Hot Springs Near Bozeman: Which Ones Are Worth the Drive

Montana has some of the best natural hot springs in the lower 48, and Bozeman is within striking distance of several of them. But “within striking distance” in Montana can mean anything from 15 minutes to three hours, and not every hot spring justifies the drive. Some are transcendent — soaking in geothermally heated water while snow falls around you and mountains fill every sightline. Others are essentially lukewarm swimming pools in a parking lot with a Montana zip code. Here is the honest breakdown of what is worth your time.

Chico Hot Springs: the standard-bearer

Chico is 60 miles south of Bozeman in Paradise Valley, about an hour’s drive down Highway 89. The resort has been operating since 1900, and the main pool is exactly what you picture when someone says “Montana hot springs” — a large outdoor pool fed by natural 96-degree water, surrounded by a historic lodge, with the Absaroka Range filling the skyline behind it.

Hours and pricing. The pools are open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM. Day passes run $10 for adults and $7.50 for kids 6-12 (under 6 free). Towel rental is $3 if you forget yours. No reservation needed for the main pool, though the smaller upper pool (104 degrees) sometimes hits capacity on winter Saturday evenings.

The soaking experience. Two pools, two temperatures. The main pool is big — roughly 75 by 30 feet — and sits at a steady 96 degrees year-round. Comfortable for extended soaking, warm enough to feel good on a 10-degree January night, cool enough that you won’t overheat. The upper pool runs 104 degrees and holds maybe 12-15 people. That’s the one for serious heat seekers. Both pools are outdoors, open-air, with no roof overhead. When it snows, you feel it.

Best time to visit. Weekday mornings are nearly empty. Winter weekday evenings are great too — the steam rising off the pool against the dark sky and the mountains is the postcard Montana moment. Avoid Saturday afternoons in July and August if you don’t want to share the pool with 60 other people. The sweet spot is a midweek winter visit, late afternoon into evening.

Kids. Chico works well for families. The main pool is shallow enough at the edges for younger kids, and the 96-degree temperature is safe for all ages. The grounds have a small playground, and the resort’s dining room is family-friendly at lunch. Not a splash-park situation, but kids who can handle a calm soak will be fine.

Food and drinks. The on-site restaurant is genuinely good — not “good for a hot springs” but actually good. The Poolside Grille serves burgers and sandwiches in summer. The main dining room does a proper dinner with Montana beef and local trout. The saloon is the kind of place where you’ll end up staying longer than you planned.

If you’re doing a Yellowstone day trip via the north entrance, Chico is right on the route back. A post-Yellowstone soak at Chico is one of the best day-long outings you can build from Bozeman. You’ll need a rental car for this one — there’s no shuttle or public transit to Paradise Valley.

Bozeman Hot Springs: the convenient option

This is the one hot spring you can reach in 15 minutes from downtown, located just west of town on Highway 191. It is a commercial facility with multiple pools at different temperatures, and the convenience factor is hard to beat.

Hours and pricing. Open daily, 6 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Day passes are $10 for adults, $8 for kids 3-12, and free for under 3. They run monthly memberships at $75 if you’re in town long-term or are a local who wants regular soaking.

The soaking experience. Twelve pools, ranging from a cold plunge at 55 degrees up to the hottest soaking pool at 106. The variety is the main selling point — you can move between temperatures and find what feels right. The pools are concrete, the facility has a locker room and showers, and the vibe is more “municipal aquatic center” than “rustic Montana escape.” The water is genuinely geothermal, though. This isn’t a heated swimming pool pretending to be a hot spring.

Best time to visit. Weekend evenings, when they host live music poolside, are the most interesting time to go. Local bands play acoustic sets while you soak. It transforms the space from “pool facility” to something with actual atmosphere. For a quiet soak, weekday mornings before 9 AM are nearly deserted.

Kids. This is the most kid-friendly hot spring near Bozeman by far. The range of pool temperatures means you can find something comfortable for any age. The cooler pools work for swimming and splashing. There’s enough space that kids can move around without bothering other soakers. Families with young kids should start here.

Food and drinks. They don’t serve food on-site, but they allow you to bring your own snacks and non-alcoholic drinks. The location on Highway 191 means you’re close to restaurants in town for a post-soak meal.

What to bring. Your own towel (no rentals), a swimsuit, and water shoes if you’re particular about pool deck surfaces. Lockers are available but bring your own lock.

If you have limited time in Bozeman and want a hot spring experience without dedicating half a day to driving, Bozeman Hot Springs fills the gap. It’s not the place for Instagram photos or spiritual experiences, but the water is hot and the price is right. It pairs well with a morning hike on the local trails — sore legs and hot water is a good combination.

Norris Hot Springs: the local favorite

About 45 minutes west of Bozeman on Highway 84, Norris is the hot spring that locals love and tourists have not fully discovered yet. It is a single large wooden pool filled by a natural 120-degree source that is cooled to a soakable temperature. The setting is rural and unpretentious — you are sitting in a hand-built pool in a field in the Madison Valley, surrounded by nothing but grass, sky, and the Tobacco Root Mountains in the distance.

Hours and pricing. Open Thursday through Monday (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). Hours are 10 AM to 8 PM Thursday and Friday, 10 AM to 9 PM Saturday and Sunday, and 10 AM to 6 PM on Monday. Day soaks are $10 for adults, $6 for kids 12 and under. Cash or check only. No cards.

The soaking experience. One pool, about 25 feet across, built from rough-cut timber. The water enters the pool at 120 degrees from the natural source and is regulated down to around 104-106 depending on the day and season. The pool holds roughly 20 people comfortably, maybe 25 if everyone’s friendly. The bottom is natural gravel. The whole thing feels handmade and real because it is.

Best time to visit. Sunset is the move at Norris. The western sky over the Madison Valley turns orange and pink while you’re soaking in 104-degree water. Weekend evenings feature acoustic music at the poolside No Loose Dogs Saloon — local musicians playing folk, bluegrass, and country while you soak under the stars. It’s the most uniquely Montana experience of any hot spring on this list. Arrive by 5 PM on a Saturday evening or you may not get in — capacity is strict and they don’t take reservations for general soaking.

Kids. Norris works for older kids who can handle sitting still in hot water. The single-pool setup and higher temperature (104-106 degrees) make it less ideal for young children. Kids under 5 will probably not enjoy it. The food options help with older kids who can appreciate the experience.

Food and drinks. The No Loose Dogs Saloon is a pleasant surprise. They serve wood-fired pizzas, seasonal salads, and local craft beer. The food is better than you’d expect from a poolside shack at a rural hot spring. Eating pizza while sitting in a hot spring under the Montana sky is one of those experiences that sounds ridiculous and is actually perfect.

What to bring. A towel (they don’t provide them), a swimsuit, and cash. The “cash only” policy catches people off guard. There is no ATM on-site and the nearest one is 15 minutes back toward Bozeman. Do not show up without cash.

Norris is the hot spring I take visitors to when I want to show them something that feels uniquely Montana. The timing of your visit matters here more than anywhere else — the summer and early fall sunset soaks are the peak experience, but a winter soak with snow falling into the pool is its own kind of magic.

The ones further afield

Yellowstone Hot Springs near Gardiner (about 90 minutes south) opened in recent years and offers a modern, well-maintained facility with multiple pools at varying temperatures. Day passes are $12 for adults. It is a solid add-on to a Yellowstone north-entrance trip but not worth a standalone drive from Bozeman.

Fairmont Hot Springs near Anaconda (about two hours west) is a full resort with waterslides and a huge pool that caters to families. The hot springs themselves are fine but the resort-complex feel strips away the rugged Montana atmosphere. Skip it unless you are traveling with kids who need waterslides.

Boiling River in Yellowstone National Park (just south of Gardiner) is a spot where hot spring water meets the Gardner River, creating natural soaking pools in the riverbank. It is free, undeveloped, and magical — but check the NPS website before going, as it closes periodically for safety and resource management reasons.

What to pack for any hot spring trip

This sounds basic, but people get it wrong. Here is what you actually need:

Always bring: A towel (only Chico rents them), a swimsuit, water to drink (you dehydrate faster than you think in hot water), and sunscreen if you’re going midday in summer. Flip-flops or water shoes for the walk from the car to the pool.

Leave behind: Valuables you can’t lock up. Most hot springs have basic lockers or cubbies but not Fort Knox. Leave your nice watch in the car. Same for your phone unless it’s waterproof and you genuinely need it.

Winter-specific: A warm robe or heavy towel for the walk from the pool to the changing room. The 30 seconds between stepping out of 104-degree water and getting inside at -5 degrees air temperature is the least pleasant part of the experience. A good robe makes it tolerable. Warm clothes to change into after — you will cool down fast.

Pairing hot springs with other activities

The best Bozeman days combine a hot spring with something else. Here are the pairings that work:

Chico + Yellowstone. Drive to the park via the north entrance in the morning, do a Lamar Valley wildlife loop, and stop at Chico on the way back to Bozeman for an evening soak. You will be tired and Chico will feel earned.

Bozeman Hot Springs + hiking. Do a morning hike at one of the trails near town — Sypes Canyon or the M — and follow it with a soak at Bozeman Hot Springs. You’re 15 minutes from downtown and can be in hot water by noon.

Norris + exploring the Madison Valley. Drive out to Norris in the late afternoon, grab an early dinner at the No Loose Dogs Saloon, soak until sunset, and drive back. On the way, the Madison Valley between Bozeman and Norris is gorgeous ranch country with mountain views in every direction.

If you’re still figuring out where to stay in Bozeman, proximity to hot springs probably shouldn’t drive that decision — the drives are short enough from anywhere in town. But if you’re booking lodging on the south side of Bozeman, you’ll shave 10 minutes off the Chico drive.

Beyond hot springs, Bozeman has more attractions worth your time — the Museum of the Rockies alone is a half-day if you’re into dinosaurs or Western history. But for the experience that most visitors remember longest, a winter soak at Chico or a sunset session at Norris is hard to beat.