Data report · Updated July 15, 2026
Swimming Holes in America: 2026 Statistics
The United States has at least 851 documented natural swimming holes across 50 states — and 75% of those with a known fee policy are free to swim in. These figures are generated directly from the Secret Swimming Holes location database and recomputed with every update.
Key findings
- The United States has at least 851 documented natural swimming holes across 50 states, based on the Secret Swimming Holes directory (dataset updated July 15, 2026).
- 75% of U.S. swimming holes with known fee status are free to access (474 of 632 locations).
- Virginia leads the nation with 55 documented swimming holes, followed by New York (53) and Pennsylvania (53).
- River spots are the most common kind of American swimming hole (225 locations, 26% of the total), ahead of creek (174) and waterfall (137).
- 33 of the documented locations are natural hot springs you can soak or swim in.
- 465 locations (55%) are mapped with precise coordinates; the rest are documented to the nearest town or access road.
Citing these figures? Please attribute “Secret Swimming Holes (2026)” and link to this page. Every number is reproducible from the location pages in the directory.
Swimming holes by state — top 10
| Rank | State | Documented locations | Free to access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | 55 | 38 (69%) |
| 2 | New York | 53 | 32 (60%) |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 53 | 42 (79%) |
| 4 | California | 45 | 16 (36%) |
| 5 | Vermont | 45 | 28 (62%) |
| 6 | Tennessee | 38 | 26 (68%) |
| 7 | North Carolina | 36 | 21 (58%) |
| 8 | Oregon | 36 | 21 (58%) |
| 9 | Florida | 35 | 10 (29%) |
| 10 | Arkansas | 34 | 21 (62%) |
Coverage spans 50 states. Browse the full breakdown on the states directory.
What kind of water Americans swim in
Fees: most swimming holes cost nothing
Of the 632 locations with a confirmed fee policy, 474 (75%) are free and 158 (25%) charge an entrance, day-use, or parking fee. Fee status is unconfirmed for 219 locations — always check before you go. See free places to swim for the no-cost picks.
Frequently asked questions
How many swimming holes are there in the United States?
There are at least 851 documented natural swimming holes in the United States across 50 states, according to the Secret Swimming Holes directory (updated July 15, 2026). The true number is higher — this figure counts verified, publicly documented spots.
Which state has the most swimming holes?
Virginia has the most documented swimming holes with 55 locations, followed by New York (53) and Pennsylvania (53).
Are most swimming holes free?
Yes. 75% of U.S. swimming holes with known fee status are free to access (474 of 632). Paid locations are usually state parks or managed recreation areas charging day-use or parking fees.
What is the most common type of swimming hole?
River swimming spots are the most common in the U.S. (225 documented locations), followed by creek and waterfall spots.
Where does this data come from?
Figures are generated directly from the Secret Swimming Holes location database — 851 entries compiled from land-management records, USGS geographic data, and community-verified local knowledge, normalized on July 15, 2026. Each location has its own detail page with sources.
Methodology
Statistics are computed programmatically from the Secret Swimming Holes location database — 851 entries compiled from land-management records, USGS geographic data, and community-verified local knowledge, most recently normalized on July 15, 2026. Water types are grouped into a canonical taxonomy (a “Creek/Falls” listing counts once, under its primary type). Fee percentages exclude locations whose fee status is unconfirmed. Each location in the dataset has a public detail page; spot-check any figure via the full directory.