Most of the United States hot springs are out in the geologically active west, so when we get a chance to go to a hot spring out east, we jump at the chance. Up in the Northern edge of West Virginia, near both Pennsylvania and Maryland, is the small town of Berkeley springs. It’s known as Americas first spa, and the hot springs there was repeatedly visited by George Washington. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Baltimore, where we flew into.
Berkeley springs hot spring is a state park. It’s known as a roman bath, because the bathhouse is built in the roman bathhouse style. The current bathhouse was built in 1815 on the site of the original one built in 1784. It was renovated in 2019 and now features 9 soaking rooms with 750-gallon tubs with water at 104 degrees.
The water comes into the building at 74 degrees at around 1000 gallons per minute and is heated to 104 degrees. The water is high in magnesium and has no sulfur smell. It’s also available in the lobby and in each room, cooled for drinking. The Spring is pretty popular, and reservations are needed. The cost is $25 for half an hour soak. Outside the water flows into a canal that leads to some pools where you can take a cold plunge before the water meets the Potomac River. There are also spa treatments available like massages.
We had a limited time in town, so we didn’t get to try any of the restaurants. Other things to do in the area are hiking at their closest neighboring state park, Cacapon state park. Next time we visit we want to check out the Berkeley castle, a historic castle on a ridge above town that has a lot of history and is reputed to be haunted.
Get more information at https://wvstateparks.com/parks/berkeley-springs-state-park/