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

Should you visit Hershey or Santa Cruz?

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

Should I visit Hershey or Santa Cruz? 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. It's also known for shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Hershey and Santa Cruz: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz. Although Hershey and Santa Cruz are both popular with visitors, Santa Cruz has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Cruz is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and hiking, while Hershey is known for its resorts. Hershey is more touristy than Santa Cruz and is known for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Santa Cruz is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to Santa Cruz Wharf.

How is Hershey different from Santa Cruz?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?

Both Hershey and Santa Cruz have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

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).

Santa Cruz offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

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

Santa Cruz is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hershey. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a great destination for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

The people in Santa Cruz know how to have a good time. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

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 Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Resorts?

Hershey is notable for its resorts. However, Santa Cruz 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.

Santa Cruz is not a resort destination.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a great destination for its beaches. However, Hershey is not a beach destination.

Santa Cruz is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Hershey is not a beach destination.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz is a good destination for hiking. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Santa Cruz and Hershey.

Hershey is a great destination for shopping. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Families?

Hershey is very popular for its family-friendly activities. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Santa Cruz is very family-friendly. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Hershey and Santa Cruz make for a high quality 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.

Santa Cruz is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a popular place for backpackers. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

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 Santa Cruz Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Hershey and Santa Cruz.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Is Hershey or Santa Cruz a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is very popular for its walkability. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

Getting around Santa Cruz on foot is easy. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Cruz or Hershey?

How long in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Hershey or Santa Cruz to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Hershey than Santa Cruz because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Hershey, and 1-2 days is enough time in Santa Cruz.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz.

One day in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

With museums and shopping around the lighthearted town of Hershey, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Hershey, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

In Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz has to offer.

Five days in Hershey or Santa Cruz?

Hershey, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the 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 Santa Cruz?

Hershey is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Hershey or Santa Cruz?

Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Hershey and Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz?

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 Hershey or Santa Cruz in the Summer?

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

Hershey is a little warmer than Santa Cruz in the summer. The daily temperature in Hershey averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

In July, Hershey usually receives more rain than Santa Cruz. Hershey gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.1 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Hershey or Santa Cruz in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Hershey is cooler than Santa Cruz. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hershey in October average around 56°F (13°C), and Santa Cruz averages at about 63°F (17°C).

Hershey usually gets more rain in October than Santa Cruz. Hershey gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Hershey or Santa Cruz in the Winter?

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

Be prepared for some very cold days in Hershey. In January, Hershey is generally much colder than Santa Cruz. Daily temperatures in Hershey average around 30°F (-1°C), and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

In January, Hershey usually receives around the same amount of rain as Santa Cruz. Hershey gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Hershey or Santa Cruz in the Spring?

Both Santa Cruz and Hershey during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Santa Cruz for the beaches during these months.

Hershey is cooler than Santa Cruz in the spring. The daily temperature in Hershey averages around 53°F (12°C) in April, and Santa Cruz fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Hershey usually gets more rain in April than Santa Cruz. Hershey gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Santa Cruz receives 1 inches (26 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Cruz and Hershey