Evans Plunge Mineral Springs

The Honest Take

Evans Plunge is unlike anything else within a day’s drive of Denver. Built in 1890 over a natural warm spring that pumps 5,000 gallons of 87°F mineral water per minute, it’s one of the oldest continuously operating mineral springs pools in the United States. The indoor pool building has a certain faded grandeur to it — think late 19th century resort infrastructure that has been loved hard for 130 years.

One honest note upfront: 87°F is warm, not hot. If you’re coming expecting the 104°F therapeutic soak of Strawberry Park or Iron Mountain, Evans Plunge is a different experience. Think of it as a large, naturally heated indoor swimming pool with real mineral water and genuine history. It’s the perfect summer destination for families and the right stop on a Black Hills road trip.

The surrounding town of Hot Springs is charming and worth exploring in its own right — a genuine late-1800s sandstone downtown that hasn’t been overdeveloped. Combine Evans Plunge with Mammoth Site (a working paleontological dig site right in town) and Wind Cave National Park (30 minutes north) and you have one of the best underrated road trip destinations within range of Denver.

The Pool

One large indoor pool fed directly by the natural warm springs — no heating, no cooling, no chemicals beyond minimal treatment. The 87°F water is constant year-round regardless of outside temperature, which makes it genuinely magical in winter when you walk from a South Dakota February into warm mineral water.

Waterslides and a current channel run seasonally (summer). In winter the pool runs quieter and more like a genuine mineral soak.

Temperature note: 87°F is comfortable for swimming and lingering, but it won’t give you the muscle-relaxing heat therapy of higher-temperature springs. It’s the right temperature for kids, for swimming laps, and for long sessions without overheating.

Getting There

North on I-25 from Denver through Cheyenne, Wyoming, then east on I-90 to South Dakota. Take SD-79 south from Rapid City to Hot Springs. The drive through the southern Black Hills on SD-79 is one of the most underrated scenic drives in the Great Plains.

• Distance: ~370 miles
• Drive time: 5.5 hours in good conditions
• Road: Interstate all the way to Hot Springs; no mountain passes, no dirt roads
• Parking: Free lot at the facility

Worth knowing: The Black Hills trip pairs naturally with Mount Rushmore, Custer State Park (bison herds roaming free alongside the road), Badlands National Park, and Deadwood. This is a 3–4 day trip from Denver, not a day trip.

Seasonal Conditions

Season	Crowds	Notes
Summer	High	Peak Black Hills tourist season; families with kids
Fall	Low	Best time. Crowds thin dramatically after Labor Day.
Winter	Very Low	Uncrowded, cozy, and genuinely magical in cold weather.
Spring	Low	Good shoulder season; Custer State Park is beautiful.

Crowd Reality

Evans Plunge draws a mix of local South Dakota families and tourists on Black Hills road trips. Summer weekends can feel busy. Fall and winter visits are significantly quieter. The facility is large enough that crowding rarely feels overwhelming.

What to Bring

• Swimsuit — required
• Towel — rentals available, bring your own to be safe
• Cash or card — both accepted
• A sense of history — you’re swimming in the same water that people have been soaking in since Grover Cleveland was president

Is It Worth the Drive?

Not as a standalone hot springs trip — the 5.5-hour drive for an 87°F indoor pool doesn’t compete with Pagosa Springs or Strawberry Park on pure soaking experience. But as part of a Black Hills road trip from Denver, Evans Plunge is an excellent anchor. The combination of the historic pool, the charming town of Hot Springs, Custer State Park, Wind Cave, and the Badlands makes this one of the best 3-day road trips reachable from Denver.

Best for: Families with kids who want a swimming-style experience, Black Hills road trippers, history enthusiasts, anyone who wants something genuinely different from the Colorado springs.

Skip it if: You’re specifically seeking high-temperature therapeutic soaking — the 87°F water is wonderful but it’s not what you come to Colorado’s hot springs for.