There aren’t many hot springs near Nashville, TN, but if you’re willing to go on a bit of an adventure, there are plenty of great spots to be found. So pack up the car and grab the road trip snacks for these warm mineral waters.
These amazing hot springs are a bit of a drive from Music City. Here are the best natural springs near Tennessee, in no particular order:
Amours Hotel & Spa — 82 miles
Located on 2.7 acres in Red Boiling Springs, The Amours Hotel & Spa is the only hot spring in Tennessee and is an easy day trip to the Kentucky border. Amidst the foothills of the Cumberland Plateaus, this historic hotel is as good a place to soak in sulfurous, mineral-rich water as it is to read a book on the porch and listen to the rushing creek. They offer concerts on the latter as well.
Amours is run by a family with a long history of making memorable meals. Guests will find international and Southern cuisine with a healthy twist featuring local ingredients in their dining room, and coffee and tea are available well beyond the breakfast table.
The spa offers massage, vibroacoustic therapy, biomats, and wellness coaching. Spring water is piped into two porcelain, clawfoot tubs to be enjoyed upon making a reservation. A library, firepits, badminton, and hiking trails are available while you wait.
Hot Springs Resort & Spa — 253 miles
Named after the town it sits in, Hot Springs Resort & Spa is a North Carolina destination that’s worth the drive. Outdoor jetted tubs with views are fixed on the bank of Spring Creek and French Broad River with water is typically hovering around 102℉.
Hot Springs has 100 acres of pristine nature in the heart of Appalachia. The clear, carbonated mineral water can be enjoyed privately or with a group. All have private decks and varying levels of privacy. In the darker hours, fire pits provide heat and light for guests visiting during cooler months. Massage and body wraps offer opportunities for extra relaxation.
Guests can choose from primitive cabins, tent sites, and R.V. hookups across the road. Those looking for something more upscale can book a luxury suite or cabin with private jetted tubs fed with spring water. Two vacation rentals are also available.
Broadwing Farm Cabins — 255 miles
Not much further down the road is Broadwing Farm Cabins. Three private cabins with hot tubs filled with spring water are set amongst the sunflower fields, chickens, and catfish pond of an 85-acre working organic farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
It’s one of only two properties in the state that have access to a hot underground aquifer where water comes out of the ground at 85°F but can be adjusted from 80℉ to 104℉. Family-owned and operated since 1992, Broadwing’s low guest capacity keeps things cozy. It also keeps the vegetable garden and 250-bush blueberry field they offer access to from being overrun.
After years of selling their produce through restaurants, CSAs, and farmers’ markets, the owners are now focusing on bringing the best of farm life to vacation rental guests.
Looking around at the stunning views of Hot Springs and the French Broad River Valley, it’s easy to understand why it’s a popular spot for weddings and events. The handicapped-accessible barn fits 150 and looks like something out of a movie.
The Original Springs Hotel — 269 miles
Head north to Okawville, IL for a stop at The Original Springs Hotel, a historic hotel, restaurant, and mineral spa originally built in 1867. Listed on the National Register of Historical Places, after a fire took the original facility, the present building with the addition of more rooms and an indoor heated pool was added in 1893.
There’s plenty of room for you and all your friends and family here. With packages like “Girls’ Night Out” and “Sweetheart”, everyone is encouraged to enjoy the healing waters. Spa services include massage, mineral baths, a dry heat room, body wraps, facials, cupping, and reflexology.
Mineral baths are hosted in porcelain tubs with temperatures adjustable up to 110℉. You can purchase passes or services regardless of whether or not you’re a guest at the hotel, though there are many different options for overnights.
Frank C. Ruzycki Center for Therapeutic Recreation — 315 mi
Georgia isn’t known for their hot springs, but the Frank C. Ruzycki Center for Therapeutic Recreation is a well-kept secret for health-seekers. Just south of Atlanta, this spring takes health and healing to the next level. Specifically geared towards those with disabilities, with an indoor track, a basketball court, free weights, cardio machines, and group classes.
The indoor pool serves as a place to exercise and heal in the spring-fed waters. As the training site for world-class Paralympic athletes, with a dedicated camp for people with disabilities from around the state, it’s also open for the general population to use, regardless of whether or not you need it for rehabilitation from an ailment or not.
One day soon, Warm Springs, GA hopes to refurbish the pool President Franklin D. Roosevelt dipped in to help with his polio symptoms, but for now, it’s just a museum.
Taking a dip in a hot spring makes a memorable way to end a vacation, even after an exciting trip to Nashville. Whichever direction you decide to head in to find one, you’ll be treated to a beautiful part of the country and some hearty Southern food along the way.
Pamukkale Thermal Pools – Denizli, Turkey