Where to Find a Sauna Near You
Saunas are more accessible than most people realize — they're just not always in obvious places. Here are the main types of sauna venues and how to find them in your area:
Gym and Fitness Center Saunas
The most widely available option. Major chains with saunas at most or many locations include LA Fitness, YMCA, 24 Hour Fitness, Life Time Fitness, and Equinox. Access is typically included with your membership — making the per-session cost extremely low if you're already paying dues.
Planet Fitness and most budget gym chains do not have saunas. Anytime Fitness is hit or miss by location.
Day Spas and Wellness Centers
Most upscale day spas include sauna access as part of their facility fee, often combined with a steam room and hydrotherapy pool. Expect to pay $30–80 for a day pass without any treatments. Korean spas (jjimjilbang) are a particularly good value — typically $15–35 for all-day access to multiple hot rooms, a cold plunge, and sometimes a full restaurant. Search for "Korean spa near me" or "jjimjilbang near me" to find one in your area.
Bathhouses
Traditional bathhouses — Russian banya, Turkish hammam, Scandinavian-style saunas — are making a comeback in major US cities. These often offer the most authentic high-temperature sauna experience, with professional aufguss steam ceremonies at some venues. Search "banya near me" or "Finnish sauna near me" on Google or Yelp.
Cold Plunge Facilities
Cold plunge-focused studios have emerged in major metro areas, sometimes combined with infrared saunas and contrast therapy protocols. Brands like Plunge, IcePod, and local wellness studios offer this. Search "cold plunge near me" or "contrast therapy near me" on Google Maps.
Hotel and Fitness Resort Saunas
Many upscale hotels allow day passes to their spa or fitness center, which often includes a sauna. Call the front desk and ask about day spa access. Resorts with dedicated spa facilities are especially likely to have high-quality saunas.
How to Search for a Sauna Near You
On Google Maps: type "sauna near me" or "gym with sauna near me." Filter by rating (4+ stars) and read recent reviews specifically mentioning the sauna to confirm it's clean and operational. Cross-reference with the gym's website — many list amenities by location.
On Yelp: search "sauna" in your city. You'll find both gyms and dedicated spa facilities. Filter by "Open Now" during the hours you'd want to visit.
On Google Search: "[your city] gym with sauna" or "Korean spa [your city]" tends to surface well-reviewed options that rank in the area.
What to Look for When Choosing a Sauna
Not all saunas are created equal. Before committing to a gym membership or day pass specifically for the sauna, visit and check: Is the sauna at the right temperature (ask staff or bring a small thermometer)? How clean are the benches and floor? Is there ventilation? Is it wood-lined (cedar, aspen, or spruce) or lined with plastic or composite materials? Wood-lined saunas maintain heat better and feel more authentic. Avoid plastic-lined rooms that claim to be saunas — they rarely reach proper temperatures.