The Calming Side Of California You Only Find When You Leave The Coast
I used to think California peace meant crashing waves and salty breezes, until one weekend I drove east from the chaos of LA traffic into Murrieta and found something better: actual quiet.
The coast gets all the glory, but the real relaxation lives inland, where mineral springs bubble up from ancient rock and palm trees sway without a single influencer in sight.
Out here, you trade boardwalk crowds for desert stillness, foghorns for birdsong, and overpriced fish tacos for farm-fresh everything. If your soul needs a reset, forget the beach—the calming side of California is waiting just past the last freeway exit.
Yes—It’s Open (Where & When)
Murrieta Hot Springs Resort isn’t some rumor or abandoned spa you stumble across on a ghost-town road trip—it’s alive, open, and taking reservations right now.
Tucked into Riverside County about 80 miles from LA and 65 from San Diego, this historic mineral-spring oasis reopened to the public in 2024 after years of renovation buzz. Day passes run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with options including Day, Twilight, and an adults-only Relaxation Terrace pass.
Overnight guests get 24-hour soaking privileges, which means you can shuffle to a hot pool in your robe at 3 a.m. if the mood strikes. Booking happens directly on the resort site, and yes, they actually answer the phone. No more guessing if that wellness retreat is still in business—this one’s real, it’s ready, and it’s ridiculously soothing.
Why This Place Feels Like Inland California Zen
Forget kale smoothies and sound bowls for a second—real zen starts when you walk onto 46 acres of palms, mission-style arches, and a spring-fed lake that looks like it wandered out of an old postcard.
Murrieta Hot Springs has been pulling wellness seekers since the early 1900s, back when “self-care” just meant soaking your bones in mineral water and calling it a day.
The recent revamp kept that mellow, desert-valley vibe intact, no neon Instagram walls or DJ sets required. Out here, the loudest sound is water trickling over stone, and the biggest decision you’ll make is which shaded hammock to claim. It’s the kind of calm that makes you forget your phone exists, which in California might actually qualify as a miracle.
What You’ll Soak In (Pools, Bathhall & Waters)
The resort flaunts around 50 geothermal pools and water features, which sounds excessive until you realize each one has its own temperature, mineral blend, and vibe. Day-pass holders get access to 20-plus pools, cold plunges, guided dips, and a clay “Mud Cove” where you can slather yourself like a spa-obsessed toddler.
Adults craving extra quiet can book the Bathhall, complete with a contrast Kneipp walk, panoramic sauna, and soaking nooks that feel like secret hideaways.
Overnight guests unlock 24-hour access and bonus classes like aqua sound baths, which is exactly what it sounds like—floating in warm water while someone plays singing bowls nearby. It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it works.
Day Pass vs. Overnight: Which to Choose
Day passes give you 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. access for $99 Monday through Thursday or $119 Friday through Sunday and holidays, with Twilight passes starting lower if you roll in after 4 p.m. Locals can snag discounts up to 30 percent on select passes, which is the resort’s way of saying “thanks for not clogging the 15 freeway.”
Overnight stays include hot-spring access for two guests around the clock, plus extra wellness programming that day-trippers don’t get.
If you’re the type who likes to soak, nap, soak again, and maybe soak one more time at sunrise, spring for the room. If you just need a solid afternoon of doing absolutely nothing, the day pass delivers. Either way, you book directly on the resort site—no sketchy third-party nonsense.
Eat, Sip, Repeat (On-Site Dining)
Outside food isn’t allowed, but before you panic, know that the property runs multiple dining spots including Talia Kitchen, Café Azuli, and poolside bars stocked with zero-proof options and “vitality elixirs” that taste way better than they sound. The menus lean California-fresh and produce-forward, which is code for “lots of avocado and nothing deep-fried.”
I tried a grain bowl at Talia that somehow made quinoa interesting, and a turmeric latte that didn’t taste like dirt—minor miracles, both.
Everything’s designed to keep you feeling light, restored, and ready for another lap around the hot pools. You can bring your own water bottle, which is smart because desert air will dehydrate you faster than a forgotten houseplant.
How to Do It Right (Pro Tips)
Book ahead for weekends unless you enjoy disappointment, and bring flip-flops plus a refillable water bottle because the desert doesn’t care about your hydration habits. The most calming circuit goes warm pool, hot pool, cold plunge, rest—repeat until your brain stops making to-do lists.
Note that the property is cashless, so dust off that credit card, and once you leave the resort grounds on a day pass, you can’t come back in. That means no quick taco runs to town, so plan accordingly. Quiet-zone etiquette around adult areas is real—nobody wants to hear your conference call while they’re trying to achieve enlightenment in a mineral bath. Respect the vibe, and the vibe will respect you back.
Plan Your Visit (At-a-Glance)
The resort sits at 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta, California, roughly 80 miles from Los Angeles and 65 from San Diego—close enough for a day trip, far enough to feel like an escape. Day passes run 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., while overnight guests soak whenever they please, pajamas optional.
Free on-site parking comes with overnight stays, families are welcome in designated pools, and adults-only zones exist for those who need a break from splashing toddlers.
Wellness activities get scheduled daily, so check the lineup when you book. Everything—passes, rooms, spa add-ons—gets reserved on the official site. Pack light, show up early, and prepare to leave feeling like a completely different human, the kind who doesn’t honk in traffic anymore.