A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Ocean City vs. Hershey for Families, Nightlife, Resorts, and Couples

Should you visit Ocean City or Hershey?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Ocean City or Hershey? 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.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a active, energetic, and fun-filled city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Ocean City travel costs.

Hershey

Hershey is a playful, lighthearted, and fun-filled town. Other popular activities here include shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Ocean City and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Ocean City than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Ocean City is better known for its food, nightlife, and beaches, while Hershey is more popular for its museums and attractions and shopping. Ocean City is well known for its miles of sandy beach, fun-filled activities, and thrilling water sports. Also, Ocean City is famous for the Ocean City boardwalk. Hershey is well known for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar.

How is Ocean City different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hershey and Ocean City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ocean City or Hershey?

Hershey is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its museums and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hershey. In addition to Hershey's Chocolate World, there's the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Historic Center, and the Pennsylvania State Police Museum. There's also the AACA Museum (a car museum).

While most people don't head to Ocean City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time on the beach, but for the rainy days you can check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the Art League of Ocean City.

Is the Food Better in Ocean City or Hershey? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ocean City is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Ocean City offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Themed restaurants are popular in the area. You'll also find all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and casual diners with pancakes and waffles. Pizza, burgers, and other fast food options are also abundant.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hershey. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Ocean City is a great destination for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

The people in Ocean City know how to have a good time. Happy hours are popular at the bars in the area. You'll also find live music and DJ led parties. Head to the boardwalk, which will overwhelm your senses. There are neon lights, colorful rides, and arcades filled with people and activities.

Hershey doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Ocean City and Hershey offer a relatively similar set of high quality luxury resort options.

Ocean City is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are many oceanfront resorts with pools and rooms with ocean views. The hotels along the beach tend to be the most expensive, but if you find a place across from the Coastal Highway, it's very challenging to walk to the beach.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Hershey. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Beaches?

Ocean City is a great destination for its beaches. However, Hershey is not a beach destination.

Ocean City is considered a top beach destination. There are ten miles of sandy beach that are lined with hotels and resorts. A festive boardwalk runs along the coastline and has many rides, arcades, restaurants, and more. The beach offers waves and warm water during the summer months.

Hershey is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Hershey?

Hershey is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Ocean City is not a good city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Hershey to go shopping. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Ocean City is a good destination for shopping. You'll find surf stores and souvenir shops along the three mile boardwalk. There are also many vendors and shopping centers along the Coastal Highway. For something a little more interesting you can head to the Inlet Village.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Ocean City or Hershey.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Ocean City is a very family-friendly destination. Beyond the family-friendly beach, there's also minigolf, dolphin tours, and themed-restaurants that are perfect for kids. Head to the Jolly Roger amusement park for a thrilling afternoon or spend some time visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not. The boardwalk is lined with activities for both kids and adults. There are also candy shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza joints where you can grab a bite to eat.

Hershey is one of the most popular family destinations. Hersheypark offers family-friendly resorts and camping. There's also the themed amusement park and even a zoo. When the weather's warm there's a water park and, of course, there's the famous Hershey's Chocolate World.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Ocean City and Hershey make for a high quality place to visit.

Ocean City is a very popular place to visit for couples. Hotels line the beach, many with beautiful views and nice pools. You can take long romantic walks along the coastline or head to one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

Hershey makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Is Ocean City or Hershey Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Ocean City and Hershey offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Ocean City. There are boardwalk trams as well as shuttle buses, but most people have their own vehicle, and its recommended you have a private car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hershey. While there is a bus system, it's very limited and most visitors do not rely on it.

Is Ocean City or Hershey a more walkable city?

Ocean City and Hershey both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Ocean City is generally not very walkable. If you stay at an oceanfront hotel or on the ocean block, it's possible to walk to the beach. If you stay further back, you'll have to cross the Coastal Highway, which is eight lanes of busy traffic.

Hershey is generally not a very walkable city. You really need a car to get to the area's attractions.

For even more information, also check out Is Ocean City Worth Visiting? and Is Hershey Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Hershey?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ocean City and Hershey. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ocean City than in Hershey. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hershey.

Families should spend more time in Ocean City than Hershey. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Ocean City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Ocean City than Hershey. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ocean City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Ocean City than Hershey if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Ocean City.

One day in Ocean City or Hershey?

In Ocean City, you'll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and shopping around the playful town of Hershey, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ocean City or Hershey?

In Ocean City, you'll find food and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

With shopping and museums around the destination of Hershey, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Ocean City or Hershey?

Ocean City is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ocean City has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Hershey, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Ocean City or Hershey?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ocean City. In Ocean City, you'll find food and nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Hershey is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ocean City and Hershey, we can see that Hershey is more expensive. And not only is Ocean City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Ocean City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Ocean City 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey than you might in Ocean City.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocean City Expensive? and Is Hershey Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Hershey?

Hershey has a larger population, and is about 84% larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Hershey, 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 Ocean City or Hershey?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Ocean City or Hershey in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Hershey. The summer months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

In the summer, Ocean City is around the same temperature as Hershey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Ocean City in July average around 77°F (25°C), and Hershey averages at about 77°F (25°C).

Ocean City gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Hershey. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Ocean City or Hershey in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Hershey. The shopping scene are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene.

In October, Ocean City is generally around the same temperature as Hershey. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 58°F (14°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Ocean City usually gets more rain in October than Hershey. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Hershey in the Winter?

Both Hershey and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hershey in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hershey can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Ocean City. Ocean City is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 35°F (2°C) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In January, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Hershey. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Ocean City or Hershey in the Spring?

Both Hershey and Ocean City during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Ocean City is around the same temperature as Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Ocean City in April average around 54°F (12°C), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

Ocean City usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Hershey. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Ocean City