Alexander Family YMCA
1603 Hillsborough St, Raleigh, NC
The Alexander Family YMCA is the three-story Y on Hillsborough Street, near the eastern edge of the N.C. State campus, and it is one of the few Triangle branches with both a sauna and a steam room in its locker rooms. Around them is a full city gym: a six-lane indoor pool, a full-size gymnasium, racquetball and indoor pickleball courts, an indoor track, three studios for cycle, yoga and strength classes, and wellness floors of cardio and free weights. The sauna and steam room are part of a full-service YMCA, so expect a gym amenity used by members between workouts, not a thermal spa with cold plunges or a lounge. A non-member can buy a $30 adult day pass at the front desk ($15 for ages 17 and under), and since July 2026 there is no limit on how often you can buy one; first-time local adults can also ask for a free 7-day pass. Membership has no per-visit cost: YMCA of the Triangle quotes $50 to $200 a month plus a one-time joining fee, depending on household size and home branch, with income-based financial assistance available, and one membership opens every Triangle branch plus Nationwide access to Ys across the country. There is no booking and no session timer: the heat rooms run whenever the branch is open, so plan around the after-work rush if you want the bench to yourself. Bring a swimsuit or gym clothes and a towel; the Y's code of conduct does not allow nudity in shared areas. Late weeknight hours (until 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday) make it the Triangle Y for an after-work or after-class sweat, and the Hillsborough Street location draws a mix of students, young professionals and longtime members. Treat the sauna and steam as an amenity of a busy urban gym rather than a spa: no robes or lounge, just a hot room and a shower before you head back out.
Quick facts
- Type
- Gym/Fitness Recovery
- Heat
- Traditional sauna, Steam room
- Day pass
- $30
- Booking
- Walk-in only
- Session style
- Open access
- Gender
- Gender-separated
- Clothing
- Clothing required
Hours
- Monday: 05:00–22:00
- Tuesday: 05:00–22:00
- Wednesday: 05:00–22:00
- Thursday: 05:00–22:00
- Friday: 05:00–20:00
- Saturday: 07:00–18:00
- Sunday: 09:00–18:00
Last updated November 2026.