MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta Hot Springs Resort and Glen Ivy Hot Springs are the nation's top-two geothermal wellness destinations, according to the latest 2026 USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards unveiled this month.
The annual awards recognize outstanding travel destinations and experiences across the country through a combination of nominations and public voting.
While Glen Ivy earned the No. 2 ranking in the Best Hot Springs category, Murrieta Hot Springs took the No. 1 spot and also claimed the nation's top ranking for Best Spa Resort.
“To be recognized again by USA TODAY readers means a great deal, because it reflects what our guests feel firsthand," said Jesse Hensle, vice president of marketing at Murrieta Hot Springs Resort.
In the 2025 USA TODAY 10Best, Murrieta Hot Springs was ranked No. 3 Best Hot Springs and No. 2 Best Spa Resort. Glen Ivy was No. 2 Best Hot Springs.
Set across 46 acres at 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, Murrieta Hot Springs Resort offers a modern geothermal wellness experience rooted in one of California's most historic hot springs destinations.
The property was originally developed in 1902 as a health retreat known as the Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. It attracted locals, travelers and celebrities to its restorative waters before falling into disrepair in the 1980s.
The property came back to life in 1995 when Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa converted it into a Christian conference retreat center and Bible College Campus.
But in 2022, the property was sold for $50 million to real estate investment and development firm Olympus Real Estate Group, which also owns The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. The firm opened the newly renovated Murrieta Hot Springs Resort in early 2024.
Today, guests can enjoy more than 50 geothermal pools, cold plunges, and other bathing experiences, while the historic bathhouse features hydrotherapy circuits, a steam room, and a panoramic sauna designed to encourage relaxation and restoration.
Visitors to Murrieta Hot Springs Resort can stay for a few hours with a day pass, lodge overnight, or extend their retreat.
The history of Glen Ivy Hot Springs is just as rich. During the latter half of the 19th century the first country inn made of adobe was built at the hot springs site, now located at 25000 Glen Ivy Road, Temescal Valley. The cost of a swim — with bathing suit and towel included — was just 25 cents.
A full-fledged hotel and bathhouse were constructed in the first half of the 20th century, and in the 1970s the property was expanded into the resort it is today, although it has since changed hands and undergone additional restorations.
The Glen Ivy experience includes mineral baths, spa treatments, mud bathes, cuisine, activities and workshops.
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