diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/python.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/python.py
index 588ddce853f..5cee319ff57 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/python.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/python.py
@@ -33,6 +33,9 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
     subparser.add_argument(
         '-m', dest='module', action='store',
         help='run library module as a script')
+    subparser.add_argument(
+        '--path', action='store_true', dest='show_path',
+        help='show path to python interpreter that spack uses')
     subparser.add_argument(
         'python_args', nargs=argparse.REMAINDER,
         help="file to run plus arguments")
@@ -43,6 +46,10 @@ def python(parser, args, unknown_args):
         print('Python', platform.python_version())
         return
 
+    if args.show_path:
+        print(sys.executable)
+        return
+
     if args.module:
         sys.argv = ['spack-python'] + unknown_args + args.python_args
         runpy.run_module(args.module, run_name="__main__", alter_sys=True)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/python.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/python.py
index 360d947a071..d2ef35a85e0 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/python.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/python.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
 
 import platform
+import sys
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -18,6 +19,11 @@ def test_python():
     assert out.strip() == spack.spack_version
 
 
+def test_python_interpreter_path():
+    out = python('--path')
+    assert out.strip() == sys.executable
+
+
 def test_python_version():
     out = python('-V')
     assert platform.python_version() in out
diff --git a/share/spack/spack-completion.bash b/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
index 4653a753b74..62645bd6ac6 100755
--- a/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
+++ b/share/spack/spack-completion.bash
@@ -1385,7 +1385,7 @@ _spack_pydoc() {
 _spack_python() {
     if $list_options
     then
-        SPACK_COMPREPLY="-h --help -V --version -c -i -m"
+        SPACK_COMPREPLY="-h --help -V --version -c -i -m --path"
     else
         SPACK_COMPREPLY=""
     fi