Which place is cheaper, Ottawa 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 Ottawa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa?
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.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, located on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A city of many ethnic populations, Ottawa is uniquely bilingual with English as the first language of the population's majority and French as a close second. It is best known as the nation's capital, which is centered on Parliament Hill, an architectural landmark as well as the seat of government.
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 Canada, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Canada.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesOttawa Prices
Canada Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Ottawa $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Ottawa is $134. 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 Ottawa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Ottawa $18
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Ottawa $36
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Ottawa
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Ottawa? 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 Ottawa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Ottawa $7.21
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ottawa
Also for Ottawa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Airport YOW: $40
- Ottawa Airport YOW Private Transfer to Ottawa/University/Chelsea: $42
- Ottawa Parc Omega Private Tour with Hotel Transfer: $216
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Ottawa?
Prices for flights to both Ottawa 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 $90Ottawa $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ottawa Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $76
- Oh Canada Eh!? Dinner Musical : $77
- Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Evening Taste of the ByWard Market Food Tour: $104
- Guided ByWard Market Food Tour: $106
- A Taste of Canada Food Tour: $108
- Taste of Canada Food Tour with Guide: $112
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Ottawa $40
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 Ottawa
For Ottawa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ottawa City Highlights 3 Hour Walking Tour | Gratuity-Based : $5.00
- Rockcliffe Exploration Game and Tour: $7.16
- Street Art Exploration Game and Self-Guided Tour in Ottawa: $7.16
- Ottawa Downtown Historic Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Ottawa Mystery Quest: Self-Guided Detective Adventure: $8.35
- A Self Guided Audio Tour of Ottawa's Hidden History: $8.99
- Ottawa Scavenger Hunt and Highlights Self-Guided Tour: $9.55
- Ottawa Valleyview Little Animal Farm Tour: $10
- Ottawa's Original Historical Highlights Public Walking Tour: $18
- Ottawa : Historic Tour of the Ottawa Jail Hostel: $18
- Aqua Taxi Hop-on and Hop-Off Tour: $18
- Ottawa Senators Ice Hockey Game Ticket: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Ottawa $18
Sample the Local Flavors in Ottawa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ottawa:
- Chelsea: Guided tour of the Square Distillery: $25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Ottawa, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Ottawa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ottawa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ottawa 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 Ottawa.
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 Ottawa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Ottawa?
Ottawa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Ottawa, 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 Ottawa?
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 Ottawa in the Summer?
Both Ottawa and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Ottawa this time of year.
In July, Hot Springs is generally a little warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 21°C (71°F).
In Ottawa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 268 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Ottawa 21°C (71°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Ottawa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Ottawa. Furthermore, many travelers come to Ottawa for the shopping scene.
Hot Springs is much warmer than Ottawa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Ottawa fluctuates around 9°C (48°F).
In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 116 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Ottawa 9°C (48°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Ottawa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Ottawa. Additionally, many visitors come to Ottawa in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Ottawa can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs is much warmer than Ottawa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Ottawa averages at about -10°C (14°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ottawa receives 93 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Ottawa -10°C (14°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Ottawa in the Spring?
Both Ottawa and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In April, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Ottawa. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Ottawa fluctuates around 6°C (44°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Ottawa during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Ottawa receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Ottawa. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Ottawa receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Ottawa 6°C (44°F)
Typical Weather for Ottawa and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Ottawa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | -10°C (14°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | -9°C (16°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | -2°C (28°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 6°C (44°F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 13°C (56°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 19°C (65°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 21°C (71°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 20°C (68°F) | 88 mm (3.5 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 15°C (59°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 9°C (48°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 2°C (36°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | -7°C (20°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
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.