USA TODAY 10Best Hot Springs Awards Analysis: Voting Trends and Winner Characteristics

The USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards have become one of the most visible recognitions in the travel industry. For travelers, appearing on a 10Best list serves as a booking signal. For destinations, the awards offer national visibility and third-party validation.

This analysis examines how the program works, what characteristics recent winners appear to share, and what those trends suggest about the future of the hot springs resort and wellness resort industries. Rather than ranking destinations ourselves, this article evaluates the characteristics that repeatedly emerge among recognized properties.

How the USA Today 10Best Awards Work

Within the health and fitness category, the awards recognize:

● Best Hot Springs

● Best Gym

● Best Wellness Retreat Center

● Best Spa Resort

● Best Meditation Center

● Best Spa Day

● Best Yoga Retreat Center

In this analysis, we will focus on the Best Hot Springs category.

USA Today Best10 Readers’ Choice Awards Over the Years

Rather than focusing on a single year’s winners, reviewing multiple years provided a better understanding of the broader industry patterns.

What Do USA Today Best10 Award Winners Have In Common?

Many people may be interested in what separates award-winning destinations from a standard geothermal pool or day-use bathing facility. There are several characteristics that tend to appear repeatedly among winners.

Past USA Today 10Best Hot Spring Award Winners

#1 Authentic and historic water sources remain central 

● Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is one of the only local resorts that offers 100% natural geothermal mineral water.

● The Springs Resort provides naturally flowing water from its Mother Spring, which contains 13 therapeutic minerals. Its water source was discovered and named by the Southern Ute tribe.

● The Warm Springs Pools at the Omni Homestead Resort water source may have been used up to 9,000 years ago with the first survey of land done in the 1700s before the first hotel was built in 1776.

● Berkeley Springs State Park water source has been used since colonial times.

#2 Winners offer more than one way to soak

● Murrieta Hot Springs Resort offers 24-hour unlimited soaking access to all 49+ pools for overnight guests in addition to day passes.

● The Springs Resort has 50+ geothermal pools, more natural hot springs pools than any other single resort property in North America.

● The Warm Springs Pools at the Omni Homestead Resort offers different soaking sessions including family soaking time, adult co-ed soaking, adult soaking, as well as sound baths and an Omni Signature Experience.

● Berkeley Springs State Park provides its mineral water at its Old Roman Bath House as well as its public access springs.

#3 Programming turns bathing into wellness tourism

● Murrieta Hot Springs Resort provides a dedicated naturopathic Medical Director, Dr. Marcus Coplin, who oversees wellness programming.

● The Springs Resort offers spa services, structured wellness programming, sleep wellness programming.

● The Warm Springs Pools at the Omni Homestead Resort offers a sound meditation bath in addition to standard soaking. At the resort, guests can also enjoy a spa, golf, and more.

● Berkeley Springs State Park also includes a spa and standard swimming area for guests.

#4 Overnight accommodations allow for a multi-day wellness retreat.

● Murrieta Hot Springs Resort is the only natural geothermal hot springs resort between Los Angeles and San Diego offering overnight accommodations. The resort offers 150+ fully renovated guest rooms and suites in historic Spanish and California Mission-style buildings, including Hillside Suites with private pool access.

● The Springs Resort offers 24-hour unlimited access to all 50+ geothermal pools for overnight guests.

● The Warm Springs Pools at the Omni Homestead Resort includes resort-style accommodations for overnight guests.

● Berkeley Springs State Park provides camping options for guests.

In addition to these similarities, the past winners also all offer overnight accommodations for guests and have all appeared on the USA Today Best10 Hot Springs list for multiple years.

Case Study: A Look At This Year’s Winner

For travelers weighing what a visit includes against its cost, a fuller value breakdown can help set expectations before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How are the USA Today 10Best Hot Springs winners selected?  

USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards use a two-step process. First, travel experts and editors nominate finalists. Readers then vote online during the official voting period to determine the final rankings.

Why do all the past winners provide overnight accommodations? 

Many award-winning destinations are designed as complete wellness experiences rather than day-use attractions. Overnight accommodations allow guests to enjoy evening and morning soaking, participate in wellness programming, and spend more time experiencing the geothermal pools, making an overnight wellness retreat more appealing for many travelers.

Why do travelers use the USA TODAY 10Best awards when planning a wellness trip?

Because the awards combine expert nominations with public voting, many travelers use them as one factor when comparing the best hot springs, best wellness resorts, and best hot springs wellness destinations across the United States. The rankings can be a helpful starting point, but travelers should also consider factors such as water source, accommodations, wellness offerings, and overall travel goals when making a travel decision.

Who won the USA TODAY 10Best Hot Spring award in 2026? 

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort was the winner of the 2026 award. To book a visit to Murrieta Hot Springs Resort, visit: www.murrieta-hotsprings.com/springs/day-passes/