Which place is cheaper, Orlando 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 Orlando?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Orlando? 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 Orlando?
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.
Orlando
Orlando is a haven for tourists from the entire United States and abroad. The most famous sight in Orlando, Walt Disney World, is not actually located in the city at all, but in nearby Lake Buena Vista. The area attracts over 50 million visitors a year and the city's sprawling development has created amenities and entertainment options for tourists of all ages.
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 PricesOrlando Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Orlando $368
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Orlando is $368. 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 Orlando in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Orlando $154
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Orlando $308
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Orlando
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Orlando? 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 Orlando Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Orlando $66
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
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Orlando
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Orlando are as follows:
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Parking$14
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Taxi Ride$45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Orlando
Also for Orlando, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Orlando Airport (MCO): $29
- Private Transfer: MCO to Disney, Universal, and Orlando: $30
- Port Canaveral Transfer Service: $35
- Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral & Cocoa Beach Private Transfer: $38
- Orlando Airport Mco:Private Transfer to Disney and Universal: $38
- Transfer: MCO/Orlando Hotels to Port Canaveral: $40
- Orlando:Airport Private Transfer to/from Disneyland Resort: $41
- MCO Airport Private Transfer to Downtown|Disneyland: $42
- Orlando Chauffeur Transfer: MCO Airport/Hotels to Port Canaveral: $50
- MCO Private Transfer Airport to Hotel: $54
- Orlando Airport MCO to Universal Resorts Private Transfer: $54
- Private Airport Transfer: $54
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Orlando?
Prices for flights to both Orlando 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 $90Orlando $113
Typical Food Prices in Orlando
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Orlando:
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Lunch for Two at Epcot$29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Orlando
For Orlando, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show: $39
- Flavors of ICON Park Food Tour: $40
- St. Johns River Lunch and Dinner Cruises in Sanford, Florida: $43
- Orlando Polynesian Fire Luau and Dinner Show Experience: $75
- Sushi Making Cooking Class at a Local Brewery in Orlando: $75
- Immersive Pasta Making Cooking Class: $75
- Pirates Adventure Dinner Show with Drinks: $80
- Medieval Times Dinner Show in Orlando: $80
- Speakeasy Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Orlando: $82
- Titanic: First Class Dinner Gala Tickets in Orlando: $84
- Ivanhoe Village Food Tour with Tastings: $88
- Food Tour of Local Orlando's Ivanhoe Village : $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Orlando $204
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 Orlando
For Orlando, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Universal Studios for Two$110
Tours and Activities in Orlando
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Orlando.
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Orlando by Operation City Quest: $10
- 7-D Dark Ride Entry Ticket: $12
- SelfGuided Scavenger Hunt:Feel the Adventure Breeze at WinterPark: $12
- Skip the Line: Museum of Military History Ticket: $12
- Orlando Audio Tour Adventure: $15
- Old Town Entertainment District Attraction Tickets: $15
- Orlando City Pride- National Women's Soccer League Tickets: $18
- Ripley's Mirror Maze Experience: $18
- Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf Entry Ticket: $21
- Factory Adventure Tour in Chocolate Kingdom: $24
- Chocolate Kingdom Factory Adventure Tour: $24
- Orlando Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour and Game: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Orlando $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Orlando
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Orlando:
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Orlando Haunts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
- Caribbean Moonshine Distillery Tour and Tasting: $40
- Sanford’s Haunted Brewery Tour: $43
- Brews and Bites Brewery Walking Tour: $75
- 2-Hour Sushi Making Class at a Local Brewery: $75
- Pontoon Pub Crawl, 5 Lakeside Pubs and Restaurants Visit by Boat: $90
- Ghost Tour and Pub Crawl: $139
- Chef's Table and Wine Tasting Tour: $300
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Orlando, we can see that Orlando is more expensive. And not only is Hot Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hot Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hot Springs 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 Orlando would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Orlando than you might in Hot Springs.
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 Orlando Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Orlando?
Orlando has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Orlando, 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 Orlando?
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 Hot Springs or Orlando in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Orlando. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Orlando this time of year.
Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Orlando in the summer. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 83°F (28°C) in July, and Orlando fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
It's quite rainy in Orlando. Hot Springs usually gets less rain in July than Orlando. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Orlando 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Orlando in the Autumn?
Both Orlando and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Orlando for the shopping scene.
In the autumn, Hot Springs is cooler than Orlando. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hot Springs in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Orlando averages at about 75°F (24°C).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Orlando. In October, Hot Springs usually receives less rain than Orlando. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Orlando 75°F (24°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Orlando in the Winter?
Both Orlando and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, many visitors come to Orlando in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hot Springs. In January, Hot Springs is generally much colder than Orlando. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 40°F (4°C), and Orlando fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Orlando. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Orlando 59°F (15°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Orlando in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Orlando.
Hot Springs is cooler than Orlando in the spring. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 65°F (18°C) in April, and Orlando fluctuates around 72°F (22°C).
Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Orlando. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Orlando receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Orlando 72°F (22°C)
Typical Weather for Orlando and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Orlando | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 59°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 62°F (16°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 2.7 inches (69 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.1 inches (181 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 8.3 inches (211 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 6.7 inches (171 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 inches (183 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 1.6 inches (40 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.9 inches (48 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.