Steamboat Hot Springs is located within the active geothermal area with hot springs, fumaroles, and steam vents
Located just off Highway 395 in Reno, Steamboat Hot Springs sits within one of Nevada’s most active geothermal areas, known as Steamboat Springs. The area features a remarkable concentration of geothermal features, including hot springs, fumaroles, and steam vents.
In the past, several facilities offered hot spring bathing in the area. Today, Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa is the only remaining commercial facility where guests can enjoy geothermal soaking and spa treatments.
Steamboat Hot Springs Features
Steamboat Hot Springs is a volcanic hot spring, the only volcanic hot spring in the area. Being volcanic in origin, geothermal water here contains a wide variety of minerals including calcium carbonate, magnesium, sodium sulfate, sulfur, soda, lithia, and silica.
Private rooms with tubs and showers, an outdoor communal tub, and infrared sauna are available for visitors’ convenience and enjoyment. Also, spa treatment packages can be purchased at the Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center and Spa.
Steamboat Hot Springs History
The Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center & Spa has a long history dating back to the 19th century. Like many hot springs throughout the western United States, the mineral-rich waters at Steamboat Springs were used by Indigenous peoples long before European settlement. These waters were valued for their spiritual and healing qualities.
Early settlers compared the geothermal activity to a steamboat because steam periodically rose from openings in the ground. Historical accounts describe the area as producing boiling water and clouds of steam that resembled a steamboat's exhaust.
Numerous online sources claim that the location was named by the famous writer Mark Twain. However, historical records suggest that the name was already in use before his visit. When Mark Twain stayed at the site in August 1863, it was already known as the Steamboat Springs Hotel. In his work Early Tales and Sketches, he described the area: “The devil boils the water, and the white steam puffs up out of crevices in the earth, along the summit for more than a mile.”
Over the years, the property served many different purposes, including a rest stop for settlers traveling to California, a hospital, post office, hotel, stagecoach station, and railroad station. In the 1920s, the property developed into a hot spring spa destination.
Because of its long and fascinating history, Steamboat Hot Springs has been recognized as an important historic site in Nevada.
Places to Stay at Steamboat Hot Springs - Nevada
Steamboat does not provide overnight accommodations for its guests. But since is located in Reno, the third largest city in Nevada, visitors to Steamboat can easily find a range of accommodations, including luxurious and budget options.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in the southern part of Reno
Steamboat Hot Springs | Facts
Location: South of Reno • Nevada • USA
Open: Year-round
Development: Healing Center & Spa
Amenities & Services: Massage, detox programs, Ayurveda treatment, and wellness therapies
Hiking distance: Short
Road Access: Any vehicle
Day-use fees: Yes, reservations are suggested
Elevation: 4,800 ft (1,463 m)
Water T° (source): 200°F (93°C)
Water T° (tubs): Adjustable
Chemical used: None
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Directions to Steamboat Hot Springs
From Highway US-395 (I-580) in Reno,
- Take exit 25B for Old Highway US-395 Alt toward Carson City
- Drive 1.9 miles south on US-395 Alt to S Virginia Street
- Turn left onto S Virginia Street and continue 0.3 miles to the destination.
Phone: 775-853-6600
steamboatsprings.org