If you exercise immediately before going to work in the mornings or you often workout before meeting up with your friends, having a shower available in the gym is handy. You can freshen up at the gym right after your workout without needing to return home to shower.
I called up a range of gym franchises across America to ask about their shower facilities, and I have collated it all into one article so that you can easily spot which gyms offer shower rooms.
The best gyms with showers are:
- LA Fitness
- YMCA
- Equinox
- Planet Fitness
- Gold's Gym
- World Gym
- GoodLife Fitness
- Life Time Fitness
- Anytime Fitness
- 24 Hour Fitness
- Onelife Fitness
- Crunch Fitness
- YouFit
- Workout Anytime
- Blink Fitness
- Snap Fitness
- F45
- Fit4Less
In this article, I’m going to run through the best gyms with showers, the main criteria that you should consider when joining one of these gyms, and the basic etiquette that you should adopt when using gym showers. I’ll also cover the shower essentials that you should pack into your gym bag.
Table of Contents
Gyms With Showers: 6 Criteria
The top six criteria to consider when you’re joining one of the gyms with showers are:
- Toiletries (Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap)
- Cleanliness
- Privacy
- Towels Included
- Crowdedness
- Security
1. Toiletries (Shampoo, Conditioner, Soap)
Some gyms provide you with free toiletries when using the shower facilities as part of your existing membership price so that you don’t have to bring your own. This can be beneficial in helping you save money since you don’t have to buy your own travel-sized products.
2. Cleanliness
Choosing a gym with clean and tidy shower facilities is important. When you finish your workout and you’re freshening yourself up, you don’t want to be faced with an unclean shower that is full of dirt, hair, and germs!
3. Privacy
For obvious reasons, choosing a gym with private shower facilities is desirable. Ideally, the gym should have individual shower cubicles with lockable doors so that you feel safe and secure when you’re washing up after your workouts.
4. Towels Included
Some gyms include clean towels for those who want to use the shower facilities. However, this is not something that every gym with showers offers.
5. Crowdedness
The last thing you want after a tough workout is to wait for one of the showers to become free.
Choosing a gym with a large locker room that always has plenty of free shower cubicles will make your life much easier when you’re freshening up at the gym.
6. Security
Ideally, you want somewhere to store your belongings while you’re working out and while you’re showering so you don’t have to leave your gym bag too close to the shower stall. Most gyms now have secure locker rooms where you can keep your gym bag and phone in a locker that uses a pin code or key pad.
Best Gyms With Showers
1. LA Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – Yes, soap dispensers
- Busy – No
LA Fitness has private showers and locker rooms that are clean and well-maintained. There are spacious locker rooms, but if you want to store your belongings in a locker while you shower, you’ll need to bring your own padlock. You aren’t allowed to store your belongings in the lockers overnight.
Check out our complete LA Fitness review to learn more.
2. YMCA
- Private Showers – No
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
Unlike the other major gym franchises, the YMCA does not have private shower cubicles. Most locations have a basic shower and locker room set up, and no clubs offer towels or toiletries to gym members.
Check out our complete YMCA review to learn more.
3. Equinox
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – No
Equinox has high-end, luxury shower rooms that are clean and tidy. The private shower stalls have free soap and shampoo for members to use as well as free towels.
Check out our complete Equinox review to learn more.
4. Planet Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
The shower and locker room facilities at Planet Fitness are large and well-maintained. There are private shower stalls for you to enjoy a relaxing shower after your workout. The shower curtains are full length, and there are separate showering facilities for men and women.
There are no towels or toiletries included, so you will need to bring your own. The lockers can’t be used long-term, so you won’t be able to leave your belongings in there overnight.
Check out our complete Planet Fitness review to learn more.
5. Gold's Gym
- Private Showers – Yes, but lack of privacy is a common complaint
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – No
Gold’s Gym has showers and locker rooms, but many members say that they aren’t as nice as those found in other gym franchises.
They are still usable, and they’re decent if you want a quick freshen-up after your workout. But the main complaint is the lack of privacy. Many members say that the shower curtains are flimsy and too short to provide enough privacy when they are showering.
Check out our complete Gold’s Gym review to learn more.
6. World Gym
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
World Gym has private shower stalls and mid-sized locker rooms that are available for daily use only. You will need to bring all of your own toiletries and a fresh towel if you want to use the showers after your workouts as none are provided for you.
Check out our complete World Gym review to learn more.
7. GoodLife Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes, on certain membership plans
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – Yes, busiest after the aqua class between 10 and 11 am
GoodLife Fitness has spacious shower stalls that are kept clean and tidy. Most locations have hairdryers available for you to use in the locker rooms.
The shower facilities can get busy, especially after certain classes. When we rang some GoodLife Fitness clubs, they specified that the showers tended to be busiest between 10 and 11 am after the aqua class.
Only members on the corporate memberships are offered free towels. Members on any other plan must pay an extra $10 a month to use the towel service. There are lockers that you can use, but only while you’re working out.
Check out our complete GoodLife Fitness review to learn more.
8. Life Time Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – Yes, with extra perks
- Busy – No
Life Time Fitness has luxurious showers that provide a high-end experience. They are spacious and clean, so you can comfortably shower after your workouts. In most locations, you can use your gym membership card to store your belongings securely in one of the lockers while you wash. In other locations, you will need to enter a four-digit code using a touchpad.
Life Time Fitness provides free towels and toiletries. Every club also offers extra perks, such as deodorant, tampons, razors, Qtips, hairspray, and hairdryers to all members, so you don’t need to bring anything with you at all.
Check out our complete Life Time Fitness review to learn more.
9. Anytime Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
All Anytime Fitness locations have private showers and bathrooms that you can access at all hours of the day or night. However, not all of them have lockers available, so you won’t be able to fully secure your belongings while you wash.
Although some Anytime Fitness clubs offer toiletries, such as soaps and shampoo, most don’t. Members are encouraged to bring their own towels, too.
Check out our complete Anytime Fitness review to learn more.
10. 24 Hour Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
The shower facilities at 24 Hour Fitness can be used at any time of the day. They are tidy, clean, and private, and they don’t get too busy, especially during the nighttime hours.
There is no towel service and no free toiletries. If you want to use the lockers, you can do so while you shower, but you’re not allowed to leave your belongings in there overnight.
Check out our complete 24 Hour Fitness review to learn more.
11. Onelife Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – No
The private showers at Onelife Fitness are spacious, modern, and well-maintained. Towels are offered to members who are on the Premium membership plan but not to those who are on the Basic plan.
Every location provides toiletries to its members. The shampoo dispenser provides 2-in-1 shampoo and body wash, which might not be suitable for some people. You might prefer to bring your own separate shampoo and soap.
Check out our full Onelife Fitness review to learn more.
12. Crunch Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
Crunch Fitness has private showers and lockers that are available for daily use. Towels and toiletries are not provided, so you’ll need to bring your own hair care and body care products with you in your gym bag. There are hairdryers in some locations.
You’re likely to find more shower amenities in the Crunch Signature clubs as opposed to the franchise gyms. For example, in some Signature clubs, free towels are provided to all members. If you’re not sure whether your local club offers a free towel service or toiletries, give them a call to double-check.
Check out our complete Crunch Fitness review to learn more.
13. YouFit
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
YouFit has showers and locker rooms. However, it doesn’t offer free towels or toiletries to any members, so it’s down to you to bring your own wash items. You may need to bring your own padlock if you want to store your belongings safely in a locker while you shower, and you can’t leave them in there overnight.
Check out our full YouFit review to learn more.
14. Workout Anytime
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – No
Workout Anytime provides private showering facilities in every club. The showers and locker rooms are cleaned and sanitized daily, so you don’t need to worry about any dirt or germs while you’re freshening up.
Toiletries such as soap and shampoo are offered to gym members for free, but you will need to bring your own towel. You can’t use the lockers overnight, so you will need to take your belongings home with you after every workout.
Check out our complete Workout Anytime review to learn more.
15. Blink Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – Yes
- Busy – No
There are private shower cubicles for members to freshen up after their workouts at every Blink Fitness club. No locations offer free towels and toiletries, so you will need to pack your own shampoo, body wash, and any other washing items that you need in your gym bag.
Check out our complete Blink Fitness review to learn more.
16. Snap Fitness
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
About 80% of Snap Fitness locations don’t have showers, but they do have changing rooms.
In the 20% of clubs that do have showers, the shower and locker rooms are smaller than those in most other gym franchises. These locations also offer towels to every gym member.
Check out our complete Snap Fitness review to learn more.
17. F45
- Private Showers – Yes
- Towels included – Yes, in some locations
- Toiletries included – Yes, in some locations
- Busy – Yes
Most F45 studios have just one or two showers, so they can get busy after classes. Some F45 studios offer towels and toiletries to their members, but this is individual to each club.
I’d recommend going home and showering after an F45 class if possible, as it’s likely that the showers will be taken up after a class with several members.
Check out our complete F45 review to learn more.
18. Fit4Less
- Private Showers – Yes, in some locations
- Towels included – No
- Toiletries included – No
- Busy – No
Fit4Less has private showers at some, but not all, locations. You will need to check with your local club to ask if it has showers. Some locations only have bathrooms and locker rooms.
Check out our complete Fit4Less review to learn more.
Gyms That Don't Have Showers
Pretty much every major gym franchise across the United States has showers available for its members to use. Some of the smaller, independently-owned gyms might not have showers, but this is something that you should check before you sign up for a membership with them.
Any gyms that simply cover the basics and have minimal equipment on the gym floor are likely not to have showers available. If you’re unsure whether your local gym has shower rooms, make sure to call them up and double-check.
What Is Gym Shower Etiquette In The Gym?
When using the gym showers, there is a certain code of conduct that you should follow. These are the unspoken rules that every gym member should abide by to ensure good gym etiquette.
Here are some important aspects of great gym etiquette:
- Don’t spend longer than 5-10 minutes in the shower
- Avoid peeing in the shower
- Dry off before you get out of the shower cubicle to avoid soaking the floor in the locker room
- Wear a robe or towel to cover yourself up when walking around the shower area
- Wear flip flops or sandals when walking around the shower area to avoid spreading germs and diseases such as athlete’s foot
- If your gym has a free towel service, make sure to place your used towels in the right area when you’re done
- Clean up your mess before you leave, such as putting empty shampoo bottles in the bin
How To Pack For Showering At The Gym?
The exact things that you need to pack in your gym bag depend on what is offered at your gym. Assuming your club doesn’t provide any free toiletries or towels, here is a list of basic items that you’ll need to bring with you to the gym:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Soap or body wash
- Deodorant
- Flip flops (to avoid infections from the shower floor)
- A towel
- A bathrobe
Make sure to bring an extra plastic bag or use a duffel bag with a wet compartment to store your damp towel if you plan to head straight to work after using the gym showers. You don’t want your dirty towel getting everything else in your bag soaking wet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do You Shower In the Gym With?
You can use any of your usual toiletries in the gym showers, including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I also recommend wearing flip flops (or other shower shoes) in the shower to avoid catching an infection from bacteria on the shower floor.
Is It Okay To Shower While Sweating?
Yes, it’s totally fine to shower when you’re still sweating from your workout. Start the shower on a cooler setting to help bring your core temperature back to normal and slowly turn the heat up to avoid shocking your body too much.
How Long After Workout Should You Shower?
You can shower immediately or several hours after your workout. However, it’s better to shower soon after your workout if you sweat a lot.
Can You Go To The Gym Just To Shower?
You can use the gym just to shower if you want to, but you will still be expected to pay for a full gym membership.
Benefits of Working Out In A Gym With A Shower
There are many benefits to using one of the best gyms with showers, including:
- Feeling And Smelling Cleaner After Your Workout
- Getting Rid of Sweat After Exercise
- Improved Mood
- Reduced Muscle Soreness and Faster Recovery
- Reduced Heart Rate and Enhanced Weight Loss
Feeling And Smelling Cleaner After Your Workout
Using the shower at the gym will immediately eliminate any sweat and bad odors, leaving you feeling and smelling cleaner after you’ve exercised.
Even if you don’t sweat very much, it’s likely that there will still be a slight lingering odor on your skin and clothing after your workout. Showering will keep this odor to a minimum.
Getting Rid of Sweat After Exercise
One of the most obvious reasons for showering at the gym immediately after your workout is to eliminate sweat. If left for several hours, sweat can begin to smell as it combines with the bacteria on your skin.
Getting rid of the sweat at the gym means you can go about the rest of your day odor-free.
Improved Mood
Jumping in the shower after you’re done training can make you feel energized and refreshed after a tough workout. You will leave the gym in a great mood, ready for the day or evening ahead.
In fact, studies show that cold showers immediately after working out can lower symptoms of depression and elevate your mood.
Reduced Muscle Soreness and Faster Recovery
Research shows that cold water immersion (cold showers) immediately after working out can reduce muscle soreness by lowering the levels of lactic acid. Reduced soreness can increase exercise performance and promote faster recovery.
Reduced Heart Rate and Enhanced Weight Loss
Recent research shows that cold showers can help to decrease your heart rate back to its normal range after exercise. The cold temperature can also increase your metabolism, helping you to burn more calories after your workout and potentially enhancing weight loss.
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About The Author
Athina is a Biochemistry and Genetics graduate, and a qualified personal trainer with a passion for women’s health and fitness. She is passionate about helping women to learn more about the importance of the menstrual cycle and how to balance their hormones. She is the host and producer of Fertility and Freedom podcast, which covers all things women’s health and hormones.
