Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods, one of the last and largest to be built, is one of the few that remain. Some towns also had small mineral spring houses; in Conway, the gazebo built around 1892 over the White Mountain Mineral Spring still stands on the grounds of Kennett High School.
Today the soaking is done in heated water: outdoor hot tubs at the ski resorts, and since 2025 a heated outdoor mineral spa on Lake Winnisquam.
New Hampshire spas on a map
All 4 places on this page, with pin shapes showing the type. Open the larger map to zoom in.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The best spas in New Hampshire
A heated mineral spa in the Lakes Region and three White Mountains resorts with outdoor hot tubs.
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Mineral spa
The Lake Estate on Winnisquam
TiltonA year-round outdoor heated mineral spa, infinity pool and two hot tubs on Lake Winnisquam; day spa visitors welcome.
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Resort
RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain
LincolnA spa, an indoor/outdoor heated pool and indoor/outdoor hot tubs in downtown Lincoln.
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Resort
Attitash Mountain Village
BartlettIndoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs and a sauna at the base of Attitash.
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Inn
The Wentworth
JacksonA 61-room inn where some rooms have a private outdoor hot tub.
How to visit
Best time to visit
Outdoor hot tubs are at their best in ski season. The mineral spa at Tilton runs year-round.
Prices and fees
Day spa visits at The Lake Estate are paid; resort hot tubs are for guests.
How to get there
Tilton is off I-93 in the Lakes Region. Lincoln is at the western end of the Kancamagus Highway; Bartlett and Jackson are near North Conway.
Safety and etiquette
Winter soaking tips.
- Mind the icePaths to outdoor tubs ice over; wear sandals with grip and walk carefully.
- Keep it at 104°F or belowThe CPSC's safe limit for hot tubs; a hot tub feels hotter after a cold day on the slopes.
- Check day accessResort hot tubs are for staying guests; The Lake Estate welcomes day spa visitors.
Common questions
Are there hot springs in the White Mountains?
No. There are no natural hot springs anywhere in New Hampshire. The White Mountains' resorts have heated pools and outdoor hot tubs.
Why doesn't New Hampshire have hot springs?
Its bedrock warms only slowly with depth: the warmest water in deep wells logged by the USGS was about 63°F.
Where can I soak in a mineral pool in New Hampshire?
At The Lake Estate on Winnisquam in Tilton, which has a year-round outdoor heated mineral spa, an infinity pool and two hot tubs.
Are there hot springs near Manchester, NH?
Only far away: Bath County, Virginia, at about 550 miles in a straight line, and Hot Springs, North Carolina, at about 780.
Is The Lake Estate's mineral spa a natural spring?
No. It is a heated, man-made outdoor mineral spa, open all year.
Pictures of places to soak in New Hampshire
Photos of RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain, 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
We last checked this page on , using the sources below.
- USGS: Temperature logging of groundwater in bedrock wells, New Hampshire, 2012 (11.7 to 17.3°C)
- NH DOT: Mount Washington Hotel historical marker brochure (grand hotels of the White Mountains)
- Visit NH: The Lake Estate on Winnisquam (heated mineral spa)
- Visit NH: RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain (hot tubs)
- Visit NH: Attitash Mountain Village (hot tubs, sauna)
- Visit NH: The Wentworth (private outdoor hot tubs)
- NOAA: Thermal Springs List for the United States
- CPSC: Hot tub temperatures
More hot springs in the United States
Other states where we list hot springs.