Which place is cheaper, Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Flagstaff? 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 Flagstaff?
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.
Flagstaff
Located in northern Arizona near the San Francisco Peaks mountain range, Flagstaff is a small city surrounded by natural beauty. The city's proximity to a number of popular tourist sights, including Grand Canyon National Park, Oak Creek Canyon, the Arizona Snowbowl, Meteor Crater, and Historic Route 66, make it a common destination for tourists. It lies at an elevation of almost 7,000 feet with nearby areas climbing higher. In large part because of its altitude, the city has a cooler climate than the southern part of Arizona, which is famous for its low lying desert.
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 PricesFlagstaff Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Flagstaff $207
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Flagstaff is $207. 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 Flagstaff in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Flagstaff $86
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Flagstaff $172
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Flagstaff
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Flagstaff? 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 Flagstaff Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Flagstaff $37
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 Flagstaff?
Prices for flights to both Flagstaff 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 $90Flagstaff $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Flagstaff $28
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
Tours and Activities in Flagstaff
Here are a few actual costs in Flagstaff for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Flagstaff's Famous Ghosts Smartphone Guided Walking Tour : $7.75
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Flagstaff AZ: $15
- Grand Canyon South Rim Full-Day Self-Guided Tour: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour of Sedona: $17
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Grand Canyon South Rim: $20
- Forbidden Frights of Flagstaff Ghost Tour: $24
- Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Walking Tour: $28
- Mountain Town of Madness, Adults Only Tour: $28
- Southside Flagstaff Haunted History, True Crime & Ghost Tour: $28
- Downtown Flagstaff Haunted History Tour: $28
- Family-Friendly Ghost Walking Tour in Flagstaff: $30
- Family Friendly Haunted Walking Tour: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Flagstaff $29
Sample the Local Flavors in Flagstaff
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Flagstaff:
- Spirits With The Spirits, Haunted Pub Crawl: $50
- Spirits With The Spirits, Haunted Pub Crawl Of Downtown Flagstaff: $60
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Flagstaff, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Flagstaff Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Flagstaff?
Flagstaff has a larger population, and is about 54% larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Flagstaff, 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.
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.