Benton Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Benton Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Benton, California. Reported soak temperature: 104°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Stop on Highway 395 Hot Springs — see all stops, ordered south to north.
Current status
OVERNIGHT GUESTS ONLY — no day use or hourly soaking; the Inn at Benton Hot Springs rents ~15 private clothing-optional tub sites (each a fenced campsite with its own geothermal tub, picnic table and grill — $95/night for two at sites 1-3/11-12, $105/night for three at sites 4-10/13, +$10/extra person) plus 7 inn rooms, a historic miner's cabin, houses with private tubs, an Airstream and a casita; check-in 3 PM sharp (no late arrivals), checkout 11 AM enforced with a $100 late fee; water rises at ~140°F on a 1,255-acre family ranch under dark skies on Hwy 120.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 5 sources ↓
Before you go
- Status: Reservation or permission required — confirm via Inn at Benton Hot Springs — official Hot Tubs page (no day use/hourly, tub-site rates $95/$105, clothing optional, pet limit, checkout enforcement).
- Cost: Reported $95 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 104°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing-optional; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: Access = overnight reservation only, booked via bentonhotsprings.us.
- Booking: Reservation required.
- Best time to go: Weekday nights for the darkest skies and quietest ranch; winter soaks under stars are the signature — but every soak requires an overnight booking, so reserve ahead for weekends/holidays.
- Clothing reality: Official: clothing OPTIONAL inside the fenced private tub sites — 'discretion is encouraged.' Customary: most guests soak nude in their own tub. Legal — private property, screened areas.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: spotty — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Tub 13 is designated accessible for guests with mobility issues; terrain is otherwise rustic ranch ground — call (760) 933-2287 to arrange.
- NO day use or hourly soaking — the ONLY way to soak is an overnight reservation; do not drive out expecting a soak
- Check-in window is 3–7 PM and late arrivals are not permitted — missing the window can mean a canceled, non-refundable booking
- Checkout 11 AM is hard-enforced — $100 late-departure fee and your tub is promptly drained
- Strict cancellations: tub sites/inn rooms charge FULL price inside 72 hrs; houses inside 7 days — no exceptions for weather, smoke, road conditions or emergencies
- Max 2 pets per tub site (leashed) — exceeding it = $250 fee and eviction
- Generators only 8–10 AM and 5–7 PM; absolutely no music or loud noise — this is a silence-first property
- No hookups at tub sites — bring a tent/camper; five new flush-toilet units serve tub-site guests
- Collecting/burning historic wood (old boards, fence posts) is illegal — the ranch is a historic mining site
- Large groups discouraged at some venues — this property books small parties per site
- Remote location: Benton is ~50 min from Mammoth Lakes/Bishop services — bring food and supplies; office open 10 AM–7 PM daily
- Hazard: Source water emerges ~140°F — tubs are tempered but test before full immersion
- Hazard: Remote high-desert ranch — no on-site food service, limited supplies nearby
- Hazard: Wildfire season can bring smoke; cancellation policy still applies regardless
About this spring
Historic inn and private-tub-site resort on the 1860s mining-town site of Benton — mineral water rises at ~140°F and feeds ~15 private spring-fed hot tub sites plus semi-private tubs for inn guests; famous dark skies. Fee: Private tub sites $95-105/night; inn rooms ~$169. Very remote — no cell; clothing optional at tub sites.
The Benton Hot Springs are in Mono County, California around which grew the town of Benton (also known as Old Benton, and Hot Springs). It is located 3 miles (4.8 km) west-southwest of Benton and 31 miles (50 km) north-northwest of Bishop, at an elevation of 5630 feet (1716 m). It is part of the Benton census-designated place for statistical purposes. The Benton post office opened at the place in 1886. The name honors Senator Thomas Hart Benton, United States senator from Missouri. The town saw its heyday from 1862 to 1889 as a supply center for nearby mines. At the end of the 19th century, the town declined and the name Benton was transferred to Benton Station. Of the springs at the site, one was described in a 1915 book as issuing water at 135 °F (57 °C).
Text from the Wikipedia article “Benton Hot Springs”, available under CC BY-SA.
Directions & trailhead access
Highway 120 to Benton, ~31 mi north of Bishop; inn at the old townsite west of town.
California geothermal context
California spans several geothermal provinces: the volcanic Cascades and Modoc Plateau in the northeast, Sierra Nevada granite seeps along the eastern front, Mojave and Colorado Desert springs in the south, and the famously mineral-rich Big Sur coast. Fire season (roughly June–November) closes access to many backcountry springs without warning — always check for current fire restrictions.
What a resort site means here
A resort spring is a commercial operation: developed pools or tubs with controlled temperatures, changing facilities, and usually day-use fees or lodging packages. Expect posted rules (swimsuits, quiet hours, age limits), staff on site, and in many cases required reservations — especially on weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
Year-Round (Best: May – October)Pool temperatures and access can change with weather and season. Outdoor ambient temperatures fluctuate significantly across California. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 104°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | 104°F |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $95 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing-optional |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Inn at Benton Hot Springs — official Hot Tubs page (no day use/hourly, tub-site rates $95/$105, clothing optional, pet limit, checkout enforcement) |
Benton Hot Springs FAQ
Is Benton Hot Springs open right now?
OVERNIGHT GUESTS ONLY — no day use or hourly soaking; the Inn at Benton Hot Springs rents ~15 private clothing-optional tub sites (each a fenced campsite with its own geothermal tub, picnic table and grill — $95/night for two at sites 1-3/11-12, $105/night for three at sites 4-10/13, +$10/extra person) plus 7 inn rooms, a historic miner's cabin, houses with private tubs, an Airstream and a casita; check-in 3 PM sharp (no late arrivals), checkout 11 AM enforced with a $100 late fee; water rises at ~140°F on a 1,255-acre family ranch under dark skies on Hwy 120. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Benton Hot Springs free?
Benton Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Benton. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Benton Hot Springs?
Benton Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 104°F and a historical source temperature of 104°F in survey records. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Benton Hot Springs clothing optional?
Benton Hot Springs is listed as traditionally clothing-optional in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Benton Hot Springs?
Benton Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Overnight options and spring admission
Book rooms, cabins or soaking times directly with the operator.
Check Benton’s own lodging and tub-site reservationsSources & references
- Inn at Benton Hot Springs — official Hot Tubs page (no day use/hourly, tub-site rates $95/$105, clothing optional, pet limit, checkout enforcement) — operator · 2026-09
- Inn at Benton Hot Springs — official homepage (140°F source, 1,255-acre ranch, lodging types, cancellation policies) — operator · 2026-09
- Inn at Benton Hot Springs — official Contact page (address, phone, 10am–7pm office hours) — operator · 2026-09
- hotsprings.co — Benton Hot Springs guide (advance reservations required, no day-use, lodging price ranges) — community · 2026
- Soak Destinations — Benton Hot Springs 2026 guide (Tub 13 accessible, Bramlette Family Trust ownership) — community · 2026
Details above were verified against the named sources on their listed dates — conditions change, so recheck before traveling. · How we verify our data · Report a correction
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