Which place is cheaper, Asheville or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Asheville?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Asheville? 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.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Asheville?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Asheville
Asheville is a beautiful mountain town between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains. It's a popular tourist destination in western North Carolina that attracts hikers, shoppers, and adventurers alike. It's the largest city in the area and is famous for it's liberal mindset and large art community. Local crafts are frequently available for sale in the downtown shops.
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.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesAsheville Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Asheville $159
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Asheville is $159. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hot Springs and Asheville in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Asheville $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Asheville $178
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Asheville
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Asheville? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Asheville Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Asheville $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Asheville?
Prices for flights to both Asheville and Hot Springs change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayHot Springs $90Asheville $58
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Asheville $20
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Asheville
Here are a few typical costs in Asheville for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Biltmore Estate Entrance Fee$60
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Massage$40
Tours and Activities in Asheville
Here are a few actual costs in Asheville for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Downtown Asheville Tip-Based Sightseeing Walking Tour : $5.00
- Downtown Asheville Historian-Guided Tour: $20
- Asheville Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour : $27
- Asheville Ghost Tour: A Walk Through Riverside Cemetery & Montford Neighborhood: $27
- Gem Mining and Goat Farm Walking Tour in Hendersonville: $30
- The Asheville Abyss Ghost Tour: Ashes to Apparitions: $32
- Haunted History & Murder Mystery Trolley Tour: $35
- Asheville Insider Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Buffalo Creek Ranch Tour Experience: $40
- Asheville Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Trolley Tour: $41
- Explore Asheville on Segway Tours: $65
- Asheville Historic Downtown Guided Electric Bike Tour with Scenic Views: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Asheville $16
Sample the Local Flavors in Asheville
Also in Asheville, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Asheville Bar Crawl: $15
- Asheville Terrors Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl: $36
- Downtown Asheville Guided Brewery Walking Tour: $69
- Premier Walking Guided Brewery Tour Through Downtown Asheville: $69
- Bachelorette Royal Bar Crawl through South Slope District: $80
- Floating Bar Crawl Tour: $85
- Asheville Brewery Tour: $94
- 2 Vineyard Wine Tour of Western NC: $159
- Private Wine Tour with Dine in Black Mountain from Asheville: $230
- Three Vineyards Half Day Private Wine Tour From Asheville: $260
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Asheville, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs than you might in Asheville.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Asheville Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Asheville?
Asheville has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Asheville, 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 Hot Springs or Asheville?
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 Hot Springs or Asheville in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Asheville. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Asheville because of the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Asheville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hot Springs in July average around 83°F (28°C), and Asheville averages at about 82°F (28°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Asheville during summer. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 268 hours of full sun in the summer.
Asheville receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Hot Springs usually receives less rain than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Asheville 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Asheville in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Asheville. Additionally, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Asheville this time of year.
In October, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Asheville. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 64°F (18°C), and Asheville fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the autumn, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 229 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in October than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Asheville 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Asheville in the Winter?
Both Asheville and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. Hot Springs is much colder than Asheville in the winter. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and Asheville fluctuates around 44°F (7°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Asheville during winter. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 176 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. In January, Hot Springs usually receives less rain than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Asheville 44°F (7°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Asheville in the Spring?
Both Asheville and Hot Springs during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Asheville in the spring for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Asheville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hot Springs in April average around 65°F (18°C), and Asheville averages at about 64°F (18°C).
In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the spring, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 266 hours of full sun.
Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually gets more rain in April than Asheville. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Asheville 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Asheville and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Asheville | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 79°F (26°C) | 3.8 inches (96 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 47°F (8°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.