Franklin Hot Springs
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Franklin Hot Springs is a resort hot spring listed near Paso Robles, California. Reported soak temperature: 98°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Rustic family-owned sulfur hot spring east of Paso Robles open every day 7:30am-9pm — $10 adult / $8 child-under-14-senior-military all-day pass covers a ~97-101F natural pool, ~101F hot tub, plus fishing/boating on the pond; tent/RV camping available with a 1-week max; online booking via FareHarbor but day visits are simple drop-in.
Checked September 2026 · verified on the operator’s site · 6 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in Paso Robles for a separate visit to Franklin or River Oaks.
Paso Robles is about 4 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Before you go
- Status: Open — last verified below — confirm via Franklin Hot Springs official site — home (hours, pricing, camping, FareHarbor booking).
- Cost: Reported $10 — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 98°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; pets reported not allowed — confirm current rules.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — day pass at the gate or book ahead on FareHarbor; no fishing license needed for the private pond
- Best time to go: Weekday mornings are quietest; weekends and holidays draw local crowds; in hot Paso Robles summers early morning or evening soaking is most comfortable
- Clothing reality: Official/customary: swimsuit required — family venue, clothing mandatory in all public areas. Private property.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Ground-level natural pool and concrete hot tub on rural property; portable toilets; no documented ADA features
- Camping is charged ON TOP of admission — tent $30/night, RV $30/night, developed campsites $75-85/night, each plus the per-person day fee
- 1-week maximum stay for campers
- Rustic facility: portable toilets, small changing rooms, natural/murky pool bottom, noticeable sulfur odor — not a resort
- Windy overnight conditions reported — stake tents well
- Pet policy not stated on official site — third-party guides call it pet-friendly but advise supervising animals near water; call (805) 712-5372 to confirm
- Occasional outdoor music events can change the vibe/crowd level
- Hazard: Sulfur water smell and murky natural pool — some visitors find it off-putting
- Hazard: Rural location ~4.5 mi east of downtown Paso Robles on Creston Rd
About this spring
Rustic family-owned commercial hot spring east of Paso Robles, operated by the Franklin family for six generations — artesian mineral water discovered during oil drilling in 1952. Large warm swimming area (~97°F), a hotter concrete tub (~100°F), and a fishing/boating pond. Fee: ~$10 adult day use; camping extra. Sulfur odor present; untreated natural mineral flow. Family venue — swimsuits required.
Franklin Hot Springs occupies former farmland on Creston Road southeast of Paso Robles, where in 1952 a Texaco crew drilling for oil on Wesley Franklin's ranch struck roaring hot artesian mineral water instead. Franklin spent roughly the next decade digging a system of lakes and channels by tractor to contain the flow, and the springs remained a private family retreat until he opened the property to the public in the 1980s. The family — now Norman and Cindy Franklin and their children and grandchildren — still operates the low-key resort, which has become a Paso Robles institution hosting fishing on the stocked pond, camping, and community events.
The untreated sulfur-bearing water feeds a large warm swimming area (about 97°F) and a smaller, hotter concrete soaking tub near 100°F before draining through channels toward the Salinas River watershed, a path that also supplies several vineyards. Admission is a modest day-use donation (about $10 per adult), swimsuits are required, and the atmosphere is rustic and family-oriented rather than spa-like.
Directions & trailhead access
From Paso Robles take Creston Rd southeast ~6 miles to 3015 Creston Rd.
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 | 98°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $10 — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported no pets |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Franklin Hot Springs official site — home (hours, pricing, camping, FareHarbor booking) |
Franklin Hot Springs FAQ
Is Franklin Hot Springs open right now?
Rustic family-owned sulfur hot spring east of Paso Robles open every day 7:30am-9pm — $10 adult / $8 child-under-14-senior-military all-day pass covers a ~97-101F natural pool, ~101F hot tub, plus fishing/boating on the pond; tent/RV camping available with a 1-week max; online booking via FareHarbor but day visits are simple drop-in. (Status verified on the operator’s site, last checked September 2026.)
Is Franklin Hot Springs free?
Franklin Hot Springs is listed with reported fees near Paso Robles. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Franklin Hot Springs?
Franklin Hot Springs has a reported soak temperature of 98°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Franklin Hot Springs clothing optional?
Franklin Hot Springs is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Franklin Hot Springs?
Franklin Hot Springs is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Paso Robles
Stay in Paso Robles for a separate visit to Franklin or River Oaks. Check the specific pool’s admission and booking rules.
Paso Robles is about 4 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Franklin Hot Springs official site — home (hours, pricing, camping, FareHarbor booking) — operator · 2026-09
- Franklin Hot Springs official site — Services page (sulfur water, no chemicals, lake access) — operator · 2026-09
- Hot Springs Guides — Franklin Hot Springs overview (pet-friendly note, camping details) — community · 2025
- Hot Spring Journeys — Franklin Hot Springs trip report (clothing required, family vibe) — community · 2024
Additional references for this record; a source link does not guarantee current conditions.
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
Your private trip notes
Saved only in this browser — not published or shared.No private notes yet
Keep access details and observations for your own planning.