Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool
By the HotSpringsFind editorial team · How we compile records · Reviewed September 2026
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool is a resort hot spring listed near Thermopolis, Wyoming. Reported soak temperature: 100°F. See the visit fact sheet.
Current status
Commercial RV park 2 miles north of Thermopolis on US-20 with one huge (235x72 ft) all-natural mineral hot pool fed by the 1918 Sacajawea artesian well (~128F source, pool ~100-105F); open to day-use visitors 7:00am-9:30pm daily year-round for $10/adult (13+), $5/child (12 & under).
Checked April 2026 · verified against an official source · 5 sources ↓
Staying overnight?
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park.
Thermopolis is about 2 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 Fountain of Youth RV Park — official site (pool hours 7AM-9:30PM, day-use fees, history).
- Cost: Reported $10/adult — confirm current rates before visiting.
- Getting there: Developed resort — confirm operating hours and any reservation requirement.
- Water: Reported soak temperature 100°F — always test the water before entering.
- Rules: Reported clothing required; reported dog-friendly.
- Conditions: check weather, fire closures, and land-manager alerts the week you go — mountain access changes seasonally.
- Reservations/permits: None — pay day-use fee at office; overnight stays bookable via Campspot or phone (307-864-3265).
- Best time to go: Fall/winter soaking is the local favorite (operator says most prefer colder months); summer midday warmest crowds.
- Clothing reality: Official: swimsuits required (family RV park). Customary: suits only. Legal: public venue, nudity not permitted.
- Kids: Allowed.
- Cell service: ok — download maps and tell someone your plan.
- Accessibility: Handicap-accessible ramp into pool, heated changing rooms, daily-cleaned bathrooms, kiddie pool.
- Day-use fee $10/adult (13+), $5/child (12 & under) — includes same-day leave-and-return re-entry
- Pool is chemical-free mineral water — no chlorine smell but also no disinfection
- Water enters pool hot (~125F) and air-cools toward far end (~100F) — pick your temperature zone
- One 2025 camper review says new management struggled to regulate pool temp ('tepid') — confirm hot water before paying
- RV sites tight for big rigs; road/train noise mentioned in reviews
- Pool is the draw — park upkeep otherwise dated per reviews
- Hazard: Mineral water unchlorinated
- Hazard: Source well water ~128F — hot inflow zone can scald
About this spring
Private RV park two miles north of Thermopolis whose outdoor mineral pool (~235x72 ft — billed as Wyoming's largest) is fed by the 1918 Sacajawea artesian well flowing ~1.4 million gal/day at ~128°F. Pool runs ~95-105°F. Free soaking alternative at Hot Springs State Park bathhouse ~2 mi south. Fee: ~$10/adult day use; included with RV/cabin stays. Pool hours 7am-9:30pm. Confirm seasonal operation.
Two miles north of Thermopolis, this RV park's outdoor mineral pool is fed by the Sacajawea Well, drilled in 1918 by C.F. Cross in a search for oil — instead the well struck hot mineral water and reportedly erupted violently enough to destroy the drilling derrick. The artesian well still produces roughly 1.3–1.5 million gallons of 128°F water per day, and decades of mineral-laden flow built the colorful travertine mound rising behind the pool.
The concrete pool measures 235 by 72 feet, holds about 84,600 cubic feet of water, and is exchanged roughly every 11 hours by the well's flow. The property became the Hot Springs County Poor Farm in 1923, served mid-century as a free public 'Scotch Plunge,' and was bought in the early 1960s by Airstream enthusiasts Oscar and Etta Payne, who created Payne's Fountain of Youth and hosted Wally Byam caravans. Day-use admission runs about $10 per adult; the park also hosts 75–100 baptisms annually for local churches.
Directions & trailhead access
250 US-20, ~2 miles north of downtown Thermopolis; pull directly into the RV park.
Wyoming geothermal context
Wyoming holds the planet's densest geothermal field in Yellowstone — nearly all of it legally protected and off-limits to soaking. The visitable thermal water is outside the park: Thermopolis' free state bathhouse, river-edge springs along the North Platte, and scattered backcountry seeps in grizzly country where bear-aware travel is mandatory.
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 Wyoming. Late spring through autumn offers the most comfortable road access.
Fact sheet
| Reported soak temp | 100°F |
|---|---|
| Source temp (historical) | Not reported |
| Trail access | Recorded coordinates — access unverified |
| Access fee | Reported $10/adult — verify |
| Clothing policy | Reported clothing required |
| Pet policy | Reported dog-friendly |
| Geothermal data reference | NOAA Thermal Springs List (1980 archive) |
| Check land status | Fountain of Youth RV Park — official site (pool hours 7AM-9:30PM, day-use fees, history) |
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool FAQ
Is Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool open right now?
Commercial RV park 2 miles north of Thermopolis on US-20 with one huge (235x72 ft) all-natural mineral hot pool fed by the 1918 Sacajawea artesian well (~128F source, pool ~100-105F); open to day-use visitors 7:00am-9:30pm daily year-round for $10/adult (13+), $5/child (12 & under). (Status verified against an official source, last checked April 2026.)
Is Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool free?
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool is listed with reported fees near Thermopolis. Fees are reported; confirm admission, parking and permit costs with the site manager.
What temperature is Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool?
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool has a reported soak temperature of 100°F. Historical data may not reflect current conditions — always test water before entering.
Is Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool clothing optional?
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool is listed as swimsuit-required in directory records. Confirm current rules before visiting, as policies change.
How do you access Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool?
Fountain of Youth RV Park Mineral Pool is a private venue with paid public admission. Confirm current hours, fees and booking requirements with the operator before visiting.
Where to stay in Thermopolis
Stay in town for Hot Springs State Park. Check the individual pool’s opening hours and entry rules.
Thermopolis is about 2 mi from the spring (straight line).
We may earn a commission from bookings through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Sources & references
- Fountain of Youth RV Park — official site (pool hours 7AM-9:30PM, day-use fees, history) — operator · 2026
- Fountain of Youth RV Park — official mineral pool page (Sacajawea well flow, pool dimensions, hours) — operator · 2026
- Cowboy State Daily — 'Once A Showstopper, Thermopolis Hot Springs RV Park Being Restored' (year-round operation, $10 day use, temps) — news · 2024-09
- RV LIFE Campground reviews — 2025 review noting new management and tepid pool temp — community · 2025
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
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