Where to Swim Indoors in Winter: Private Indoor Pool Rentals in Cold-Weather Cities

The best place to swim indoors in winter is a private indoor or heated pool you rent by the hour. On Swimply, indoor pool rentals in cold-weather cities like New York, Chicago, Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, Portland, and Toronto start around $48 to $85 per hour for the whole space. That's warm water (often 82°F to 92°F), no lane-sharing, and no stranger's kid cannonballing next to you.

Your other options for "indoor pools near me" are public rec centers, YMCA or gym memberships, and hotel pool day passes. Each one works for someone. This guide breaks down what each costs, who it's best for, and exactly where to find private indoor pools in the coldest cities in the U.S. and Canada.

Where can you swim indoors in winter? The 4 real options

When it's 19°F outside, you've got four ways to get in the water. Here's the honest rundown, cheapest to most private.

1. Public rec center indoor pools

City-run indoor pools are the budget pick. Boston's Evelyn Kirrane Aquatics Center charges about $5 for resident adults, and NYC Parks runs a network of indoor pools open to members. Minneapolis lap-swim passes run as low as $3 a visit.

The catch is scheduling and crowds. Lap swim usually gets squeezed into early-morning or late-evening blocks, and family swim often means a packed shallow end. Water temps also skew cooler, since competition-style pools sit around 77°F to 82°F.

• Best for: solo lap swimmers on a budget who can work around fixed hours
• Not great for: birthday parties, toddlers who need warm water, or anyone who wants the pool to themselves

2. YMCA and gym memberships

A membership gets you year-round access, but you're paying every month whether you swim or not. YMCA adult memberships run around $91 per month in big metros, and Philadelphia's Christian Street YMCA lists $65 per month plus a $99 join fee. Non-member day passes typically land between $10 and $20.

Gym pools are shared, lane-roped, and often booked up by swim teams and aqua classes. Guest passes for friends are usually limited, so hosting a group is tough.

• Best for: people who'll swim two or more times a week all winter
• Not great for: occasional swims, groups, or a one-off winter treat

3. Hotel pool day passes

Here's the spicy truth about hotel day passes. In Chicago, downtown hotel passes run $40 to $55 per adult plus $15 to $25 per kid, and parking often costs more than the pass. In Toronto, hotel pool passes start around $70 to $80 per person. Boston hotel day passes average about $128.

For that price, you get one lounge chair and a towel. You're still sharing the pool with every hotel guest, and the pool's the size of a large hot tub at plenty of city properties. A family of four can easily spend $150 to $250 to swim next to strangers.

• Best for: a solo spa-style afternoon with sauna access
• Not great for: families, groups, or anyone who actually wants to swim laps

4. Private indoor pool rentals by the hour

This is where Swimply flips the math. You rent a host's private indoor or heated pool by the hour, and the whole space is yours. Most pools on the platform run $25 to $100 per hour, with an average around $45. That's the price for the pool, not per person.

Compare that to a hotel pass. Five friends at $50 each is $250 for a shared pool. Two hours in a private indoor pool at $60 per hour is $120 plus a service fee, and nobody else is in the water. Most reservations run two to three hours for groups of five to eight, which fits a birthday, a family swim, or a lap session perfectly.

• Best for: families with little kids, winter birthdays, date nights, swim lessons, and anyone who hates crowds
• Not great for: daily lap swimmers who'd rather pay one flat monthly fee

Private indoor pools near me: what's available in cold-weather cities

Swimply has an Indoor filter and a Heated filter, plus dedicated indoor pool pages for every major city. Here's what's out there right now in the coldest markets, with real listings and real guest reviews. Prices are host-set and can change, so treat these as ballpark starting points.

New York City and New Jersey

Indoor pools in New York start at about $48 per hour. One standout is an indoor pool in a luxury building with a hot tub included, and a steam room, sauna, and cold plunge available for an added fee. Across the river, Newark-area indoor pools also start around $48 per hour.

Chicago

Indoor pools in Chicago cluster in the northwest suburbs. A Long Grove indoor pool stays at 82°F to 85°F and runs about $48 per hour, with a 103°F hot tub you can add from $10 per hour. A second luxury indoor pool nearby lists at $59 per hour with a required $100 heating add-on from September through May. With Chicago's average January high sitting at 31.6°F, that heat is worth it.

Toronto

Indoor pools around Toronto include The King's Swim in King City, an indoor heated pool built for year-round use at about CA$98 per hour. It's kept up to 30°C (86°F), with a sauna add-on and a paid option to crank the water even warmer.

Boston

Indoor pools near Boston include a private indoor family pool in Westwood at about $79 per hour. The host keeps it around 82°F and advertises it for all four seasons.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis might be the best proof that winter swimming works. The Swimhouse is an indoor pool set to 84°F at about $85 per hour, with an outdoor hot tub you can add for $25 per hour. Guest reviews on the Minneapolis indoor pool page say it all:

"Had a wonderful winter swim here, and even enjoyed the hot tub despite very negative temps." (Sarah)

"The room was warm and the water was comfortable... a nice private family swim on the coldest day of winter!" (Polly)

Denver

Indoor pools in Denver include an Indoor Tropical Oasis heated to 87°F to 92°F at about $85 per hour, with an optional seven-person hot tub at 102°F. One guest, Chany, wrote: "We loved the hot tub and sauna! And the pool was so clean!"

Portland and Seattle

The Pacific Northwest has the deepest bench of indoor pools on Swimply. Portland indoor pools start around $55 per hour, including Swim 3 Diamonds, a climate-controlled tropical pool kept at 90°F to 92°F for $75 per hour. The Nature Hideaway pairs a 90°F indoor pool with a cedar sauna for about $80 per hour.

Guest Dina called Swim 3 Diamonds "a great experience for my daughter's birthday, especially in November." Christopher noted "the room and water were well heated, very clean and comfortable." Up the I-5, Seattle indoor pools start as low as $25 per hour.

Philadelphia and Salt Lake City

Philadelphia indoor pools start around $40 per hour. In the Salt Lake City market, a West Jordan host literally named the listing "Come Swim During The Winter!" It's an indoor pool heated to 85°F to 87°F at about $130 per hour, a solid pick for bigger groups after a ski day.

Don't see your city? Browse all indoor pools or every Swimply location. Many cities also have outdoor heated pools that stay open through fall and mild winters.

What "heated" actually means (and how warm is warm enough)

Not every pool that stays open in winter is comfortable in winter. Here's how to read a listing like a pro.

• Swimply's heated standard is 80°F. If a listing says heated and the water is below 80°F, tell the host right away, snap a photo of the thermometer, and contact Customer Care within 24 hours. A refund or credit may be available.
• 78°F to 86°F is the comfort zone. U.S. Masters Swimming says this range is comfortable and safe for moderate exercise. Multi-purpose pools typically sit at 83°F to 86°F, and programs for small children go up to 90°F.
• Lap swimmers want cooler; kids want warmer. If you're training, 80°F to 84°F feels great. For toddlers or a lazy float, look for 86°F and up. The Portland and Denver listings above run 87°F to 92°F for exactly that reason.
• Indoor beats outdoor-heated in deep winter. An outdoor heated pool at 85°F is lovely until you climb out into 20°F air. Indoor pools keep the room warm too, which is why guests keep mentioning "the room was warm" in reviews.
• Unheated pools aren't refundable for being cold. Always check the listing for "Heated Pool" in the features, and message the host if the temperature isn't spelled out.

How to book a warm private swim this winter

1. Filter for Indoor or Heated. Start at the indoor pool search or the heated pool search, then set your city and date.
2. Check the temperature in the listing. Look for a stated number like "kept at 84°F." Vague wording? Message the host before you book.
3. Look for winter add-ons. Hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, and heating upgrades show up as paid or included amenities. Filter by hot tub if that's a must.
4. Book two to three hours. That's the sweet spot for most groups of five to eight. Note that some hosts require heating add-ons or 24 hours' notice to bring the water up to temp.
5. Read the reviews for the word "winter." Guests who swam in January will tell you how warm the room really was.
6. Know the weather policy. Swimply's weather policy covers rain, hail, lightning, and significantly lower-than-expected temperatures. If bad weather interrupts an outdoor swim, message the host right away to reschedule or arrange a make-up.

If you plan to swim often, the Swimply Premium Pass drops service fees to $0 on bookings up to $250 and adds priority support. It pays for itself fast if you're booking a heated pool every couple of weeks.

Why winter swimming is worth the effort

Beyond the fun, there's a real health case for keeping your swim habit through the cold months.

• Low-impact cardio. Harvard Health notes water exercise delivers big heart benefits with very little downside for joints, which is a big deal when icy sidewalks make running risky.
• A mood boost when days are short. Mayo Clinic ties winter mood dips to reduced sunlight and lists regular exercise among the ways to manage them. A warm, bright indoor pool is a much easier sell than a treadmill.
• Kids keep their skills. Swim lessons that stop in September restart from scratch in June. A private heated pool is a calm, warm place for lessons, and many hosts welcome instructors.
• Cleaner air, fewer chemicals in your face. That "chlorine smell" at crowded indoor pools is actually chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with sweat and body oils and irritate eyes and airways. A private pool with a handful of swimmers is a totally different experience.

Winter party and event ideas in a private indoor pool

Indoor pools solve the biggest problem with winter birthdays: there's nowhere to go. Here's how guests are using them.

• Winter birthday pool party. Book two to three hours, bring a cake, and let the kids swim in 86°F water while it snows outside. Check the listing's max guest count and any per-guest fees.
• Family swim day. A private pool means toddlers, grandparents, and nervous swimmers all get the shallow end without dodging lap lanes.
• Paw party. Some hosts welcome dogs. Filter for pet-friendly spaces and confirm with the host before you book, since indoor pools have stricter rules.
• Date night or self-care afternoon. Pair an indoor pool with a hot tub or sauna add-on. The Portland and Denver listings above were built for this.
• Swim training or lessons. Lap-friendly indoor pools like the New York luxury-building listing offer a private lane, so you can train without waiting for a spot.

Looking for something other than a pool? Swimply also lists backyards with fire pits and hot tubs for chilly-evening hangs, plus sport courts for pickleball or basketball. Pools are the main event, but the same hourly booking works for all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find indoor pools near me in winter?

Your options are public rec centers, YMCA or gym pools, hotel day passes, and private indoor pool rentals. For a private, warm swim with no crowds, search Swimply's indoor pool listings and filter by your city.

How much does it cost to rent a private indoor pool for a few hours?

Indoor pools on Swimply in cold-weather cities typically start between $48 and $85 per hour for the whole space, plus a service fee of around 10%. A two-hour swim for a family usually lands between $100 and $200, often less than a hotel day pass for four people.

How warm are indoor pools on Swimply?

Hosts set their own temperatures, but listings marked heated must be at least 80°F. Many indoor pools in cities like Portland, Denver, and Minneapolis run 84°F to 92°F, which is ideal for kids and relaxed swimming.

Can I rent a heated outdoor pool in winter instead?

Yes. Use the Heated filter to find outdoor pools that stay warm through fall and mild winters. For deep-freeze months, an indoor pool is more comfortable since the air is heated too.

What happens if the pool is colder than advertised?

If a heated listing falls below 80°F, message the host immediately, document the temperature, and contact Swimply Customer Care within 24 hours. A refund or credit may be available after review. Unheated pools aren't refundable for cold water, so always check the listing.

Can I host a birthday party at an indoor pool rental?

Absolutely, and it's one of the most popular winter uses. Check the listing's guest limit, any per-guest fees, and house rules on food and decorations, then message the host with your plans.

Skip the crowded lanes this winter

Public pools are cheap but packed, gym memberships lock you in, and hotel day passes charge premium prices for a shared pool. Private indoor pools by the hour give you warm water, your own space, and a price that beats a hotel pass for any group of two or more.

Search indoor pools near you on Swimply, filter for heated water and a hot tub, and book your first warm winter swim. Your winter self will thank you.