While bathhouses or gay saunas will generally include a whole range of different spaces and facilities – all giving you great options for hooking up with guys and getting your rocks off – we tend to judge the quality of a bathhouse on the core essentials. We’re talking about the steam room and the dry sauna.
Sex-on-premises venues can be fairly basic, but if you’re going to advertise yourself as a bathhouse, then you’re creating an expectation that there’s going to be a decent steam room and dry sauna where we can kick back, have a chat, or just get down to business with whoever is up for some action.
But where are the best bathhouses in the US that are going to deliver the steam and dry sauna experience that you’re looking for? We’ve done the research. If you’re planning some travel expeditions, we’ve got the destinations you should probably consider adding to your itinerary.
Why Find a Gay Bathhouse with Saunas and Steam Rooms?
Steam rooms and dry saunas are the ultimate homosocial spaces – they’ve been a staple of male-on-male connections since the Ancient Greeks and beyond. Communal bathing is a pretty primal thing – if you look at our evolution, we’re pretty much wired to enjoy getting naked with other men and letting it all hang out.
There’s also nothing new about gay saunas – sex-positive spaces designated for guys who want to get off with other guys. It was probably in the 1920s and 1930s that the first gay bathhouses – as we know them today – opened their doors and found an eager clientele.
Beyond the sexual opportunities that bathhouses and saunas offer, there are also health benefits. We all need to find ways to relax and relieve the stress of our day-to-day lives. There’s also a long-held belief that saunas and steam rooms can help to detoxify the body and improve cardiovascular and respiratory health. There’s a lot of upside to getting naked and sweating it all out in a bathhouse.
What Are the Best Bathhouses Near Me in the US with Saunas?
This is not an exhaustive list, and our tireless research continues, but here are some of our favourite bathhouse options across the country.
The Diplomat Club, Grand Rapids, Michigan
The Diplomat Club regularly features in the list of best bathhouses in the US. In terms of facilities, not only does it have a dry sauna but it’s also got a very popular hot tub, which is the perfect way to make new friends.
Club Dallas in Dallas, Texas
Club Dallas is a fully equipped bathhouse – it’s got all the facilities, including a weight room and an outdoor pool. We love the steam room and the sauna at Club Dallas, but the whirlpool really gets our attention. This is how we like to get wet.
JW Marriott Desert Spring Spa, Palm Springs, California
We love the facilities at JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort – it’s got everything you could ask for in terms of steam rooms, saunas and wet areas. What makes the JW Marriott slightly different is that it’s not a men-only space, but there are men-only areas.
Cruising happens, but you might encounter a straight guy – so you need to ensure you’re reading the signals correctly. While there are plenty of gay male-only clothing-optional resorts in Palm Springs, JW provides a great steam and sauna experience when looking for the best gay saunas outside of Los Angeles.
Club Orlando, Orlando, Florida
Club Orlando is a gym and social club – with a fully equipped weight room – but it’s also got a great steam room and dry sauna worth spending some time in.
Entourage Vegas Spa & Health Club, Las Vegas, Nevada
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? If you’re heading to Vegas to get a bit loose, the Entourage should definitely be part of that experience. Hang out in the jacuzzi, swim in the pool, or kick back in the sauna. This is the kind of place where anything goes.
