A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Roanoke vs. Hershey for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Nightlife

Should you visit Roanoke or Hershey?

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

Should I visit Roanoke 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.

Roanoke

Roanoke is a outdoorsy, laid back, and scenic town. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Roanoke travel costs.

Hershey

Hershey is a playful, lighthearted, and fun-filled town. It's also popular because of the shopping and museums. See Hershey travel costs.

Roanoke and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Roanoke or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Roanoke than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Roanoke is better known for its nightlife and hiking, while Hershey is more popular for its resorts. Hershey is more touristy than Roanoke and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Roanoke is well known for its welcoming hospitality and convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Also, Roanoke is famous for the Roanoke Star.

How is Roanoke different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Roanoke or Hershey?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Hershey and Roanoke.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Roanoke. There are several museums and sights around town such as the Living-Coral Reef Aquarium, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Taubman Museum of Art. There's also the Harrison Museum of African American Culture and even the Roanoke Pinball Museum.

Hershey is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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).

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at respectable restaurants in both Roanoke and Hershey.

Roanoke may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. There are burger joints, pizza restaurants, and plenty of other casual eateries where you can grab a quick meal.

Hershey offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Roanoke or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Roanoke is a popular place for nightlife. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for nightlife and partying.

Roanoke has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are local venues in the area that have drinks and often live music. You'll find jazz, country, rock, and bluegrass, particularly along Crooked Road in Franklin County.

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 Roanoke or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is a great town for its luxury resorts. However, Roanoke is not a resort destination.

Hershey is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Roanoke is not a resort destination.

Is Roanoke or Hershey Better for Hiking?

Roanoke is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Hershey is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Roanoke. The surrounding countryside is filled with mountain hikes. The Blue Ridge Mountains are crossed by trails that take you to waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and through serene forest. McAfee Knob, Sharp Top Mountain, and Roaring Run Trail some of the best hikes in the area.

Hershey is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Roanoke or Hershey?

If you're looking to go shopping, Roanoke and Hershey both offer plenty of notable spots.

Roanoke has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Market Street in Downtown Roanoke is lined with local vendors, particularly at the Historic Roanoke City Market. The town also has a mall and several shopping centers.

Hershey is a great destination for shopping. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Is Roanoke or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Roanoke is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Hershey is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Roanoke is a family-friendly place to visit. The Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with kid-friendly hiking trails and fun outdoor activities. You can visit the Blue Ridge Institute & Farm Museum or Smith Mountain Lake Farm. There's also Virginia Children's Theater.

Is Roanoke or Hershey Better for Couples?

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

Roanoke is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Staying at a quaint bed and breakfast, tucked into the beautiful mountain setting is the perfect romantic getaway. Nearby there are vineyards and wine cellars, as well as gardens, hikes, and other outdoor activities.

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

Is Roanoke or Hershey Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Roanoke is a popular place for backpackers. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Roanoke. There are several campgrounds in the area as well as great hiking trails.

Hershey is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not the most popular destination for backpackers, but there are some fun activities in the area.

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

Roanoke and Hershey both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Roanoke. There are buses as well as a free trolley service through the downtown, but you really do need a car to get most places.

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

Is Roanoke or Hershey a more walkable city?

Roanoke and Hershey are respectable when it comes to walkability.

Roanoke is generally not a very walkable town. The downtown area is the most walkable part of town, with sidewalks and more dense development styles.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Roanoke?

How long in Roanoke or Hershey?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Roanoke and Hershey. In our opinion, Roanoke has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Roanoke than Hershey. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Roanoke, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hershey.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Roanoke 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 Roanoke.

One day in Roanoke or Hershey?

In Roanoke, you'll find museums and nightlife. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Hershey, you'll find shopping and museums. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Roanoke or Hershey?

In Roanoke, you'll find nightlife and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Roanoke has to offer.

In Hershey, you'll find museums and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hershey has to offer.

Five days in Roanoke or Hershey?

Roanoke is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Hershey is a great place to explore. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Roanoke or Hershey?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Roanoke. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Roanoke. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hershey. Many people enjoy the museums and shopping when visiting Hershey. It's also a relaxing resort destination. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roanoke and Hershey, we can see that Hershey is more expensive. And not only is Roanoke much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roanoke would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roanoke 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 Roanoke.

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

Which is Bigger, Roanoke or Hershey?

Roanoke has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Roanoke 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 Roanoke or Hershey?

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 Roanoke or Hershey in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Roanoke as well as Hershey. The summer months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

In the summer, Roanoke is around the same temperature as Hershey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Roanoke in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Hershey averages at about 77°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hershey. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Roanoke this time of the year. In the summer, Roanoke often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Roanoke gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.

Roanoke receives a lot of rain in the summer. Roanoke usually gets more rain in July than Hershey. Roanoke gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Roanoke or Hershey in the Autumn?

Both Hershey and Roanoke are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Roanoke this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene.

In October, Roanoke is generally a little warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Roanoke average around 60°F (16°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Roanoke. Roanoke usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during autumn. Roanoke gets 210 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Roanoke usually receives more rain than Hershey. Roanoke gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Roanoke or Hershey in the Winter?

Both Hershey and Roanoke during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Roanoke 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 Roanoke. Roanoke is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 38°F (3°C) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Roanoke often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Roanoke gets 165 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.

Roanoke usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Hershey. Roanoke gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Roanoke or Hershey in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Roanoke and Hershey.

In the spring, Roanoke is a little warmer than Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Roanoke in April average around 59°F (15°C), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hershey this time of the year. In Roanoke, it's very sunny this time of the year. Roanoke usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey during spring. Roanoke gets 246 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Roanoke usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hershey. Roanoke gets 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Roanoke