A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Hershey vs. Hope for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit Hershey or Hope?

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

Should I visit Hershey or Hope? 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.

Hershey

Hershey is a lighthearted, fun-filled, and playful town. Other reasons to visit include shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a small, friendly, and local town. It's also known for hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Hershey and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hershey or Hope?

Both Hope and Hershey have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Hershey is more popular for its museums and attractions, resorts, and shopping, while Hope is known for its hiking. Hershey is more touristy than Hope and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Hope is popular for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Hershey different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Hershey is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Hershey is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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).

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

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

Both Hershey and Hope offer decent local cuisine and restaurants.

Hershey offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Hershey or Hope has a better nightlife scene.

Hershey is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Hope doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Resorts?

Hershey is a great town for its luxury resorts. However, Hope is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Hershey. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Hope is not a resort destination.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hope is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Hershey is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Hope. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hershey or Hope?

Hershey is very good for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Hershey. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Families?

Hershey is a world-class destination for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Hope is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

Hershey is one of the most popular family destinations. 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.

Hope is a very kid-friendly town. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Hershey and Hope make for a great place to visit.

Couples visit Hershey frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Hope is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Is Hershey or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is a great destination for backpackers. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Hershey is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there are some fun activities in the area.

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

Hershey is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

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.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Hershey or Hope a more walkable city?

Hershey and Hope both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Hope is generally not a very walkable town. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

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

Should I spend more time in Hope or Hershey?

How long in Hershey or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Hershey and Hope. In our opinion, Hershey has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Hershey than Hope. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hope 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 Hope.

One day in Hershey or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the museums and shopping when visiting the destination of Hershey. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Hope, you'll find . Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Hershey or Hope?

Hershey is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Hope, you'll find . The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hope has to offer.

Five days in Hershey or Hope?

You'll find museums and shopping around the lighthearted destination of Hershey. This town offers something for everyone. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hope is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

A week in Hershey or Hope?

The lighthearted town of Hershey offers shopping and museums. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hope. Many people enjoy the when visiting Hope. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hershey and Hope, we can see that Hershey is more expensive. And not only is Hope much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hope would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hope 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 Hope.

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

Which is Bigger, Hershey or Hope?

Hershey has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Hershey and Hope, 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 Hershey or Hope?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Hershey or Hope in the Summer?

Both Hope and Hershey during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hope for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Hershey is a little warmer than Hope in the summer. The daily temperature in Hershey averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Hershey usually gets more rain in July than Hope. Hershey gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hershey or Hope in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hershey and Hope. Many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Hope in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Hershey is a little warmer than Hope. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hershey in October average around 56°F (13°C), and Hope averages at about 10°C (51°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Hershey usually receives less rain than Hope. Hershey gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Hershey or Hope in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Hershey as well as Hope. Many visitors come to Hershey in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Hope for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Hope can be very cold during winter. Hershey can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Hershey is generally much colder than Hope. Daily temperatures in Hershey average around 30°F (-1°C), and Hope fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite rainy in Hope. Hershey usually gets less rain in January than Hope. Hershey gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hershey or Hope in the Spring?

Both Hope and Hershey are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Hershey is a little warmer than Hope in the spring. The daily temperature in Hershey averages around 53°F (12°C) in April, and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. In April, Hershey usually receives less rain than Hope. Hershey gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hope and Hershey