Lava Hot Springs is a town in Southeast Idaho that has hot pools, a large swimming complex complete with water slides, and a river that is fun for tubing. No matter the season there is something fun to do in Lava Hot Springs.
Location: The city is about 12 miles east of I-15. It is 35 miles south of Pocatello and 55 miles north of the Utah/Idaho Boarder.
Operating Seasons and Hours: The hot pools are popular in the winter. The swimming complex and river are popular in the summer. See below for more detailed hours.
Cost: Varies depending on the activity and season. See below for more details.
Official Website: https://lavahotsprings.com/
Date of Visit: Tuesday January 2, 2018; Twice in July 2018, Wednesday January 2, 2019, Saturday July 13, 2019.
I love visiting Lava Hot Springs in Southeastern Idaho. Since we don't live near the Gulf of Mexico anymore, hot springs have become my replacement beach. When my family lived in Pocatello we made a point to visit the hot pools each January. And we went swimming at the outdoor pool at least once a summer. Even through we've moved farther away, we still plan to go back this summer (and hopefully every summer.)
I want to help you have a great visit to Lava Hot Springs. This post is full of things I wish I'd known before my first visit, and tips I've figured out during my visits.
A few things to know before you plan your trip.
1. Lava Hot Springs is the name of the town. But people also refer to the hot springs/pools in the town as Lava Hot Springs.
2. There are three main water features within the town of Lava Hot Springs. They are the hot springs/pools, the swimming pool complex, and the river. They are at different locations within the town and each has different prices, hours, and appropriate seasons for use. We'll talk about each area in depth in a little bit.
3. There is more to the area than just water features. Make sure you plan a little bit of time to explore the cute historic Main Street. There are also hiking and biking trails nearby. A zip line has recently been added as well.
This post will focus on the water activities at Lava Hot Springs. We'll talk about the Hot Pools, the Swimming Complex, and the Portneuf River.
The Hot Springs/Pools
Operating Hours: From May 1 to September 30 open from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.
From Oct 1 to Apr 30 open from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
Cost: Daily admission Monday to Thursday is $2.00 for age 2 and under. $5.50 for children ages 3-11. $6 for anyone ages 12-59. And $5.50 for anyone over 60
Prices are higher Friday to Sunday and Holidays. $2.00 for age 2 and under. $7.50 for children ages 3-11. $8 for anyone ages 12-59. And $7.50 for anyone over 60
If you are coming as a family the best deal is on Wednesdays. You can purchase a Family Pass for four people for $18.50 and only pay $4.50 for each additional person up to 6.
Official Website: https://lavahotsprings.com/hotpools/
Usually when people talk about Lava Hot Springs they are referring to the hot pools. These relaxing pools have been synonymous with the town for generations.
The pools are great for soaking in. The water is hot in the pools. The coolest pool is 102 degrees and the hottest is 112. The pools range in size from a jetted pool slightly larger than a hot tub to a large swimming pool sized pool. The smaller pools have cement on the bottom. The larger pools have small pebbles on the bottom. These pools are primarily for soaking, though you can do a bit of swimming and playing in the larger pools.
Generally most people go to the pools to soak. It's fun to sit and chat in the warm water. The water is hot so even on the coldest days so it's hard to spend a long time in the water. Make sure you drink lots of water and take breaks from the pools so you don't overheat. If you feel overheated you should get out of the water right away.
My favorite time to visit the hot springs is the winter. There is something exotic and magical feeling about being warm while sitting outside in a bathing suit with freezing temperatures and snow on the ground.
If you are visiting in the summer the best time to go to the hot pools is during the evening or the early morning. The pools are very hot so it's not a good idea to visit them during the day in the summer.
The hot pools are located within the town. They are situated to the side of Highway 30, but you have to drive on Main Street to reach them. Parking is across Main Street from the pools in a parking lot with maybe 45 spaces.
You will pay in the first building that you enter. Then you exit that building, walk outside for a moment, and then enter the locker/changing rooms in a building behind the first building. The changing rooms have heated floors and the staff is good about mopping up puddles of water. Changing stalls are spacious so if you have kids with you it's easy to help them change. There are lockers in the changing room. Bring quarters so you can lock up your valuables.
I've found it's a good idea to bring a laundry basket or large bag to hold towels and other things. Sometimes the ground around the pools is wet and it's no fun to have a wet towel when you are all done. I also bring life jackets for my little kids so I don't have to worry when they are swimming in the deeper pools.
The Swimming Complex
Operating Hours: The indoor pool and play area is open on certain days in the winter. The Outdoor Pool Open Mid May- Labor Day. Hours start at Noon to 8:00 pm in the early season then change to 11:00 am to 8:00 pm when the season gets busy. The hours may be reduced in late summer.
Cost: Daily admission Monday to Thursday is $2.00 for age 2 and under. $7.00 for children ages 3-11. $7.50 for anyone over age 12.
Prices are higher Friday to Sunday and Holidays. $2.00 for age 2 and under. $9.00 for children ages 3-11. $10 for anyone over age 12.
If you are coming as a family the best deal is on Wednesdays. You can purchase a Family Pass for four people for $24.50 and only pay $5.50 for each additional person up to 6.
Official Website: https://lavahotsprings.com/water-park/
The swimming complex is located on the west side of town. You can find it easily since it is visible from Highway 30. There are large colorful water slides that are impossible to miss.
The complex has an indoor area and and outdoor area. The indoor area has a swimming pool, a hot tub, and a watery playground area for small children. The indoor area is open during certain days of the week in the winter and is open all summer when the outdoor area is open.
The outdoor area is open in the summer from Mid May to Labor Day. There is something for everyone here. There is a large pool that ranges from 3 feet deep to 17 feet deep. There are diving boards and platforms. And of course there are the slides. There are two tiny slides for small children that dump out in the shallow area of the swimming pool, There are two twisty slides. And there are two drop slides. These drop slides actually extend over Center Street. Flotation devices are not allowed on the slides. The slides finish in shallow water so don't worry about dropping into deep water.
There are some safety restrictions to be aware off. Parents need to be within arms length of children under 6 any time they are in the water. Inflatable toys like balls and floaties have to be under 24 inches in diameter. It's a good idea to have life jackets for young children. There are height restrictions on the water slides. And you need to sign a waver before jumping off the diving platforms.
The outdoor pool is surrounded by a large grassy lawn. You can bring canopies and claim little areas for your family or group on the lawn. You can also claim your own spot by laying down towels if you don't have a canopy. It's a great idea to do this because then you have a "home base" for relaxing and eating when you are not playing in the water. You can bring your own food and snacks into the complex so bring a cooler with you and store it at your area. Just don't bring alcohol. There is also a concession stand where you can buy food and snacks.
There is a large parking lot with at least 100 spaces next to the swimming complex. On weekends and holidays this parking lot fills up, but on week days it's generally large enough. You'll pay your entrance fee at a window on the side of the building. Then you'll enter a side door into the building. Staff will do a quick check inside your coolers to make sure you aren't bringing alcohol. You can use the changing rooms and restrooms inside the building and then exit out to the grassy area and pool.
Pro Tip: On busy days there are long lines to the ticket counter and to the entrance. You may want to have part your group wait in the ticket line while most of your group waits in the line to enter complex. Also if you are hoping to get a good spot on the grass don't stop at the changing rooms. Walk out to the grass and claim a spot and then go back and change (or just have your swimming suit on under your clothes.)
The changing areas are very nice. The staff is good about mopping up standing water. There are separate changing areas for men and women of course. But there are also some family changing areas with large stalls for privacy while you help your kids change. I really like these.
Depending on what day you are visiting. the whole complex may be packed with people. The lines for the water slides can take a while, but they are worth the wait. Just be patient and courteous. Weekends and the days around the 4th of July and the 24th of July (a holiday in neighboring Utah) are some of the busiest days. To avoid the big crowds plan your visit on a weekday away from a Holiday.
If you can, plan to spend the whole day at the Swimming Complex. There is plenty to keep you busy. My family found that the crowds started thinning out around 4:00 PM when we were there on a Saturday last summer. After about 5:00 we hardly had to wait in line for the water slides, and the pool was much less crowded.
Tubing on the Portneuf River
Put In: At the park located at approximately 430 Main Street and a few other locations.
Put Out: Across Center Street from the Swimming Complex.
Operating Hours: Generally available during daylight hours from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Some vendors may be closed Sundays.
Cost: Tubes start at $5 for a single use or $15 for a day pass. Prices increase based on the size of the tube. Prices vary slightly depending on which vendor you choose. Shuttle rides also have price differences.
Official Vendors: http://www.tpdtuberental.com/ and http://www.lavatuberental.com/
Renting tubes and floating through the town on the Porteuf River is another popular summertime activity in Lava Hot Springs. The main put in is at a park near the hot pools. Then you float through the town and get out near the Swimming Complex. There are shuttle trailers with seats and spots for your tube so you can go again and again without having to walk back up to the put in. You can bring your own tube or rent from one of the several vendors in town. You can rent tubes by the hour or for the whole day. There are tubes for single riders all the way up to big quad tubes for groups. The bigger the tube the more stable it will be.
Tubing the river is not recommended for children under 6. My kids have been under or close to 6 on all our visits up to this point. So I have not taken my kids to float the river yet. Maybe this summer we will try it out for the first time. There is a small section of the river slightly upstream from the put out that is recommended for young tubers. I think we may start out there.
Other Hot Pools
If you drive around the town of Lava Hot Springs you'll see a handful of hotels that boast their own hot springs/pool. If you have a room at these locations you can soak in their springs.
There are also one or two hot springs in the area that only locals know about. I've never been to them and so I'm not going to do more than say that they do exist. Personally, I don't see the appeal of going to a random watery hole in the ground when there are plenty of options with amenities nearby.
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No matter the seasons there is something fun and relaxing to do at Lava Hot Springs. Plan a visit. You'll have a great time.
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I would love to hear what you think. Did I get it right, or was I dead wrong? What was your experience like?