Free geothermal soaking with overnight camp spots nearby — the best hot springs in California, organized by region with everything a van lifer needs to know.
Plan My Soak Trip →California sits on one of the most geothermally active zones in North America. The result: dozens of free, natural hot springs scattered across public land — on BLM land, in national forests, and alongside the state's most scenic highways. Many have free dispersed camping within walking distance, making them perfect van life destinations where you can soak at dawn, nap in the van, and soak again at sunset.
This series covers the free and low-cost options — the kind where you park on a dirt road, walk 10 minutes, and have 100°F+ water with a mountain view, for nothing. We skip the resort day spas (though they have their place after a week in the backcountry).
Free geothermal pools on the PCT — 95–108°F, accessed by 3-mile hike, dramatic canyon setting.
100–106°F pools on Benton Crossing Road. BLM camping 15 min walk. Clothing required.
99–108°F pools with unobstructed Sierra view. BLM camping 5 min walk. Clothing optional.
Free Inyo County bathhouses at ~104°F, BLM camping, and the best Death Valley base camp in winter.
104–148°F geothermal water, day-use soaks from $10, and free Dillon Road BLM camping — 90 minutes from LA.
| Hot Spring | Temp | Access | Camp | Clothing | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Creek | 95–108°F | 3 mi hike | Trailhead BLM | Optional | Oct–May |
| Wild Willy's | 100–106°F | Drive-up | BLM (15 min walk) | Required | Sept–May |
| Travertine | 99–108°F | Drive-up | BLM (5 min walk) | Optional | Sept–June |
If you're coming from LA: Deep Creek is the closest (90 miles from LA) but requires a 3-mile hike with 800 feet of gain on the way back. Wild Willy's and Travertine are both a longer drive but require no hiking — drive up, walk 10 minutes, soak.
If you're doing a 395 road trip: Hit Wild Willy's at Mammoth and Travertine at Bridgeport on the same trip. They're 45 minutes apart on US-395 and pair naturally with the Eastern Sierra route.
Best overall experience: Travertine Hot Springs. The combination of scenery (unobstructed Sierra view), accessibility (5-minute walk from van camp), temperature range (multiple pools), and setting (open sagebrush basin) is hard to beat anywhere in California.
Map any of these springs, the BLM camps nearby, and a route between them in the Vanlife.la planner.
Open the Planner →Travertine Hot Springs near Bridgeport is the best combination of scenery, accessibility, and free camping proximity — 99–108°F pools with a direct Sierra Nevada view and free BLM camping a 5-minute walk away. Deep Creek is the most dramatic (free, geothermal, PCT-adjacent canyon), and Wild Willy's near Mammoth is the most convenient for Eastern Sierra trips.
True geothermal springs fed from deep aquifers are generally safe to soak in. The main risk is Naegleria fowleri — a rare amoeba found in warm surface water with lower risk in true geothermal springs. Standard precautions: don't submerge your head, avoid soaking with open cuts, and be cautious in any pool that looks stagnant. Check current conditions before each visit.
At Travertine and Wild Willy's, yes — free BLM dispersed camping exists within walking distance of the pools. At Deep Creek, you can backpack in and camp near the springs, though most van lifers camp near the trailhead. Most developed hot spring resorts charge a day-use or overnight fee.