Holtville Hot Springs are just six miles from the small farming community town Holtville and 45 minutes from Yuma, CA. The springs consist of two small cement pools fed by a geothermal aquifer 2000 miles underground tucked inside a thick canopy of palm trees. Popular with American and Canadian snowbirds the hot springs are free to use and maintained by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in conjunction with volunteers at the Long Term Visitors Area (LTVA) across the street.
When I visited the pools were clean and super hot at around 106° F. They range from 104-110° F on any given day. There’s a water spray shower of sorts (no soap allowed) to acclimate to the heat before getting in the tubs or to just enjoy the hot spray.
Related video: Free Holtville Hot Springs Near Holtville, CA
Free Overnight RV Parking outside of the Day Use area
The small Day Use parking lot is clearly marked with No Overnight Camping signs but there’s a long stretch of space to park alongside the road just outside of the entrance. There is another roadside area to park overnight on the other side of the highway in front of the other main LTVA.
Long Term Visitor Areas (LTVAs) are very nice IMHO
The price to stay in one of three LTVAs in the area (one directly across from the hot springs) is still very inexpensive. From September 15th to April 15th you can stay the full six months for $180, a month for $80, or two weeks for $40. Take note BLM fees are expected to increase in 2025.
There are three LTVAs, one is crappy but the two main large areas very nice. Lots of space, some with a little shade, and you can drive to the back of the area, far enough away from the highway to get a little peace and quiet.
Free BLM dispersed camping area is CRAP!
The nice camp host lady told me about the overnight parking on the other side of the highway, and also that if you drive two miles or so you get to a free BLM dispersed camping area. So I went and checked it out and it was nasty. The road is poor, nowhere to turn around until you drive a mile or so and broken glass EVERYWHERE alongside the road.
When I finally got to where I assumed she was talking about, it was not somewhere I would ever camp. At least I was able to turn around and go back to the area just outside the LTVA.
Video of crappy BLM dispersed camping by Holtville Hot Springs
Take a little drive with me and Tiger from the hot springs to the other side of the highway and the free BLM area a couple of miles down the road. Then be smart and stay in one of the LTVAs! LOL.
There’s excellent cell service in the area
Cell service in this area and at the LTVAs is strong. I could work, watch movies, etc. with my Verizon service and 5G iPhone.