Hagerman Hot Springs was our weekly ritual. Lava Hot Springs was the trip we made once and never forgot. Two very different soaks, both worth knowing.
Idaho’s hot springs are one of the state’s best-kept secrets — and having lived there across two different stretches of my life, I made a habit of two very different ones: Hagerman Hot Springs, our weekly local ritual, and Lava Hot Springs, the full destination trip we made once and never forgot.
Hagerman vs. Lava
One was our weekly routine. The other was an occasion. Both are worth the drive.
Hagerman Hot Springs
Private soaking rooms along the Snake River Canyon, near Buhl. Low-key, local, genuinely relaxing — our regular routine.
Search HotelsLava Hot Springs
A whole town built around its springs — multiple outdoor pools, more of an occasion. We made it out here once.
Search HotelsBuhl / Twin Falls Area
Twin Falls is about 20 minutes from Hagerman and Buhl, with full hotel inventory.
Search RentalsLava Hot Springs Town
B&Bs and rentals right in town put the pools walking distance from your door.
Search RentalsWhen Hot Springs Become a Ritual
I lived in Idaho twice — once from 1986 to 1988, and again from 1999 to 2002 — and across both stretches, one of my favorite things about the state was the hot springs. The weekly ritual was Hagerman Hot Springs, near Buhl: private soaking rooms, occasional massages, and that summer daylight that just refused to end. Lava Hot Springs, a couple of hours away, was more of an occasional trip — a completely different kind of experience.
There’s a difference between visiting a hot springs and making it part of your week. When you live somewhere long enough, the things that start as novelties become routines — and Hagerman became ours. Soaking in a private room under that impossibly long summer daylight, nine-thirty at night and the sky still holding light, is a specific kind of good you don’t forget.
Hagerman Hot Springs: The Local Secret
Hagerman Hot Springs sits along the Snake River Canyon near Hagerman and Buhl — not a place most people outside the region know about, which is exactly what makes it worth knowing. The property is frequently listed and booked under the nearby Buhl address, but the springs themselves are in Hagerman. Multiple pools sit at different temperatures, but the real draw is the private soaking rooms: small rooms with their own hot spring pool, rented by the hour, genuinely relaxing in a way a public soaking area never quite matches.
They also offer massage services, which made the combination — private soak followed by a massage — a full afternoon activity that cost very little and delivered everything. The kind of local secret that residents take for granted and visitors rarely find.
Booking tip: The private rooms at Hagerman Hot Springs book out on weekends and summer evenings. Call ahead to reserve — walk-ins work on slower weekdays but peak times fill fast. The rooms are rented by the hour and genuinely private, which is the whole reason to go.
Search Hagerman and Buhl Hotels and Rentals
The closest lodging to Hagerman Hot Springs, and a natural day trip if you’re already based in Twin Falls or Sun Valley.
Lava Hot Springs: The Destination
Lava Hot Springs is the more well-known option — a small Idaho town that exists almost entirely because of its natural hot springs. Multiple outdoor pools at different temperatures, a social atmosphere, surrounding shops and small-town amenities. It carries a 4.7 rating across nearly 7,000 reviews for a reason.
Where Hagerman felt like our local, Lava felt like an event — somewhere we made it out to once rather than every week. It’s the kind of place you make a full day of: drive out, soak, eat, soak again, drive back. Completely different energy than the weekly Hagerman routine, but worth every bit of the trip.
The Pools
Multiple outdoor pools ranging from warm to genuinely hot, all fed by natural mineral springs. No sulfur smell, which distinguishes Lava from many geothermal springs.
The Swimming Complex
Lava also has an Olympic swimming complex separate from the soaking pools, including diving boards and a waterslide — good if you’re bringing kids who want something beyond soaking.
When to Go
Summer evenings and weekend days get crowded. Weekday mornings are the quietest. Summer also brings the bonus of long daylight well into the evening.
Search Lava Hot Springs Hotels and Rentals
Stay in town and soak morning and evening — B&Bs, small hotels, and rental properties within walking distance of the pools.
How They Compare
Hagerman Hot Springs — go if you want a quiet, personal, local experience. The private soaking rooms are the reason: your own pool for an hour, no crowd, the Snake River Canyon outside. Best as a regular habit or a genuinely off-the-beaten-path stop.
Lava Hot Springs — go if you want the full hot springs destination experience. Multiple pools, a whole town built around it, the social atmosphere of a place people specifically travel to. Plan a full day or stay overnight. Worth building a trip around.
Combine Both
Hagerman and Lava are a few hours apart. A Sun Valley trip, plus a Hagerman day trip, plus a Lava overnight, makes a logical Idaho circuit if you have a week to spend in the state.
Quick Reference: Idaho Hot Springs
| Category | The Answer |
|---|---|
| Hagerman Hot Springs | Near Hagerman and Buhl — Snake River Canyon, private soaking rooms, massage services |
| Lava Hot Springs | Lava Hot Springs, Idaho — multiple outdoor pools, full small-town setup, 4.7 stars / 7,000+ reviews |
| Best time | Summer for long evening daylight; both open year-round |
| Distance apart | A few hours — plan accordingly if visiting both in one trip |
| Private rooms at Hagerman | Book ahead — rented by the hour, fills on weekends and summer evenings |
| Sulfur smell | Neither Hagerman nor Lava has the strong sulfur smell of many natural hot springs |
| Distance from Sun Valley | Hagerman: ~2 hours. Lava: ~130 miles / 2–2.5 hours |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best hot springs in Idaho?
Two of the most beloved hot springs destinations in Idaho are Hagerman Hot Springs, near Buhl (known for private soaking rooms along the Snake River Canyon), and Lava Hot Springs (a small town built around its natural springs, with multiple outdoor pools and a 4.7-star rating across thousands of reviews). Both are worth visiting for completely different reasons.
What is Hagerman Hot Springs?
Hagerman Hot Springs sits along the Snake River Canyon near Hagerman and Buhl, Idaho. The property is often booked under the Buhl address, but the springs themselves are in Hagerman. It’s known for private soaking rooms rented by the hour, plus massage services — a local favorite not widely known outside the region.
What is Lava Hot Springs?
Lava Hot Springs is a small town in southeastern Idaho, about 30 miles east of Pocatello, built almost entirely around its natural geothermal springs. It has multiple outdoor pools at varying temperatures, no sulfur smell, and a separate Olympic swimming complex with diving boards and a waterslide.
How far is Lava Hot Springs from Sun Valley?
Approximately 130 miles southeast of Sun Valley/Ketchum, about 2 to 2.5 hours by car. It makes a good day trip or overnight addition to a Sun Valley visit.
Do Idaho hot springs smell like sulfur?
No, notably. Both Hagerman and Lava Hot Springs have clear mineral water without the strong sulfur odor common at many natural hot springs.
Can you visit both Hagerman and Lava Hot Springs on one trip?
Yes. They’re a few hours apart, and combining a Sun Valley visit, a Hagerman day trip, and a Lava overnight makes a solid week-long Idaho circuit.
I didn’t move to Idaho for the hot springs. But across both stretches of living there, they became one of the things I genuinely missed when I left. Hagerman gave me a weekly ritual. Lava gave me a destination. Together they’re a part of the country that doesn’t get nearly enough credit for how good it actually is.