Avila Hot Springs

What to expect

Avila Hot Springs is an old-school hot springs park in a flat hollow in Gragg Canyon, about 2 miles inland from the beach at Avila Beach and roughly 8 miles south of San Luis Obispo. It is not a spa resort. Think of a community pool with a hot tub fed by a real mineral well, a snack-and-picnic kind of place where families spend an afternoon and locals come for a morning soak.

There are two pools:

• The swimming pool. A large outdoor pool, 50 by 100 feet, filled with fresh water and heated by a heat exchanger that draws warmth from the spring. It has double water slides, which run on weekends from noon to 5 p.m., and an ADA pool lift.
• The hot mineral pool. A 20 by 20 foot soaking pool, about 2 feet deep. The mineral water comes out of the well at roughly 130 to 135°F54 to 57°C and is mixed with fresh water to bring it down to about 104°F40°C.

The water is sodium bicarbonate water, and a 1968 survey noted a strong hydrogen sulfide smell. You may notice a faint sulfur scent around the soaking pool.

Beyond the pools, the property has a small campground, group picnic and barbecue areas, massage therapy and a bike rental shop. It is right next to the Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail, a paved path that runs toward Avila Beach.

History

The well that feeds the pools was never meant to be a hot spring. In 1907 or 1908 (sources differ), a drilling crew looking for oil on Herman Budan’s ranch hit hot water and gas instead. The official geographic name, Ontario Hot Springs, comes from the Ontario silver mine in Utah, which Budan helped discover with George Hearst.

By around 1917, Edith Budan was running the site as a health resort with bathhouse tubs and cabins, and it drew visitors heading up the coast to Hearst Castle. The property changed hands several times after the 1950s, went through names like Hawaiian Hot Springs and Hidden Valley Hot Springs, and has been Avila Hot Springs, with an RV park attached, since around 1979. In 1992 the federal Board on Geographic Names turned down a request to rename the spring itself to Avila Hot Springs, so the old name still appears on official maps.

Getting there

Avila Hot Springs is at 250 Avila Beach Drive, San Luis Obispo, just off U.S. Route 101.

• From San Luis Obispo: Drive south on US-101 for about 8 miles and take the Avila Beach Drive exit. Head west toward Avila Beach. The entrance is a short way along Avila Beach Drive.
• From Pismo Beach or the south: Drive north on US-101 to the Avila Beach Drive exit, then go west.

The road is paved and the parking lot is next to the entrance, so you walk straight from the car to the pools. If you are coming by bike, the Bob Jones Trail passes the property and links it with Avila Beach.

When to go

The Central Coast climate is mild all year, so Avila Hot Springs works in any season.

• Summer brings families, the busiest weekends and the slides at full use. Coastal fog is common in the morning, which actually makes the hot pool more pleasant.
• Fall and spring are often the sunniest times on this stretch of coast and are a good balance of weather and crowds.
• Winter is cool and sometimes rainy. The 104°F40°C pool feels best on a cold evening, and weekdays are quiet.

For a calmer soak, come on a weekday morning with the $18 morning pass, or after 5 p.m. with the $18 Sundowner pass. Weekend afternoons, when the slides are running, are the loudest time.

Prices and booking

Day passes include both the swimming pool and the hot mineral pool:

• Adult (16 and over): $29
• Child (15 and under): $26
• Senior (55 and over): $26
• Morning pass (8 a.m. to noon): $18
• Sundowner pass (after 5 p.m. daily): $18
• Spectator (not swimming): $10
• 15-visit punch pass: $295
• Monthly morning pass: $280

All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. The resort lists hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and warns that they can change by season, so call (805) 595-2359 before a special trip.

Massage is booked separately through MassageBook or at (805) 704-1999, and a massage includes a half-hour mineral pool soak and a day at the hot springs.

House rules that catch people out:

• Children under 8 may not use the hot mineral pool.
• Children under 15 must be with an adult at all times.
• Kids must be at least 45 inches tall for the slides.
• Babies and toddlers need swim diapers with rubber pants.

Where to stay nearby

On site: The campground has tent and RV sites at $60 a night for two people and one tent or RV. Each extra person is $20 a night (up to six people), each extra car is $10, and children 2 and under are free. RVs must be 25 feet or shorter. There is a two-week maximum stay, a $15 non-refundable booking fee and a 72-hour cancellation policy. Dogs are not allowed in the campsites, and wood fires and charcoal grills are banned in the overflow tent area. Staying the night includes pool access during opening hours. Book through RezExpert (business code 303845) or by phone.

The resort also rents a few cabins by the month only, so they are not an option for a short trip.

Avila Beach has beachfront hotels and inns about 2 miles away, and Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo have a wide range of motels and hotels within a 15-minute drive.

Safety notes

• Hot water: At about 104°F40°C, the mineral pool is at the upper end of what most people find comfortable. Limit soaks to short sessions, drink water, and get out if you feel lightheaded.
• Kids: Small children overheat quickly in hot water, which is why under-8s are kept out of the mineral pool. Keep a close eye on kids in the large pool too, especially on busy weekends.
• Slippery decks: Wet pool decks and slide stairs are slick. Walk, do not run.
• Sun: Coastal fog can burn off fast. Wear sunscreen in the large pool, but rinse it off before using the soaking pool.

Nearby stops worth adding

The Bob Jones City to the Sea Trail is an easy walk or bike ride from the hot springs to Avila Beach, where you can eat on the waterfront and walk out on the pier. Port San Luis Harbor, just past Avila Beach, has fish markets and boats. San Luis Obispo, a 15-minute drive north, has a lively downtown and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.