Which place is cheaper, Wilmington 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 Wilmington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Wilmington? 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 Wilmington?
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.
Wilmington
Wilmington is a port city in southeastern North Carolina. It's a great city to visit for it's nearby beaches, large historic district, and quaint atmosphere. The city has a population of about 115,000 and it's the eighth largest city in the state.
Wilmington is also home to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington as well as the EUE Screen Gems Studios. This is the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California. The studio, which opened in 1984, helped grow Wilmington into a major base for film and television production. The city has been the backdrop for many movies and tv shows including Iron Man 3, Sleepy Hollow, One Tree Hill, and Revolution.
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 PricesWilmington Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Wilmington $245
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Wilmington 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 Wilmington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Wilmington $120
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Wilmington $240
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Wilmington
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Wilmington? 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 Wilmington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Wilmington $47
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 Wilmington?
Prices for flights to both Wilmington 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 $90Wilmington $97
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Wilmington $17
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 Wilmington
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Wilmington.
- True Crime Tour of Wilmington: $20
- Downtown Wilmington Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $20
- Wilmington Coup and Massacre Historic Tour: $20
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure in Wilmington by Zombie Scavengers: $20
- Eagles Island 50 minute Narrated Boat Cruise: $24
- History and Architecture Walking Tour : $25
- Wraiths & Wicked Whispers: Wilmington Ghost Tour: $26
- Holiday Lights Cruise: $30
- Wilmington Speakeasy and History Tour: $30
- Black Water Adventure Cruise: $33
- Sunset Cruise with Live Music: $45
- Wrightsville Beach Sunset Dolphin Tour: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Wilmington $39
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Wilmington, we can see that Wilmington 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 Wilmington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Wilmington?
Wilmington has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Wilmington, 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 Wilmington?
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 Wilmington in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Wilmington. Additionally, many visitors come to Wilmington in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.
Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Wilmington in the summer. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 83°F (28°C) in July, and Wilmington fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. 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 Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 283 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Wilmington. Hot Springs usually gets less rain in July than Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Wilmington 81°F (27°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Wilmington in the Autumn?
Both Wilmington and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Wilmington for the shopping scene during these months.
In the autumn, Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Wilmington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Hot Springs in October average around 64°F (18°C), and Wilmington averages at about 65°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Wilmington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Wilmington during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Wilmington 65°F (18°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Wilmington in the Winter?
Both Wilmington and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Wilmington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hot Springs can be very cold during winter. In January, Hot Springs is generally much colder than Wilmington. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 40°F (4°C), and Wilmington fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 180 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets less rain in January than Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Wilmington 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Wilmington in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Wilmington. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Wilmington this time of year.
Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Wilmington in the spring. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 65°F (18°C) in April, and Wilmington fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Wilmington during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 278 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 Wilmington. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Wilmington 63°F (17°C)
Typical Weather for Wilmington and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Wilmington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 47°F (9°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 55°F (13°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 63°F (17°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 70°F (21°C) | 4.4 inches (113 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 6 inches (152 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 8.1 inches (207 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 6.9 inches (176 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 5 inches (128 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 56°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (79 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 49°F (9°C) | 3.6 inches (92 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.