Which place is cheaper, Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Bar Harbor? 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 Bar Harbor?
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.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a seafront town located on Mount Desert Island just off the coast of Maine. The Wabanaki Indians who seasonally fished, hunted and gathered berries, clams, and other shellfish in the area, called it the ‘clam-gathering' or ‘clambake' place. Eventually the area was settled by Europeans who established industries in fishing, lumbering, shipbuilding, and agriculture. Its maritime scenery even attracted artists of the Hudson River School like Thomas Cole, and the area soon became a seasonal resort for the affluent, comparable to that of Newport, Rhode Island.
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 PricesBar Harbor Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Bar Harbor $243
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Bar Harbor is $243. 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 Bar Harbor in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Bar Harbor $117
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Bar Harbor $234
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Bar Harbor
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Bar Harbor? 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 Bar Harbor Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Bar Harbor $35
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 Bar Harbor?
Prices for flights to both Bar Harbor 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 $90Bar Harbor $98
Typical Food Prices in Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bar Harbor are as follows:
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West Street Cafe (for 4)$70
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Bar Harbor $39
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 Bar Harbor
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bar Harbor are as follows:
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Acadia National Park Entrance Fee$25
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Sunset Cruise (for 4)$96
Tours and Activities in Bar Harbor
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bar Harbor are as follows:
- Self Guided GPS Audio Driving Tour Acadia NP From Hulls Cove VC: $9.50
- Acadia's Ocean Path Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Historic Bar Harbor Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour Guide: $13
- Acadia Mount Desert Island Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $15
- Acadia National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour: $16
- Ultimate Acadia National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Acadia National Park: $20
- Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tour: $25
- Haunted Ghost Walking Tour: $30
- Bar Harbor Walking Tour: $30
- 90-minute Ghost Walking Tour in Bar Harbor: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Bar Harbor $30
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Bar Harbor Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Bar Harbor?
Hot Springs has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Bar Harbor, 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 Bar Harbor?
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 Bar Harbor in the Summer?
Both Bar Harbor and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.
Hot Springs is a little warmer than Bar Harbor in the summer. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 83°F (28°C) in July, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).
In July, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Bar Harbor. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Bar Harbor 69°F (21°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?
Both Bar Harbor and Hot Springs during the autumn are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Bar Harbor because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Hot Springs is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hot Springs in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 48°F (9°C).
Hot Springs usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Bar Harbor. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Bar Harbor 48°F (9°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Bar Harbor in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Bar Harbor. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.
It's quite cold in Bar Harbor in the winter. The weather in Hot Springs can be very cold. In January, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 40°F (4°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).
In January, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Bar Harbor. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Bar Harbor 18°F (-8°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Bar Harbor in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Bar Harbor. Additionally, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.
Hot Springs is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the spring. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 65°F (18°C) in April, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).
Hot Springs receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hot Springs usually gets more rain in April than Bar Harbor. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Bar Harbor 43°F (6°C)
Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Bar Harbor | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 18°F (-8°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 20°F (-6°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.1 inches (80 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 3.4 inches (85 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 37°F (3°C) | 4.6 inches (116 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 24°F (-5°C) | 4 inches (100 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.