Lava Hot Springs East KOA
While this has not been our first visit to Lava, it is always a welcome visit in our family.
Between the actual KOA and the hot springs, we really do love coming here as often as we can.
The KOA is genuinely nice, they have done a lot of upgrades including adding in new tiny houses, a new area for Rv spaces, as well as upgrades to the bathhouse.
We usually stay up on top of the hill for our visits, but this time we decided it would be worth it to stay in RV spot 11. My oh my it was amazing. Having the river right outside the door was fantastic, Furgus loved it as well. Sadly, I think previous people have fed the ducks (The KOA has signs saying not to) because we had a pair of ducks who kept coming around. They became kind of a nuisance because they would stay underfoot when cooking and, they would lay under the chairs and the camp chef burner/cooktop we have. I was more concerned for their safety above all else.
Our Duck friends
Regardless of where you stay in the KOA campsite, you have direct access to a trail that leads directly to Hot Spring as well as the cute little town it is nestled in. On this trip, we stayed a total of 4 days, 3 nights. We made a point of walking through the town and seeing what was there. We do not have children, and we do not really care for the water park; but if you do have children or just like water parks, they have a big park as well as pools. You can even rent innertubes to go river rafting. We have yet to do that, but hopefully next time!
We stopped in their grocery store in town, and it was nice. They have a small deli and such for those on-the-go cravings as well as a small section with small needs. It has quite a few random stuff you may need such as tape to fix floaties and first aid kits and such. There are a lot of food places to choose from, so whatever you may be craving they probably have it. Small shops and such dot the main road, along with a few bars. There is also a new bar/hangout lounge in town, and it is nestled into the mountain. The trail that leads to it also leads back to the KOA.
We stopped in an ice cream shop called “Sweet Stuff” and it was such a treat! They have traditional flavored ice cream, and the fun part is that they are square scoops! I had 2 scoops of Moose tracks and it was delicious. Chris got a 160z berry smoothie that he enjoyed.
Chris and I love the hot spring, we try and stop by as much as we can when we go up to visit his parents. They have a few different pools, each varying in temperatures. The closer you are to the inlet, the hotter it is. The further the coolest. We tend to stay in the 2 hottest, simply because the cooler ones are usually full, but also because we really love soaking up to our necks. Chris loves going under the water, I have gone a few times but choose to stay above. Just remember to drink plenty of water. You will be sweating a lot and not realizing it. We feel it is best to go in the winter when the snow is still on the ground. It is a genuinely nice soak, and the cold air makes giant steam clouds that cover the entire area. Most people enjoy it better during this time, but Chris and I go even in the summer. We simply increase our water intake.
Overall, I say we had a wonderful time, and look forward to going back. We love it here, and we hope that if you visit that you will too.
The Whittens
You can find out more about the Lava Hot Springs East KOA Here.
Have you been to Lava Hot Springs?
Follow us for more adventures and reviews!
We stream weekly on twitch, so follow the links below! We are active on Instagram, Twitter, and FB.
