A steam room is a heated, high-humidity amenity designed for post-workout recovery and relaxation. The facility uses a steam generator to inject water vapor into a sealed room, creating a consistently moist environment. This type of heat is popular for its perceived benefits in promoting circulation and muscle recovery following intense physical activity. Finding a gym that offers this specific amenity requires understanding which national chains invest in these facilities and how to access them locally.
National Gym Chains Known for Steam Rooms
The availability of a steam room generally correlates with a gym chain’s membership price point. Premium or mid-to-high-tier chains are the most likely to include steam rooms as a standard feature. Life Time, often positioned as an athletic country club, consistently provides high-quality steam rooms. Similarly, luxury chains like Equinox list both saunas and steam rooms as amenities.
For mid-range chains, steam room inclusion is variable and depends on the specific branch. National brands such as 24 Hour Fitness and Gold’s Gym may offer steam rooms, but they are typically found in larger, newly constructed, or “Signature” locations. EōS Fitness and Crunch Fitness are other examples where the amenity is advertised, requiring members to verify its presence at their local club.
Conversely, budget-focused chains are much less likely to feature this amenity due to the high costs associated with installation, maintenance, and liability. Planet Fitness, for instance, maintains a model of low membership fees by generally excluding premium features like steam rooms and saunas. Other budget brands like Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness also generally do not include these wet-area amenities.
Verifying Local Availability and Membership Access
Even when a gym chain is known for offering steam rooms, local availability can differ significantly. The first step is to use the gym’s online club finder tool, which often lists amenities for each branch. If the website is not definitive, a direct call to the local facility’s front desk is the most reliable way to confirm the presence of a steam room.
Once a steam room is confirmed, access is often tied to the member’s specific contract tier. Many national chains implement a tiered membership structure where basic, low-cost plans exclude premium features. For example, at 24 Hour Fitness, steam room access typically requires a Gold or Platinum membership, while a lower-tier Silver membership will not include it.
These higher-level memberships usually cost more but unlock a suite of extra amenities, such as multi-club access, guest privileges, and recovery facilities like steam rooms. It is important to confirm the cost structure and the specific amenities included in the premium tier, as the price difference can be significant. The amenity may only be accessible if the member purchases the upgraded contract.
Understanding the Difference Between Steam Rooms and Saunas
While often grouped together as heat-based recovery options, steam rooms and saunas use fundamentally different methods to generate heat. A steam room, also known as a Turkish bath, operates on wet heat. It typically maintains a lower air temperature, usually ranging from 110°F to 120°F, but utilizes nearly 100% relative humidity. This high moisture content causes the air to feel much hotter, leading to gentle perspiration.
In contrast, a traditional sauna uses dry heat generated by heating rocks, often with a wood-lined interior. Saunas operate at much higher temperatures, generally between 150°F and 190°F, but maintain a low humidity level, usually between 10% and 20%. The dry environment allows the body to tolerate the higher temperature, promoting a more profuse sweat. The core difference lies in the sensation: the sauna is intensely hot and dry, while the steam room is moderately hot and saturated with moisture.