Best Gyms with Outdoor Pools near Arlington, Virginia

I visited Lifetime Clarendon in November using a friend’s Guest Pass, with the intention of potentially joining this gym later in the month. I’ve heard good things about Lifetime facilities and was looking for a more upscale gym experience. Unfortunately, after my visit, I was very disappointed by the way my friend and I were both treated and how Lifetime handled the situation, which has led to my decision not to join. After entering the locker room and getting ready for my workout, my friend and I headed to the squat rack area. We were in the middle of our warm-up sets when a female staff member approached my friend and informed her that she had to leave immediately, without offering any explanation. Despite repeatedly asking for clarification, we were left in the dark about the reason behind the request. There was no explanation given and the Lifetime employee seemed to take joy in the power dynamic they had over us. It was a very confusing and unsettling experience, as we felt unfairly singled out and treated with a lack of respect. I had to watch my friend be pushed back into the locker room and then escorted to the front desk all the while not being given an explanation on why this was transpiring. My friend was in shock and traumatized because of how she was treated. I was appalled at the lack of human decency afforded to my friend through the entire ordeal. We later discovered that the situation was related to a membership issue. For something so small, the whole experience was blown out of proportion given my friend was treated like she was a criminal even though she had not bothered anyone. We were forced to leave the club and it was all handled in a way that made both of us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. After leaving the club, my friend alerted me to the fact that she was followed into the locker room by the staff member as she gathered her belonging and changed. That is really dehumanizing. While Lifetime markets itself as an upscale gym experience, this encounter left much to be desired in terms of customer service and communication. Unfortunately, I won't be returning to Lifetime Clarendon. For those in the NoVA area, there are other gyms like Vida that prioritize treating members with kindness and respect and a sense of community that I did not get at all when I visited.

I absolutely LOVE this gym. The classes are a lot harder than other lifetimes in the northern VA area and feel more like a professional workout class. I’ve only been doing the classes for about 2 weeks and already notice a huge difference in my physique. The gym is not crowded, SUPER clean, and the employees are helpful and very kind. I usually have the spa area to myself and listen to meditation music…it’s like I’m on vacation. If there are other people in the spa area it’s super quiet and peaceful 😌 Cons - the cost is pretty steep, free parking in the garage provided but for only 3 hrs. Would be awesome if they upped it to at least 4 hrs. There’s no pool. But other than that, totally worth it and life changing!

I love this gym for so many reasons! The community is fantastic, and it’s a great place for networking. One of the best features for parents is the kids’ area, where they can play indoors in semi-structured classes while I get a solid workout in. It’s perfect for those days when the weather isn’t ideal. The “Parents’ Night Out” program is a game-changer—our kids enjoy pizza and games from 5-8pm while my wife and I have a date night. On school days off, like teacher conferences, Lifetime has been our go-to. The only area for improvement would be adding more amenities, like a pool, pickleball courts, and additional indoor sports spaces. The upstairs work space feels like a big miss. In the summer, we often have to drive to Reston for a nice outdoor pool, which is inconvenient. I’d gladly pay extra for those features. Overall, this gym is a fantastic family-friendly space with great amenities, but the lack of certain facilities like a pool keeps it from being a full 5 stars for me. Highly recommend it if those aren’t deal-breakers for you!

Definitely a premium destination! I was surprised at how much space this city location had as compared to the Atlanta Buckhead location. A lot of equipment, so if it does get crowded, you have choices even for squat racks. I managed to get there while it was quiet around 10.30 or 11am, but it started picking up as I was finishing my workout. There is a cold tub which is unique to this location and is very refreshing after the intense breathing and "ah, oo, that's cold". Steam room is very nice to get all the impurities out of your system. You can chill out at the lifecafe, or there is wholefoods next door so finding a quality snack or meal is easy. Nicest and friendliest staff out of all the VA locations! Go check it out!

Great workout facilities and very peaceful spa area. The space and the equipment are very well kept. There is no pool, tennis courts or any of the athletic faculties however. The classes are great. Definitely try out the heated yoga with Natalie . She is amazing and has an amazing playlist!