Which place is cheaper, Providence 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 Providence?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Providence? 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 Providence?
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.
Providence
Providence is the state capital and the largest city in Rhode Island. It's a fascinating city to visit with diverse neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and a rich history. Like much of New England, the winters are cold and snowy with milder summers. It's a great year round destination that has a beautiful setting whether it's covered in snow or in full bloom.
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 PricesProvidence Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Providence $245
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Providence is $245. 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 Providence in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Providence $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Providence $228
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Providence
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Providence? 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 Providence Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Providence $46
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 Providence
Also for Providence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Airport Transfer TO/FROM Providence TF Green Airport PVD: $32
- Providence to Rhode Island Airport PVD Departure Transfer : $40
- T. F. Green State Airport (PVD) to Providence – Arrival Private Transfer : $40
- Providence to Boston Airport (BOS) - Departure Private Transfer: $69
- T. F. Green State Airport (PVD) to Providence - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $81
- Private Transfer from Providence Airport (PVD) to Newport Port : $125
- Private Transfer from Providence City Hotels to Newport Port: $133
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Providence?
Prices for flights to both Providence 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 $90Providence $82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Providence
For Providence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Downcity Providence Food Tour: $99
- Federal Hill Dinner Stroll A Guided Italian Culinary Experience: $150
- Federal Hill Dinner Stroll with Italian Dinner: $150
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Providence $26
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 Providence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Providence.
- Providence Downtown and Brown Self Guided App GPS Walking Tour: $9.75
- Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt: Providence Adventure: $12
- Murder Mystery Detective Experience in Providence RI: $15
- Providence Ghost Tours: Phantoms, Poltergeists, & Pestilence: $24
- Dark Tales: The Haunted Authors of Providence Tour: $30
- Voices of Resilience: Hidden History of Providence Tour: $30
- The Creative Capital: An Art and Architecture Tour of Providence: $30
- Benefit Street History Guided Walking Tour: $30
- Parasols and Pocket Watches: A History Tour: $30
- Haunted History Walking Tour of Providence: $30
- Providence Ghost Tours: Phantoms, Poltergeists, & Pestilence: $32
- Dark Tales: Haunted Authors of Providence Tour: $35
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Providence $13
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Providence?
Providence has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Providence, 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 Providence?
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 Providence in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Providence. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hot Springs is generally a little warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Providence. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Providence 73°F (23°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Providence in the Autumn?
Both Providence and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Providence this time of year.
Hot Springs is much warmer than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).
It's quite sunny in Providence. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Providence during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Providence. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Providence 53°F (12°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Providence in the Winter?
Both Providence and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. It's quite cold in Hot Springs in the winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Providence. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Providence. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Providence 28°F (-2°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Providence in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Providence.
In April, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Providence this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Providence during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.
Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Providence. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Providence 48°F (9°C)
Typical Weather for Providence and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Providence | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 3.5 inches (88 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 38°F (3°C) | 4 inches (101 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 48°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 67°F (20°C) | 2.6 inches (67 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 73°F (23°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.5 inches (115 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 33°F (0°C) | 4.1 inches (105 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.