Virginia’s Best Springs and Spas For Your Getaway Weekend

Nestled in the verdant mountains and rolling hills of Virginia lie hidden gems – natural hot springs. I love the beaches and tidal waters in Virginia but it’s always nice to get away to the mountains and enjoy the waters.

Warm Springs at The Omni Homestead Resort

Tucked away in a town called Hot Springs, the Omni Homestead Resort in Virginia is a historic accommodation that has attracted visitors from near and far for centuries.

Located in the Allegheny Mountains, the resort has been a wellness retreat since the 18th century. The main attraction in this Hot Springs, Virginia town is the naturally heated mineral springs, which have been used for relaxation and healing for centuries. The resort itself is a National Historic Landmark, offering a blend of modern amenities and historical charm.

The resort features the renowned Jefferson Pools, named after Thomas Jefferson, who visited in 1818. These pools are fed by natural hot springs and are known for their soothing and therapeutic properties.

Steeped in history, the Jefferson Pools were frequented by President Thomas Jefferson, who believed in the therapeutic properties of the mineral waters. The naturally formed pools in this Hot Springs, Virginia town offer a more secluded soaking experience compared to Warm Springs. Designated quiet areas allow for a peaceful retreat amidst the natural beauty.

Secret Tip: Arrive early, especially on weekends, to secure a spot by the pool.

Dance lessons, arts and crafts, engaging kids' activities, and movies ensure endless entertainment for the little ones.

There are coed bathing times, where families with kids may use either the men's or women's (larger of the two) pools. Later in the day the schedule switches to adults-only, and this is also a clothing-optional time, where the sexes are segregated to their respective bath houses

Thrill-seekers can partake in skeet/trap shooting, embark on guided hiking expeditions, try their hand at archery, or even take ski lessons during the winter months.

Water Quality: 5 stars (Crystal clear, naturally filtered)

Ease of Access: 5 stars (Easily accessible by paved road)

Ability to Be Alone: 2 stars (Busy atmosphere, large shared pools)

Water Temperature: 4 stars (Comfortable soaking temperature)

Health Benefits: 4 stars (Noticeable mineral content, potential benefits for muscle relaxation)

Nearby Amenities: 5 stars (Luxury resort with spa services, restaurants, lodging, and various recreational activities)

Sweet Chalybeate Springs

Sweet Chalybeate Springs, also known as the Red Sweet Springs, Sweet Chalybeate Hotel and Sweet Chalybeate Springs Lodge. Sweet Springs is a former springs resort, sanatorium, hospital and nursing home in rural eastern West Virginia. Sadly it’s now on the list of abandoned properties but was once a favorite in the region.

Dr. Burke wrote that the bath was chalybeate or iron-containing and therefore a powerful agent in cases that benefit from a tonic treatment. He felt that 95% of the bathers would think the Red-Sweet Springs were more powerful as a tonic applied to the skin than the Sweet Springs. The Sweet Chalybeate Springs themselves, claimed to contain the strongest carbonated mineral waters in the nation, still flow freely from the limestone bluff. Chalybeate is a type of mineral water impregnated with salts of iron.

Famous visitors to Sweet Springs included George and Martha Washington, General Lafayette, Jerome Bonaparte, Patrick Henry, Robert E. Lee, and Presidents Pierce and Fillmore.

Toward that goal, Smith founded the Sweet Springs Management Company to bottle and sell Sweet Spring’s water under the Sweet Sommer label. The water, noted for its fresh taste and natural carbonation, was ranked among the top 10 at the International Water Tasting Festival in January 2008.

Water Quality: 4 stars (Minor sediment, slight metallic taste)

Ease of Access: 4 stars (Short, easy walk on a well-maintained path)

Ability to Be Alone: 5 stars (Secluded pools along the creek)

Water Temperature: 4 stars (Comfortable soaking temperature)

Health Benefits: 4 stars (Noticeable mineral content, high iron content)

Nearby Amenities: 2 stars (Limited amenities, closest town with basic necessities is Covington)

Balian Springs

This massive 100,000-square-foot self-care social club features an immersive indoor hydrotherapy pool with patented Aqua Jet nozzles, cold plunge pools, and a rooftop infinity hydrotherapy pool. Passes grant access to multiple specialty saunas, and day admission generally ranges from $65 to $85 depending on the day of the week.

Use your Marriott points by staying nearby at the Residence Inn by Marriott Springfield Old Keene Mill with an indoor pool, a hot tub, and suites with full kitchens.

This is a ginormous, multi-storied self-care destination in Alexandria that opened in 2022 and which used to be a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission office.

A second-floor mezzanine overlooking the sprawling first floor of pools gives off mall vibes, and the entryway's Indonesian-style sculptures and architecture don't camouflage what still kinda looks like the exterior of the Dunder-Mifflin office.

The first floor has a huge main hydrotherapy pool, with a series of hot and cold plunge pools, as well as private women's and men's lounges where you can soak and sauna sans-clothes (everywhere else you're required to wear a "conservative" bathing suit). The third floor has a heated, outdoor rooftop pool with whirlpools, plus cabanas and a fire pit.

First, you put your shoes in an entryway locker, then head to either the men's or women's locker room, where you're given a robe, slippers and your own personal locker. Showers, towels and some toiletries are available.

There's your typical steam room, a Himalayan salt room, an infrared sauna, a gold-infused sauna, a clay sauna, a charcoal sauna, a chromotherapy sauna, and a cold cryotherapy room.

King Spa

King Spa is an authentic Korean spa located in Chantilly, VA offering Korean spa services such as body scrubs, oil treatments, massages, facials and more. You can stay at Home2 Suites by Hilton Chantilly Dulles Airport within walking distance and keep enjoying the saltwater swimming pool, indoor pool, fitness center, and hot tub.

Once inside, you're transported to an Asian mega-spa experience with tropically designed indoor/outdoor pools, traditional Korean saunas and group-friendly spaces in both single and unisex areas.

Two lockers, one for shoes and another clothing, are included. It's worth spending $5 for a robe — better to BYO socks — but you'll be issued a cotton spa uniform that must be worn in communal areas, including the saunas and dining hall (no swimsuits or robes allowed there).

Showers are communal and no clothing or bathing suits are permitted. There are two private showers on the second floor.

Children under the age of 12 are not permitted under any circumstances. Minors under 17 years old must be accompanied by an adult 21+ years old and of the same gender. A maximum of 3 children per adult of the same gender are permitted.

Hit the rooftop's huge heated outdoor hydrotherapy pool first — especially in winter when you can maximize a series of water jets that massage your body from head to toe, and cold plunges into the air. The nearby indoor pool has an atmospheric faux-waterfall and dry sauna. Remember to bring your bathing suit if you plan to visit the outdoor or indoor bade pools (you cannot enter these pools without appropriate swimwear).

I love the bade pools and the little mini tubs that hit you with jets. A bade pool is a therapeutic water feature rooted in traditional Korean jjimjilbang (spa) culture, designed to restore balance and promote healing through warm water immersion. Unlike your typical swimming pool, a bade pool is built for passive relaxation—where the focus is on soaking, breathing, and letting the water work its magic. Here more than 50 aqua jets are a key feature of bade pools where you can relieve muscle aches and pains with targeted water pressure.

There is also a series of single-sex hydrotherapy pools adjoining the men's and women's lockers. No clothing or swimsuits are allowed.

You can spend an afternoon hopping between 11 saunas and therapy rooms, each with their own theme and health benefits: a calming crystal salt room, anti-aging gold sauna, purifying charcoal, and beyond.

The spa boasts the hottest sauna in the world – Bul-Han-Jing-Mak sauna which is the only spa in the U.S. to use real oakwood in the heating process.

I always love the amethysts room - it is about love, you know. Step into the Amethyst Crystal and Salt room at King Spa for a powerful healing experience.  Amethyst is an ancient, mysterious, and highly energetic stone with properties that calm the mind, tone the skin, and boost fertility.

King Spa’s stunning Gold Pyramid Sauna was constructed using genuine 23K gold leaves. The gold leaves are infused into the pyramid stones at every level for a powerful, luxurious experience.

Spa World

Spa World was my first experience with Korean spas and I fell in love. With Korean spas you figure out a circuit once you go a few times. My circuit was the hot tubs followed by the amethyst sauna, the charcoal sauna, mixing in the ice room, then chilling out on the relaxing chairs while reading a book.

The facility is spacious and offers a wonderful variety of amenities, the hydro-jet pools, multiple saunas, like the clay, salt and onyx rooms, and the chill-out lounges all contributed to a calm, spa-day atmosphere.

There is a bade pool with 4 different jet areas, 3 hot tubs, 1 cold plunge, and 1 sunflower (overhead, cold) shower. There is also a seated and standing area for showers with shampoo provided. Body scrubs are done in this main area, so be aware if you are more self-conscious.

When compared to King Spa, Spa World is smaller and I feel more traditional cultural vibes- like the ornate stone ceiling in the amethyst room. It is peaceful, with 5-6 rooms of varying heat and a cold room. The common space in the center for chilling and napping and reading has a fountain and feels like a nice communal space.

You will put your shoes in lockers near the registers, then you’ll be given clothes for the coed area, and a key to your locker. Inside the locker rooms are towels and selected other amenities.

My favorite was the red clay ball room. The floor is filled with thousands of marble sized balls that heat up. I dug my hands and feet into them and it felt divine - like digging your feet into warm sand. The red clay ball poultice room is a “well-being” room with the effect of acupressure and massage using hot red clay balls as well as yellow jade. Yellow jade is known to increase one’s focus and is excellent in absorbing and breaking down chemicals and toxins.