Updated September 26, 2026

Hot Springs Near Bakersfield, California

194

°F

springs within

100

miles

Hot springs near Bakersfield include 14 options within 100 miles, from Remington on the Kern River to Sespe in the Los Padres backcountry. Nine are free to soak.

Closest Hot Spring

Remington Hot Springs, California

35 miles from Bakersfield

Hottest Hot Spring

Sespe Hot Springs, California

194 °F

Closest Free Hot Spring

Remington Hot Springs, California

35 miles from Bakersfield

INTERACTIVE MAP

Hot Springs Near Bakersfield, California

View on Google Maps

The Kern River corridor on CA-178 east of Bakersfield is the quickest route to hot springs near Bakersfield. Remington Hot Springs, about 35 miles from downtown, has free rock-lined pools along the south bank of the Kern River accessible by a short scramble from a pullout near the Hobo campground. South into the Los Padres National Forest, Sespe Hot Springs in the Sespe Wilderness has the hottest source in the area at 194 degrees but requires a 14-mile backcountry hike from the trailhead near Ojai. Big Caliente and Little Caliente Hot Springs near Santa Barbara offer 105 to 115 degree pools via rugged 4WD road or a 13-mile hike through the forest. Jordan Hot Springs in the Golden Trout Wilderness, about 90 miles northeast, sits at 6,500 feet with 120-degree source water feeding rock pools along Nine Mile Creek. Along the Central Coast, Avila Hot Springs and Sycamore Mineral Springs near San Luis Obispo are about 100 miles southwest on US-101.

Closest Hot Springs to Bakersfield, California

Outdoor thermal pools on riverside in Remington Hot Springs near Bodfish, California

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest hot spring to Bakersfield?

Remington Hot Springs is about 35 miles east of Bakersfield on CA-178 along the Kern River, roughly 45 minutes by car. Free rock-lined pools sit along the south bank, accessible by a short scramble from a roadside pullout. The pools are primitive with no facilities, and water temperature varies seasonally.

Are there free hot springs near Bakersfield?

Nine of the 14 hot springs within 100 miles of Bakersfield are free. Remington Hot Springs on the Kern River is the closest at 35 miles. Big Caliente and Little Caliente near Santa Barbara, Gaviota State Park springs, and Jordan Hot Springs in the Golden Trout Wilderness are all free on public land.

How far is Bakersfield from Jordan Hot Springs?

Jordan Hot Springs in the Golden Trout Wilderness is about 90 miles northeast of Bakersfield. The most common approach starts from the Blackrock trailhead east of Johnsondale, requiring a backcountry hike of roughly 10 miles one way. Source water at 120 degrees feeds rock pools along Nine Mile Creek at 6,500 feet.

Which hot springs near Bakersfield are easiest to reach?

Remington Hot Springs, 35 miles east on CA-178, requires only a short scramble from the road to the Kern River pools. Avila Hot Springs near San Luis Obispo, about 100 miles southwest on US-101, has a developed pool complex with no hiking required. Most other springs in the area need backcountry hiking or 4WD access.

Can I day trip to the San Luis Obispo hot springs from Bakersfield?

Avila Hot Springs and Sycamore Mineral Springs near San Luis Obispo are about 100 miles southwest of Bakersfield via CA-58 and US-101, roughly two hours each way. Both are developed facilities with pools and changing rooms. Sycamore offers private hillside tubs while Avila has a larger family-oriented pool complex.

South on CA-99 and I-5, hot springs near Los Angeles overlap with the Los Padres backcountry springs and add the Deep Creek and Desert Hot Springs corridors about 110 miles from Bakersfield. North on CA-99, hot springs near Fresno pick up the Sierra Nevada and Mammoth Lakes cluster roughly 110 miles away.