There’s a particular kind of disappointment that comes from arriving at a hot spring after a long drive or a sweaty hike only to realize you forgot a towel, or your sandals are back in the car three miles away. A good hot springs packing list solves this before it happens. Whether you’re headed to a roadside soak you can walk to from the parking lot or a backcountry pool that takes half a day to reach, what you bring — and what you leave behind — shapes the whole experience. This guide breaks down exactly what belongs in your bag for any kind of soak, from primitive pools to full-service resorts, so you can stop guessing and start soaking.
Packing for hot springs isn’t complicated, but it’s easy to get wrong in ways that matter. Show up without water shoes and you’re picking your way across sharp rock in bare feet. Forget sun protection and a two-hour soak turns into a sunburned drive home. Overpack and you’re hauling a duffel bag down a trail that really only called for a small dry bag. The goal of this list is to get you dialed in for whatever kind of spring you’re headed to — and to help you build the habit of packing light, packing smart, and packing for the specific spring rather than a generic “hot springs trip.”
Why Your Packing List Should Match the Spring
Not all hot springs call for the same gear. A developed spring with a parking lot and a short walk in has very different packing needs than a spring reached by a moderate hike into the backcountry. Before you pack, get a sense of what kind of access and setting you’re dealing with — primitive, developed, or commercial/resort — because that single detail determines almost everything else on this list. If you’re not sure what’s nearby, the Soakr app categorizes every spring in its database by type and access, so you know before you leave the house whether you’re packing for a five-minute walk or a real hike.
The Core Hot Springs Packing List
These are the non-negotiables. No matter where you’re soaking, these items belong in your bag.
Swimwear (or Not)
Bring a swimsuit even if you’ve heard a particular spring is clothing-optional — policies vary by time of day, by season, and by who else is there, and it’s always better to have the option. Quick-dry swimwear is worth the investment if you soak regularly; cotton takes forever to dry and gets uncomfortable fast once you’re back in a car or on a trail. If you’re new to the etiquette side of things, our clothing-optional hot springs guide walks through what to expect and how to read the room at different springs.
A Real Towel — Or Two
Pack a proper towel, not a hand towel you found in the bottom of a bag. A microfiber camp towel is ideal because it packs small, dries fast, and doesn’t stay damp and heavy in your pack. If you’re combining a soak with a hike or drive afterward, a second smaller towel for your feet or hair makes the ride home a lot more comfortable.
Footwear for the Approach and the Pool
This is the item people underestimate most. The ground around a natural hot spring is often uneven — loose rock, slick minerals, mud, or a mix of all three. Sturdy sandals or water shoes with real tread will save your feet both on the approach and in the pool itself, where submerged rocks can be sharper than they look. For springs that require any kind of hike, bring separate footwear for the trail and the water; hiking boots and wet feet are a miserable combination on the way out.
A Dry Bag or Waterproof Stuff Sack
Your phone, keys, wallet, and clothes need somewhere to live while you’re soaking that isn’t a damp pile on a rock. A simple roll-top dry bag keeps everything organized and protected from splashes, and it doubles as a place to stash wet swimwear on the way home.
Water — More Than You Think
Soaking in hot water is dehydrating, even in cool weather, and even more so if you’ve hiked to get there. Bring more water than feels necessary. A liter per person for a short visit, more for anything involving a hike or a full afternoon at the pools.
Sun Protection
Many hot springs sit in open, exposed terrain with little or no shade, and you’ll often be sitting still in direct sun for long stretches. Pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses even on overcast days — reflection off water intensifies UV exposure more than people expect.
Discover which springs near you are primitive, developed, or resort-style — plus GPS directions and real-time conditions — in the Soakr app. Download free for iOS
Gear for Backcountry and Hike-In Springs
If you’re headed somewhere that requires a genuine hike to reach, treat it like a hike first and a soak second. Pack accordingly.
A Proper Daypack
Skip the tote bag or gym duffel for anything involving trail miles. A daypack with a hip belt distributes weight better and leaves your hands free, which matters more than people expect once you’re navigating loose terrain near the pools themselves.
Trail Snacks
A hot spring soak burns more energy than it looks like from the outside — between the hike in, the heat, and the hike back out, bring real food. Trail mix, bars, or something with protein will keep you from running low on energy for the return trip.
Layers for the Temperature Swing
Going from a hot pool straight into cooler mountain air is one of the more jarring transitions in outdoor recreation. Pack a warm layer — a fleece or light puffy — to throw on immediately after you get out, especially at higher elevations or later in the day when temperatures drop fast.
A Basic First Aid Kit
Backcountry access means you’re on your own if something goes wrong. A compact kit with blister care, adhesive bandages, and basic pain relief covers most of what actually happens on these trips — twisted ankles on uneven rock, blisters from wet footwear, that kind of thing. Pair this with a general read of our hot springs safety guide before you go, especially if you’re new to soaking in undeveloped settings.
Trekking Poles (If You Use Them)
If the terrain involves any elevation change or stream crossings, trekking poles add stability — particularly useful on the way out when your legs are relaxed from soaking and your balance is a little softer than usual.
Headlamp
If there’s any chance you’ll be hiking back at dusk or after dark — a real possibility if you linger, which you will — a headlamp is essential. Don’t rely on a phone flashlight; you want your hands free on uneven trail.
Gear for Developed and Commercial Springs
Springs with easier access and built infrastructure call for a lighter, more comfort-focused kit.
Flip-Flops for the Deck
Even at developed springs with concrete or wood decking, flip-flops keep your feet off surfaces that can get hot, wet, or slippery. They’re also just easier to slip on and off between pools if the spring has multiple soaking areas.
Cash or Card for Entry
Some developed and commercial springs charge a modest entrance fee, and not all of them take cards. It’s worth having a small amount of cash on hand just in case, along with ID if the spring requires it for entry.
A Change of Clothes
For springs close to a parking area, it’s easy to bring a full change of clothes for the drive home rather than sitting in a damp swimsuit. Small comfort, but it makes a difference on longer drives.
A Cooler for the Car
If you’re making a day of it — stopping at a developed spring on a road trip or combining it with a picnic — a small cooler in the car with cold drinks and food for after the soak rounds out the trip nicely.
Explore developed and resort-style hot springs with amenities, fees, and directions in the Soakr app — 2,000+ springs and counting. Download Soakr free for iOS
Seasonal Packing Adjustments
Summer
Prioritize sun protection and extra water. Lightweight, breathable clothing for the approach matters more in summer heat, and you’ll want to time your visit around cooler parts of the day if the hike involves much exposure. Our guide to soaking safely when it’s hot outside covers timing and hydration in more depth.
Winter
Winter soaking is one of the best experiences in this hobby, but it demands a different kit: waterproof boots for the approach, a warm layer you can throw on the second you exit the water, and gloves for the hike. Pack a dry pair of socks specifically for the drive home — nothing ruins a perfect winter soak like driving two hours in wet socks. For more on why cold-weather soaking is worth the extra prep, see hot springs in winter.
Shoulder Seasons (Spring and Fall)
Weather swings the most in spring and fall, so layers matter more than any single piece of gear. Trail conditions can also be muddier or icier than expected depending on elevation — check conditions before you go rather than assuming based on the season alone.
What to Leave at Home
A few things people bring that usually aren’t worth the weight or hassle:
- Glass containers — many springs prohibit glass near the water for safety reasons, and it’s a bad idea near bare feet regardless
- Heavy camp chairs — most natural pools have plenty of rock seating; a chair rarely earns its weight on the trail
- Speakers — hot springs tend to be shared, quiet spaces; if you want music, keep it to headphones (see our etiquette guide for more on being a good guest)
- Excess electronics — a phone for photos and navigation is plenty; leave tablets and extra gadgets in the car
The Quick-Reference Checklist
Every trip:
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Water shoes or sandals
- Dry bag
- Water (more than you think you need)
- Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
Backcountry add-ons:
- Daypack with hip belt
- Trail snacks
- Warm layer
- First aid kit
- Headlamp
- Trekking poles (optional)
Developed/resort add-ons:
- Flip-flops
- Cash or card
- Change of clothes
- Cooler for the car
Pack Smart, Soak Longer
The right gear doesn’t just make a hot springs trip more comfortable — it’s often the difference between a soak that goes smoothly and one that gets cut short by a forgotten towel, a blistered foot, or a dead phone battery three miles from the trailhead. Once your kit is dialed in, the only thing left to figure out is where to go. If you’re planning a trip through soaking country, our Colorado hot springs guide is a solid place to start scouting destinations that match whatever kind of trip — quick roadside stop or full backcountry mission — you’re packing for.
Ready to find your next soak? Over 2,000 hot springs are in the Soakr app — get GPS directions, community check-ins, photos, current conditions, and offline maps so you always know exactly what you’re walking into. Download Soakr free for iOS