A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. Hershey for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Columbia or Hershey?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Columbia or Hershey? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Columbia

Columbia is a suburban, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums. See Columbia travel costs.

Hershey

Hershey is a fun-filled, playful, and lighthearted town. And you can't forget about the shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Columbia and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbia or Hershey?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hershey. Although Columbia and Hershey are popular destinations, Hershey has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hershey is very popular for its resorts, while Columbia attracts visitors for its nightlife. Hershey is more touristy than Columbia and is known for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. It is also well known for Hersheypark. Columbia is famous for its southern hospitality and friendly people.

How is Columbia different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hershey and Columbia. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbia or Hershey?

Plenty of people visit the nice sights and museums in both Columbia and Hershey.

Columbia offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there are some decent museums around town like the Columbia Museum of Art, the South Carolina Military Museum, the South Carolina State Museum, and the U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hershey. In addition to Hershey's Chocolate World, there's the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Historic Center, and the Pennsylvania State Police Museum. There's also the AACA Museum (a car museum).

Is the Food Better in Columbia or Hershey? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at reasonable restaurants in both Columbia and Hershey.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbia. Barbecue and other southern favorites are among the more local dishes, but the city is also filled with fast food joints and other major chain restaurants.

Hershey may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Columbia is a popular place for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

Columbia has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find live music venues as well as low key bars and more trendy cocktail lounges.

Hershey doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Columbia is not a resort destination.

Hershey is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Columbia is not a resort destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbia or Hershey?

Both Columbia and Hershey are nice shopping destinations.

Columbia offers some nice shopping areas. You'll find independent and locally owned shops along Devine Street and in the Five Points area. Also interesting are the Vista, which is a warehouse district, and Trenholm Plaza.

Hershey has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Columbia is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Hershey is a very family-friendly destination. Hersheypark offers family-friendly resorts and camping. There's also the themed amusement park and even a zoo. When the weather's warm there's a water park and, of course, there's the famous Hershey's Chocolate World.

Columbia is a family-friendly city. Around town you'll find parks, playgrounds, and kid-friendly restaurants. There's a zoo in the area as well as a nice state park - Sesquicentennial State Park. There's also EdVenture Children's Museum, which is filled with hands-on exhibits.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Couples?

Hershey is a well-known place for its romantic activities. However, Columbia is not a good city for couples.

Hershey is a very popular place to visit for couples. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Columbia is not always the best place to visit for a couple. You'll find parks to explore and some nice restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Students?

Columbia is a popular place for students. However, Hershey is not popular with students.

Columbia is popular with students. The University of South Carolina, and other nearby colleges all bring in a decent student population.

Hershey is not popular with students.

Is Columbia or Hershey Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Columbia and Hershey offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Columbia. The COMET is the bus system through town, but you really must have your own car to enjoy the city.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hershey. While there is a bus system, it's very limited and most visitors do not rely on it.

Is Columbia or Hershey a more walkable city?

Hershey is a moderate town for its high level of walkability. However, Columbia is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Hershey is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get to the area's attractions.

Columbia is not a very walkable city. It's filled with suburban-style development and is generally very car dependent.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbia Worth Visiting? and Is Hershey Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Columbia?

How long in Columbia or Hershey?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbia and Hershey. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hershey than in Columbia. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbia, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hershey.

Families should spend more time in Hershey than Columbia. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Hershey, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Hershey than Columbia. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Hershey that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Columbia than Hershey if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Columbia.

One day in Columbia or Hershey?

In Columbia, you'll find museums and nightlife. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The town of Hershey offers museums and shopping. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Columbia or Hershey?

In Columbia, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Columbia has to offer.

Hershey is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hershey, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbia or Hershey?

Columbia is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Hershey is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Columbia or Hershey?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Columbia. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Hershey is a great place to explore. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia and Hershey, we can see that Hershey is more expensive. And not only is Columbia much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey than you might in Columbia.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbia Expensive? and Is Hershey Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Columbia or Hershey?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and Hershey, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Columbia or Hershey?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Columbia or Hershey in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and Hershey. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

In July, Columbia is generally a little warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 82°F (28°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hershey this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey during summer. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun in the summer.

Columbia gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Columbia usually receives more rain than Hershey. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Columbia or Hershey in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Columbia as well as Hershey. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene.

Columbia is a little warmer than Hershey in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the autumn, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Hershey. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or Hershey in the Winter?

Both Hershey and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hershey in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hershey can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Columbia is much warmer than Hershey. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbia in January average around 45°F (7°C), and Hershey averages at about 30°F (-1°C).

Columbia usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during winter. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Columbia usually receives more rain than Hershey. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Columbia or Hershey in the Spring?

Both Hershey and Columbia during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Columbia is generally much warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 64°F (18°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbia. In the spring, Columbia often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets less rain in April than Hershey. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Columbia