15 Public Shower Options Near You

Now, we all know how important it is to be clean. After traveling for so long, eventually the need for a shower will become obvious, and you’ll want to know where you can find yourself a public shower. 

Taking a shower is essential for hygiene, hydration, alertness, boosting your self-confidence and mental health and of course, reduces some horrible smells which can get worse if you’re packed into a camper van! 

However, when you don’t have the luxury of using your own shower at home, you’ll need to know where you can find one – and there are plenty of options out there for you, and we’ve decided to cover them.

This guide will take a look at the places in the public that are near you that you can shower at. They may not all be free, but at least you know what your options are! 

So, grab your soap bar and let’s explore the 15 public shower options near you! 

Showers At Campgrounds

 

Camping is very popular and because of this, you’ll find plenty of campgrounds all over the country. Most campgrounds have their own shower facilities which you can take full advantage of. 

You may only be able to stay one night, but at least in that time, you can get some hot water and suds to get yourself clean and ready for action. 

If you don’t want to stay overnight, you might get lucky if you ask the owners of the campsite if you can use their showers before you continue on your journey. Of course, some owners will be happy with this while others will not. 

You may need to spend money on site before they allow you to use the showers, so be aware of this before you pull up and expect a warm, soapy welcome. 

Showers At Large, Nationwide Gyms 

For anybody that has ever used a gym, you’ll know that almost all the bigger nationwide gyms have a lot of clean and frequently maintained showers and other bathroom facilities. 

The best part of this is that nationwide gyms are… nationwide. You’ll be able to find one of these gyms in almost any area, and you can take advantage of the opportunity to get showered. 

Of course, you can’t exactly use the facilities at a gym without paying for the privilege, and there are a few options for you to do this. Some of these largest gyms allow you to purchase a day pass which gives you several hours of gym use. 

This is great if you’re in desperate need of a shower, but it might not be the most practical. If you’re going to be on the road for a long time, it might make more economic sense to purchase a subscription and pay one flat fee each month. 

This should allow you to use any of their nationwide gyms, and therefore you can use their showers at any time in any area. 

Failing this, you could ask a friend somewhere if they have a spare guest pass for you to use the showers for free, but this might not be sustainable. You may even decide to group purchase a membership and share out the guest passes between you. 

Remember, using gyms for your showering needs also allows you to use other gym facilities, including the workout equipment, maybe a pool or hot tub and their food and drink areas. This might be a gold mine when it comes to things you’ll look forward to on your travels. 

In a hot area? Cool down in the pool! In a cold area? Warm up in the hot tub and the showers! 

Showers At Local Gyms 

If you don’t want to spend so much money on nationwide gyms, you could seek out the smaller, local gyms. They will almost always have their own showers for you to use and some of them will offer a free trial for a day or two. 

Whilst you’re at these smaller gyms, you’ll also be able to take advantage of some of their other facilities. Some more equipped local gyms even have saunas in them, so if you need to thaw yourself through after coming through a particularly cold area – this is certainly a welcome sight! 

Showers On The Beach

Many beaches in the country will have outdoor showers to rinse off sand and seawater – but if you take some soap with you, what’s the harm in having a good scrub down? 

The best part is, beach showers are almost always free to use. So, if you want to get yourself clean for free, you could take full advantage of the shower on offer for you. If you’re not happy about showering when others are around, consider doing it late at night or very early in the morning!

Showers At Truck Stops 

Truck stops are amazing at finding those things that you need during a long journey. Truckers have been taking advantage of the shower facilities for decades. Although they’re not going to be free to use, you can be sure that it’ll be worth the price. 

Most truck stops are frequently cleaned and maintained too, so you can happily shower in peace and in cleanliness. What else do truck stops have? Food! So, after a long day of traveling, why not get yourself fed and watered whilst getting clean and tidy too?

Showers At Boat Marinas 

There are many boat marinas in the country that have their own shower facilities. Depending on the time of day it is and where you are, they might not always be the cleanest place to shower – but when you need a shower, you’ve simply got to use it! 

Showers At Public Swimming Pools 

Typically, public swimming pools will have public showers in order to keep the level of hygiene as high as possible. Take a look around your area and see if you can find one – it’s always worth it, and it’s usually free to use. 

Showers At An AirBnB 

If you would like a night of RnR, then why not pay out for a night at an AirBnB. These can vary in cost, but mostly all of them have shower facilities. 

If you go for the better AirBnB’s, typically at a higher cost, you’ll be able to take advantage of a safe, clean and comfortable room – with all the facilities and items that you’ll need. Sometimes, AirBnB owners will leave some things for you to use like coffee or water – so be sure to take those with you when you leave!

Showers In A Hotel/Motel Room 

If you would like to get much more simple – then why not spring for a hotel room? Typically a hotel is perfectly clean, and you can get much needed rest too! 

Hotels and some motels will also have fresh towels and some snacks for their guests, so you could take some of those with you when you decide to keep going on your journey!

Showers At Hostels 

Hostels are available all over the country for traveling folks who need to take some rest and get the important stuff… like a shower! They’re usually inexpensive, so if you don’t want the costs of a hotel, opt for a hostel! 

Of course, hostels are normally packed with other weary travelers and this could mean that your level of comfort is not quite as good as it could be at a hotel or AirBnB. You may need to share showers at the same time with lots of other people, so bear this in mind before you check yourself in! 

Portable Showers 

You may decide to invest in a portable shower instead. You’ll find plenty of these online for your showering needs, and while they might not clean you as good as a real shower might, they’ll at least stop unwanted smells! 

These work by connecting the hose to your engine and pump system and then pulling up a type of tent. It’s important that you remember to pump the water through first, otherwise you could be washing in some dirty and potentially dangerous water.

 

Forget The Shower – Use A River! 

We’re not suggesting you do this in sub-zero temperatures, but if you can brave the outdoors, then why not jump into a river or a lake with your soap and clean yourself up! The fact is, rivers and lakes are free to use and unless you’re in a protected area, nobody will mind you jumping in and using it as a large bath! 

You can turn this “bath” into a shower system if you take a bucket with you or even decide to purchase a water gun and spray the water from the top of your head downwards. It’s not conventional, but it will work.

Use A Sink As A Bath 

This has been a method for travelers for years. If you can find yourself a sink, maybe in places like public bathrooms, and fill it up with water – get your soap out and use it as a bath. It’s not the most glamorous choice, granted, but it will definitely keep you clean and tidy for the most part. 

Use A Bike Wash

Okay, this sounds crazy – but hear us out! A lot of bike parks and areas where bikers frequent will have an area that has a small shower or hose that is used to clean off the dirt and mud from people’s tires and wheels. 

If you’ve got some soap, then why not turn yourself into a bike for a moment! When the need arises, you’ve just got to adapt and improvise. 

Use Baby Wipes 

In reality, this is a last resort – but you can clean yourself up using baby wipes. This is a classic method for people who have attended festivals and outdoor parties for years, and it makes perfect sense. They come soaked in liquid soap and are soft on the skin – and you don’t need anything else to use them. 

What Else Could I Do?

The other options for traveling folks that know they will need a shower from time to time will depend on two main factors. Cost and connections. 

On your travels, it’s a good idea to make as many friends and connections as possible and stay in touch with old friends from High School or College. You never know when you might need to hit them up to use their bathroom for a few minutes, and maybe even a spare bedroom for the night! 

Costs are the most important. The more money you have, the better options you will have – and this is often easier said than done. Some places will allow you to use their shower facilities or stay on their site if you do some work for them.

It’s not always ideal, but if you do decide that you’ll need to use a shower desperately, sometimes it’s something you’ve just got to do! 

Finally, it’s always a good idea to keep a big bottle of water with you for the times when you’re in dire need of a clean off! Water is of course critical to have, but if you really need a shower, you can use a small portion of it to rinse some soap over you and maintain a basic level of hygiene. 

The Bottom Line 

Eventually on your travels, you’ll need to find yourself a shower and there are lots of options near you that you can take advantage of. We hope some of our ideas will help you out on your journey!