The sauna scene: a complete guide to thermal wellness
Greater Milwaukee has quietly become one of the Midwest's most exciting destinations for sauna and thermal wellness.
At least 25 distinct businesses now offer everything from wood-fired Finnish saunas on the Lake Michigan shore to floating sauna boats, infrared studios, historic 1928 steam baths, and Forbes Five-Star hydrotherapy circuits — all within roughly an hour's drive of downtown. The scene has exploded since 2021, driven by founders who returned from Scandinavian trips inspired to recreate Nordic contrast therapy culture on Wisconsin's lakefront. Whether you want a $15 old-school steam in Kenosha or a $400 luxury treatment at Kohler, this guide covers every thermal experience in the region.
The lakefront originals
Milwaukee's sauna renaissance starts at the water's edge, where a handful of pioneering businesses have turned Lake Michigan into the world's largest cold plunge pool.
Hot Spell Sauna is the undisputed flagship. Now located at McKinley Marina (1750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr., Milwaukee), founder Jaime Meyer launched what began as a weekend pop-up at Zócalo Food Park in 2021 after a transformative trip through Sweden and Finland. Today, Hot Spell operates two saunas — a Voyageur box sauna heated by a Kuuma wood-burning stove reaching 200°F and an Almost Heaven cedar barrel sauna with an electric Huum teardrop heater. The real draw is the cold plunge directly into Lake Michigan's crystal-clear waters, accessed via heated rubber mats. Sessions run 75 minutes and follow a guided Nordic contrast therapy cycle. SaunaTimes rated it "one of the best public saunas" in the United States. Social sessions cost $37 per person, with monthly memberships at $66. Reservations required via hotspellsauna.com.
Kiln Milwaukee brought Wisconsin its first floating sauna in winter 2024–25 — a 35-foot Coast Guard– and ADA-compliant pontoon boat docked at Discovery World South Dock. Founded by Wauwatosa native Zoë Lake after visiting Norwegian floating saunas, Kiln features electric and propane stoves, a cold plunge area with de-icers, and a deck firepit. Sessions accommodate up to 10 people at $85 per person for 90 minutes ($75 for students/Discovery World members), with private group bookings at $750 for two hours. The Milwaukee season runs November through April, though launch timing has shifted — check kilnfloatingsauna.com for current availability.
The Hive MKE takes a different approach entirely: a mobile, community-driven wellness collective that stages pop-up sauna and cold plunge events at locations across the metro. Their "Lakefront Sauna Socials" at Whitefish Bay and Bradford Beach pair wood-fired sauna tents with Lake Michigan plunges, live DJs, organic coffee, breathwork sessions, and pancakes. They also partner with YogaSix Milwaukee for "Snow Yoga & Sauna" events at Black Cat Alley. The Hive rents sauna and cold plunge equipment for private events ("Sauna where you wanna!") and sells membership passes for recurring events. Details at hivemke.com.
Heat Haven is the newest entry, launching its first season in winter 2025–26 at Hart Park in Wauwatosa. Co-founded by Jesse Hieb (inspired by Drip Sauna in Asheville), this outdoor "sauna park" features wood-fired barrel saunas reaching 160°F–190°F, tipping-bucket cooling stations, fire pits, and a concession bar partnership with Pour Inc. serving craft mocktails. Special programming includes "Heat Haven After Dark" evening sessions, Sunday Sauna Socials, and movement classes. Saunas are only fired when bookings are confirmed, so reservations via heathaven.co are essential. Ages 12+ welcome with a guardian.
Infrared studios offer private heat therapy
For those who prefer climate-controlled privacy over communal lakefront sweating, the Milwaukee area has a growing cluster of infrared sauna studios spanning Milwaukee County and Waukesha County.
Perspire Sauna Studio in Brookfield (15455 W. Bluemound Rd.) is the area's most polished infrared option — a national franchise locally owned by Jessica and Tom Kurz, who discovered infrared therapy during Jessica's breast cancer treatment. Each private suite offers full-spectrum infrared (near, mid, and far wavelengths), medical-grade red light therapy, chromotherapy, and SnØ cold contrast showers. Smart TVs with Netflix and Hulu, plush towels, and eucalyptus cool-down towels complete the experience. First session is just $20; memberships run $49/month for four sessions or $99/month unlimited. The Kurzes plan to expand to 10 Milwaukee-area locations. Book at perspiresaunastudio.com.
Thrive Sauna (4111 N. Port Washington Rd., Milwaukee) is a small, intimate studio offering a spacious three-person eucalyptus-wood sauna with full-spectrum infrared, built-in red light therapy, chromotherapy, and six selectable wellness programs that automatically adjust wavelength, temperature, and duration. Ultra-low EMF output is confirmed by third-party testing. Sessions run approximately $45 (Groupon deals bring this to ~$31). Book at thrivesauna.com or text 414-212-8888.
HOTWORX (1644 N. Water St., Milwaukee) merges infrared sauna with fitness — their "3D Training" concept puts you through virtually instructed yoga, pilates, barre, cycling, or HIIT workouts inside 125°F infrared rooms seating three. Sessions are either 15 minutes (HIIT) or 30 minutes (isometric). With 24-hour member access, it appeals to those who want heat and exercise in one shot. Basic memberships start at $39/month; drop-ins from $20. Franchise owner Jennifer Lamont plans additional Milwaukee-area locations. Website: hotworx.net.
Viva Wellness (Milwaukee/Brookfield) and MKE MindBody Wellness (Bay View, Milwaukee) both offer clinical, health-focused infrared sauna sessions. Viva's new-client rate is an accessible $25 for one hour (regular $39), while MKE MindBody charges $40 for 60 minutes or $25 for 30 minutes, with five-session packages at $150.
Salt caves, cold plunges, and wellness centers
Several businesses in the region bundle infrared sauna with complementary modalities — salt therapy, cold plunge, cryotherapy, red light, and float tanks — creating mini wellness circuits at accessible price points.
The Salt Spot has locations in Brookfield (17000 W. Capitol Dr.) and downtown Oconomowoc, combining infrared sauna rooms with Himalayan salt caves. The Brookfield location also features a state-of-the-art cold plunge tub (adjustable from 37°F to 104°F with a 20-gallon-per-minute filtration system), a BrainTap guided meditation room, and — unusually — a pet salt therapy room. Both infrared rooms include red light therapy and chromotherapy at no extra charge. Salt cave sessions start at $25; infrared sessions are similarly priced with membership bundles available. Family-owned and wheelchair-accessible. Book at thesaltspotllc.com.
bioworX in New Berlin (15435 W. National Ave.) is the region's most comprehensive recovery center, offering whole-body cryotherapy (chambers reaching -202°F to -256°F) alongside cold plunge, infrared sauna, contrast therapy, red light therapy, compression therapy, a Himalayan salt cave, and even IV drip and NAD+ therapies. Nurse-owned and operated since 2017, it also has a Delafield location. Book via mybioworx.com.
Mood Swing Wellness (5403 N. 118th Court, Milwaukee) specializes in "Fire and Ice" contrast therapy — infrared sauna paired with cold plunge, plus NormaTec compression and red light therapy. Popular with athletes (including UFC fighters and high school wrestling teams), it's one of the few Milwaukee spots laser-focused on hot/cold contrast protocols. Sessions bookable through Fresha; reviews rave about its effectiveness for neuropathy pain relief.
Plunge Pewaukee, connected to Nova Gym in Pewaukee, offers an infrared sauna (165°F, fits three) and cold plunge tub (38°F) for contrast therapy — plus organized winter community plunges through the ice on frozen Pewaukee Lake every morning. Nova Gym members get unlimited sauna and plunge access for $39/month; non-members can drop in for $20. Lake plunges are just $10. Featured on WISN 12 News. Details at plungepewaukee.com.
AWELL (Aesthetically Well) in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward (222 E. Erie St.) is the neighborhood's only combined fitness and wellness center, pairing infrared sauna and cold plunge with personal training, assisted stretching, massage, and medical aesthetics. Available on ClassPass. Book at aestheticallywell.com.
Get Salty and Lit (690 Westfield Way, Pewaukee) and Salt Room Lake Country (also in the Pewaukee/Lake Country area) both combine infrared sauna sessions with halotherapy in salt caves — good options for Waukesha County residents seeking multi-modal wellness without driving into Milwaukee.
Float tanks and sensory deprivation
Float Oasis Spa (12745 W. Capitol Dr., Brookfield) is the area's best option for combining flotation therapy with thermal wellness. Their four state-of-the-art float rooms (tanks imported from the UK) are complemented by a three-person infrared sauna and a large cold plunge pool that fits six people — one of the biggest in the region. A 45-minute sauna-and-plunge session costs $60 solo, $100 for two, or $135 for three. First-time floats are discounted to $50 (code "new"); student rush floats on weekday mornings drop to just $35 cash. Open seven days. Book at floatoasisspa.com.
Float Milwaukee (211 W. Freshwater Way, Walker's Point) is Milwaukee's first dedicated float center, open since 2015. Three float pods and two open float pools, each in private rooms with showers, contain roughly 900 pounds of dissolved Epsom salt. While they don't offer sauna on-site, the experience pairs well with nearby thermal options. Introductory floats are approximately $50 for 60 minutes. Owner Andy Larson sits on the board of the Float Research Collective. Book at floatmilwaukee.com.
Float Doctor in Sheboygan offers a "Trifecta" package combining float therapy, infrared sauna, and zero-gravity massage — founded by Elizabeth Heitzmann, a licensed psychotherapist who integrates these modalities with mental health counseling. Details at floatdr.net.
A 1928 hidden gem and a top-ten B&B
Two of the most distinctive thermal experiences in the region couldn't be more different from each other.
Kenosha Steambaths (3504 60th St., Kenosha) has been in continuous operation since 1928 — nearly a century of traditional steam bathing in one of the last remaining public bathhouses in the Upper Midwest. The no-frills experience includes private sauna rooms for men, women, and children (1.5 hours) and a men's common room seating about 15 with unlimited time. At $15 per person for a private room or $23 for the men's common room (towel and locker included), it's the most affordable thermal experience in the region by a wide margin. No reservations needed — just walk in. Open Monday through Sunday with varying hours. Website: kenoshasteambath.com.
Hidden Serenity Bed & Breakfast & Spa (1876 Shalom Dr., West Bend) is the polar opposite: a luxury adults-only retreat nestled on 40+ acres of hardwood forest adjacent to Shalom Wildlife Sanctuary in Washington County. Voted Top 10 B&Bs in the U.S. by USA Today readers two consecutive years, the property features a full on-site spa with sauna, steam room, hot tub, cold deluge shower, and couples massage rooms — essentially a private thermal circuit. Eight luxury guest rooms include fireplaces and jetted tubs; a three-course gourmet breakfast arrives each morning. The property also has a 1.3-mile wooded hiking trail and lighted pickleball court. Rooms start around $354/night; the spa circuit (steam room → cold deluge → hot tub → sauna → massage) should be booked in advance. Ratings are exceptional: 9.8/10 on Hotels.com, 5/5 on TripAdvisor. Website: hiddenserenity.com.
Resort spas worth the drive from Milwaukee
For those willing to venture 60–90 minutes from downtown, three destination spas offer thermal experiences that rival anything in the Midwest.
Kohler Waters Spa in Kohler, WI (~60 miles north) is Wisconsin's only Forbes Five-Star spa and was named one of the "Best U.S. Day Spas of 2026" by The Zoe Report. Its signature hydrotherapy circuit — a recommended three-cycle sequence of neutral shower → whirlpool → cool plunge pool → alternating between eucalyptus-infused steam room and Himalayan-salt-wall sauna — is complimentary with any booked treatment. The facility also includes a KLAFS infrared sauna, a 36-foot relaxation pool with an eight-foot waterfall, and a spa café. Treatments typically run $150–$400+; overnight stays at The American Club complete the experience. Book at kohlerwisconsin.com.
Aspira Spa at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake (~75 miles north) spans 22,000 square feet with 22 treatment rooms, sauna, indoor and outdoor whirlpools, a Himalayan salt therapy room, Meditation Sanctuary, Vichy showers, chromotherapy, and cascading seven-jet showers. Their Sacred Waters Massage uses actual water from Elkhart Lake, and treatments draw on indigenous healing traditions. The property holds 21+ consecutive AAA Four Diamond awards. Day passes are available; contact 920-876-5843. Website: osthoff.com/aspira-spa.
Avani Spa at The Abbey Resort in Fontana on Lake Geneva features a 35,000-square-foot facility with an adults-only atrium pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam rooms, cool pool, and recently added Himalayan salt rooms and infrared relaxation areas. Women get a dedicated section with their own whirlpool, sauna, and steam room. Day spa access passes run $40–$150 via ResortPass; memberships offer unlimited access. Website: theabbeyresort.com. Nearby, WELL Spa + Salon at Grand Geneva Resort offers a Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice #1 Midwest Resort experience with spa treatments from $175+.
In downtown Milwaukee, WELL Spa + Salon at The Pfister Hotel (424 E. Wisconsin Ave.) provides the city's most prestigious hotel-based spa experience inside the landmark 1893 property, with treatments starting around $130–$150.
Cold water specialists and community groups
Milwaukee's thermal culture extends to dedicated cold-water practitioners. Maverick Performance Training / Cold Water Effect was voted one of the top five places to cold plunge in the USA and won Wisconsin's Best Wellness Center Award in 2023 and 2024. They offer guided cold water immersion sessions, personalized coaching, and group workshops, drawing on over a decade of experience and multiple world records. Website: coldwatereffect.com.
The Milwaukee Cold Water Club, founded by Paul Koepnick (who has logged 1,300+ consecutive days of Lake Michigan dipping), stages community cold plunges at Bradford Beach and brings pop-up sauna tents to events like the annual Polar Bear Plunge. This grassroots group represents the community backbone of Milwaukee's growing thermal culture.
What's notable and what's next
Milwaukee's thermal wellness market is expanding rapidly. The U.S. sauna market is forecast to grow by $150 million over the next three years, and cold plunge tub sales have already hit $350 million nationally. Locally, Perspire Sauna Studio plans 10 Milwaukee-area locations and 20 statewide; HOTWORX is scouting additional sites; and new concepts continue to emerge each winter season.
A few gaps remain worth noting. No Korean spa or jjimjilbang exists in the greater Milwaukee area — the nearest is King Spa & Sauna in Niles, Illinois, about 90 miles south, a popular day trip for Milwaukee residents. Dedicated public steam rooms are also scarce outside of gym settings (Wisconsin Athletic Club locations offer steam and sauna to members) and the historic Kenosha Steambaths. The closest full-scale thermal bathhouse experience is Saunaday in Madison (~80 miles west), which opened with Finnish saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge, Hinoki hot soaking tubs, and private suites starting at $55 for two hours.
For custom or home sauna installation, Chisel and Vine builds indoor and outdoor saunas across Milwaukee, Waukesha, and Ozaukee counties, while WI Sauna Rental (wisaunarental.com) offers pre-built wood-burning saunas delivered to your backyard starting at $7,995. Good Health Saunas maintains a Waukesha showroom for infrared home units with lifetime heater warranties.
Conclusion
Milwaukee's thermal wellness landscape has transformed from a handful of gym steam rooms into a thriving ecosystem that rivals cities many times its size. The through-line connecting Hot Spell's lakefront rituals, Kenosha Steambaths' century of steam, and Kohler's Forbes-starred hydrotherapy circuit is Lake Michigan itself — the cold, clear freshwater body that makes contrast therapy here feel primal rather than manufactured. The most striking development is how community-driven the movement is: The Hive, Heat Haven, Milwaukee Cold Water Club, and Hot Spell all prioritize social connection over solitary wellness, positioning sauna culture as Milwaukee's answer to bar culture. With prices spanning $15 to $400 and experiences ranging from a floating pontoon sauna to a 1928 bathhouse, the only real challenge is choosing where to start sweating.
