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

Should you visit Arlington or Hershey?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Hershey, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Arlington

Arlington is a international, historical, and educational city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Arlington 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.

Arlington and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Arlington than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Arlington is better known for its museums and attractions, food, and nightlife, while Hershey is more popular for its resorts. Hershey is more touristy than Arlington and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Arlington is well known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. Also, Arlington is famous for Arlington National Cemetery.

How is Arlington different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Arlington is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Hershey is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Arlington offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Hershey offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Arlington or Hershey? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is a great destination for its restaurant scene. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arlington makes for a great culinary experience. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

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 Arlington or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Arlington know how to have a good time. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

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 Arlington or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Arlington is not a resort destination.

Hershey is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Arlington is not a resort destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Hershey?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Arlington and Hershey.

Arlington has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

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 Arlington or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is terrific for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Hershey is an amazing family-friendly town to visit. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Arlington. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

Is Arlington or Hershey Better for Couples?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

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.

Arlington is a nice destination for couples. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Is Arlington or Hershey Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is a great destination for backpackers. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

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 Arlington or Hershey Better for Students?

Arlington is a great destination for students. However, Hershey is not popular with students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Hershey is not popular with students.

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

Arlington is very popular for its public transit. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

Arlington has an effecient and thorough public transportation system which can take you anywhere in the city. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

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 Arlington or Hershey a more walkable city?

Arlington is a great destination for its walkability. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

Arlington is very walkable. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

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 Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Hershey Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Hershey?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Arlington and Hershey. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Arlington than in Hershey. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Arlington, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hershey.

Families should spend more time in Hershey than Arlington. 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.

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

One day in Arlington or Hershey?

In Arlington, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Hershey. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Arlington or Hershey?

In Arlington, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Arlington has to offer.

You'll find museums and shopping around the lighthearted destination of Hershey. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Arlington or Hershey?

Arlington is a great place to explore. 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.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the lighthearted town of Hershey. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Arlington or Hershey?

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

Hershey is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Hershey?

Arlington has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Arlington 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 Arlington 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 Arlington or Hershey in the Summer?

Both Hershey and Arlington during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Arlington in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Hershey for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

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

In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Arlington. In the summer, Arlington often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Arlington gets 278 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Hershey. Arlington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arlington or Hershey in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Arlington and Hershey. Most visitors come to Arlington for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Hershey because of the shopping scene.

In October, Arlington is generally a little warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Arlington average around 60°F (15°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Arlington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey during autumn. Arlington gets 197 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Arlington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hershey. Arlington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Arlington or Hershey in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Arlington as well as Hershey. The winter months attract visitors to Arlington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

It's quite cold in Hershey in the winter. The weather in Arlington can be very cold. Arlington is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Arlington averages around 35°F (1°C) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Arlington often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Arlington gets 139 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Hershey. Arlington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arlington or Hershey in the Spring?

Both Hershey and Arlington are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In the spring, Arlington is a little warmer than Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Arlington in April average around 56°F (14°C), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Hershey. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Arlington. Arlington usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey during spring. Arlington gets 228 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Arlington usually receives less rain than Hershey. Arlington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Arlington