Best Saunas in Des Moines, United States
Empeiria Sauna House
Empeiria is a social pop-up sauna run by two Des Moines families: a mobile wood-fired sauna seating 8 to 10 adults at 175-185°F with löyly, plus chilled cold plunge tubs at 40-52°F. It pops up on scheduled dates in the Water Works Park parking lot near the Biergarten, with some dates at Middlebrook Farm in Cumming. Sessions are booked ahead, walk-ins welcome if space allows, and swimwear or athletic clothing is required. Private events can be booked.
WellHaus
WellHaus (Well Haus Spa) is a small sports recovery and wellness spa on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, run by Whitney, who has a background in kinesiology and exercise science. Alongside massage and NeuroKinetic therapy it offers infrared sauna sessions, usually 20 to 45 minutes, plus cold plunge, red light and contrast therapy. All visits are by appointment only, seven days a week.
Crunch Fitness Urbandale
Crunch Fitness Urbandale is a budget gym on Hickman Road with a sauna among its amenities, alongside HydroMassage, tanning, a HIITZone and group classes. Memberships start at $9.99 a month on the Base plan with an annual commitment, and members can bring a friend free at their home club. Open around the clock Tuesday to Thursday, Monday from 5am, Friday until 11pm and weekends 7am to 9pm.
Genesis Health Clubs Hickman
Genesis Health Clubs Hickman is a Platinum-tier fitness club on Hickman Road on the western edge of Des Moines, known for its year-round indoor tennis. Its premium locker rooms have towel service, with a steam room in the men's locker room and a dry sauna in the women's, and a recovery area with HydroMassage chairs. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10:30pm, Friday 5am to 9pm and weekends 7:15am to 8pm. Membership required.
Genesis Health Clubs Merle Hay
Genesis Health Clubs Merle Hay is a Gold-tier fitness club in Haymarket Square off Merle Hay Road in northwest Des Moines. Members get strength and cardio floors, group classes, indoor aquatics, and plush locker rooms with a sauna, tanning and towel service. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10:30pm, Friday 5am to 9pm and weekends 7:15am to 8pm. Membership required.
Genesis Health Clubs Mills Civic
Genesis Health Clubs Mills Civic is a Platinum-tier fitness club on Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. Its recovery amenities include a sauna, steam room and hot tub, with massage services and plush locker rooms with towel service. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 11pm, Friday 5am to 10pm and weekends 7:15am to 6pm. Access is by membership, with a free 3-day pass for newcomers.
Genesis Health Clubs Southridge
Genesis Health Clubs Southridge is a Gold-tier fitness club at Southridge Mall on the south side of Des Moines. Its signature locker rooms have steam rooms and towel service, and the club lists a sauna, hot tub and cold plunge among its recovery amenities, though its new aquatics centre with lap pool, sauna and cold plunge is still announced as coming soon. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10pm, Friday 5am to 8pm and weekends 7am to 6pm. Membership required.
Life Time Des Moines
Life Time Des Moines is a large athletic country club on Hickman Road in Urbandale. Its wellness area has a cedarwood sauna and a eucalyptus steam room, the locker rooms add their own sauna, steam room and whirlpool, and there are indoor and pool deck whirlpools and a LifeSpa. The sauna is open Monday to Thursday 4am to 11pm, Friday 4am to 10pm and weekends 5am to 10pm; the men's sauna closes 2:30 to 3pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Membership required.
Wellmark YMCA
The Wellmark YMCA is the downtown branch of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines on Grand Avenue. Besides its gym, track and the Olympic-size Prairie Meadows Pool in the MidAmerican Energy Company Aquatic Center, members can use a sauna and a steam room. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 9pm, Friday 5am to 8pm, Saturday 7am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm. Membership required; a free 7-day Try the Y pass is offered.
Empeiria Sauna House
Empeiria is a social pop-up sauna run by two Des Moines families: a mobile wood-fired sauna seating 8 to 10 adults at 175-185°F with löyly, plus chilled cold plunge tubs at 40-52°F. It pops up on scheduled dates in the Water Works Park parking lot near the Biergarten, with some dates at Middlebrook Farm in Cumming. Sessions are booked ahead, walk-ins welcome if space allows, and swimwear or athletic clothing is required. Private events can be booked.
WellHaus
WellHaus (Well Haus Spa) is a small sports recovery and wellness spa on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, run by Whitney, who has a background in kinesiology and exercise science. Alongside massage and NeuroKinetic therapy it offers infrared sauna sessions, usually 20 to 45 minutes, plus cold plunge, red light and contrast therapy. All visits are by appointment only, seven days a week.
Crunch Fitness Urbandale
Crunch Fitness Urbandale is a budget gym on Hickman Road with a sauna among its amenities, alongside HydroMassage, tanning, a HIITZone and group classes. Memberships start at $9.99 a month on the Base plan with an annual commitment, and members can bring a friend free at their home club. Open around the clock Tuesday to Thursday, Monday from 5am, Friday until 11pm and weekends 7am to 9pm.
Genesis Health Clubs Hickman
Genesis Health Clubs Hickman is a Platinum-tier fitness club on Hickman Road on the western edge of Des Moines, known for its year-round indoor tennis. Its premium locker rooms have towel service, with a steam room in the men's locker room and a dry sauna in the women's, and a recovery area with HydroMassage chairs. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10:30pm, Friday 5am to 9pm and weekends 7:15am to 8pm. Membership required.
Genesis Health Clubs Merle Hay
Genesis Health Clubs Merle Hay is a Gold-tier fitness club in Haymarket Square off Merle Hay Road in northwest Des Moines. Members get strength and cardio floors, group classes, indoor aquatics, and plush locker rooms with a sauna, tanning and towel service. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10:30pm, Friday 5am to 9pm and weekends 7:15am to 8pm. Membership required.
Genesis Health Clubs Mills Civic
Genesis Health Clubs Mills Civic is a Platinum-tier fitness club on Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. Its recovery amenities include a sauna, steam room and hot tub, with massage services and plush locker rooms with towel service. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 11pm, Friday 5am to 10pm and weekends 7:15am to 6pm. Access is by membership, with a free 3-day pass for newcomers.
Genesis Health Clubs Southridge
Genesis Health Clubs Southridge is a Gold-tier fitness club at Southridge Mall on the south side of Des Moines. Its signature locker rooms have steam rooms and towel service, and the club lists a sauna, hot tub and cold plunge among its recovery amenities, though its new aquatics centre with lap pool, sauna and cold plunge is still announced as coming soon. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10pm, Friday 5am to 8pm and weekends 7am to 6pm. Membership required.
Life Time Des Moines
Life Time Des Moines is a large athletic country club on Hickman Road in Urbandale. Its wellness area has a cedarwood sauna and a eucalyptus steam room, the locker rooms add their own sauna, steam room and whirlpool, and there are indoor and pool deck whirlpools and a LifeSpa. The sauna is open Monday to Thursday 4am to 11pm, Friday 4am to 10pm and weekends 5am to 10pm; the men's sauna closes 2:30 to 3pm on Tuesday and Thursday. Membership required.
Wellmark YMCA
The Wellmark YMCA is the downtown branch of the YMCA of Greater Des Moines on Grand Avenue. Besides its gym, track and the Olympic-size Prairie Meadows Pool in the MidAmerican Energy Company Aquatic Center, members can use a sauna and a steam room. Open Monday to Thursday 5am to 9pm, Friday 5am to 8pm, Saturday 7am to 4pm and Sunday 9am to 4pm. Membership required; a free 7-day Try the Y pass is offered.