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

Should you visit Arlington or Lancaster?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Lancaster, 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 educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Lancaster

Lancaster is a picturesque, scenic, and traditional town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Arlington and Lancaster: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Lancaster?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Arlington than Lancaster. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Arlington is very popular for its food and nightlife, while Lancaster attracts visitors for its shopping and impressive beauty. Arlington is more touristy than Lancaster and is known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. It is also well known for Arlington National Cemetery. Lancaster is famous for its history and long running Amish community.

How is Arlington different from Lancaster?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Lancaster and Arlington.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Arlington can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Lancaster. Filled with history and local culture, there are many educational opportunities in the area where you can learn about Amish traditions. The Amish Village has tours and unique experiences. The town also has James Buchanan's Wheatland, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum, the Ephrata Cloister, and the National Watch & Clock Museum, among many others.

Is the Food Better in Arlington or Lancaster? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Lancaster is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Lancaster offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You can sample authentic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes at one of the Amish restaurants in the area. Many places serve food family-style and dishes include chicken pot pie, ham balls, and pork and sauerkraut. Whoopie pies also originated in the area.

Is Arlington or Lancaster Better for Nightlife?

Arlington is a great city for its evening party scene. However, Lancaster is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Arlington has something for everybody. 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.

Most people don't head to Lancaster specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town, but you'll still find local pubs and cozy bars where you can enjoy a drink in a laid back atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Lancaster?

Lancaster is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Lancaster. Many visitors pick up hand-crafted Amish items while they're in town. Furniture and Amish quilts are particularly popular. Farmers markets and antique shopping are both unique in the area and there are also art galleries and several outlet stores that you can visit.

Arlington is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Arlington or Lancaster Better for Families?

Lancaster is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Arlington is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lancaster. In you area you'll find farms and petting zoos, amusement parks, and train rides. They can learn about a unique lifestyle at the Amish Experience or soak up the local beauty and farmland in the surrounding countryside.

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 Lancaster Better for Couples?

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

Lancaster makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This region is known for it's local beauty and serene farmland, making it a relaxing and peaceful destination for couples. There are walking trails, outdoor activities, buggy rides, and a variety of dining experiences. You can also stay at a bed and breakfast or local inn.

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 Lancaster Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is a great city for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Lancaster is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers 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.

Lancaster is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although it's often overlooked by backpackers, the region offers a unique cultural experience.

Is Arlington or Lancaster Better for Students?

Arlington is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Lancaster is not popular with students.

Arlington is a great city to visit as a student. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Lancaster is not popular with students.

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

Arlington is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Lancaster is not known for its public transit.

Public transit in Arlington is top-notch. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Public transit is generally limited in Lancaster. The city has buses and several transportation options, but once you're outside of the urban core, your options are limited.

Is Arlington or Lancaster a more walkable city?

Arlington is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Lancaster is not known for its walkability.

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

Lancaster is generally not very walkable. While the city itself has walkable areas, most visitors want to get out and explore the countryside, which requires a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Lancaster Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lancaster or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Lancaster?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Arlington. 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Lancaster. 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 Lancaster?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historical destination of Arlington. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find museums and food around the scenic destination of Lancaster. 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 Lancaster?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historical city of Arlington. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the traditional town of Lancaster. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Arlington or Lancaster?

Arlington is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Lancaster is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Lancaster, we can see that Arlington is more expensive. And not only is Lancaster much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lancaster would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lancaster 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 Lancaster.

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

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Lancaster?

Arlington has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lancaster. When comparing the sizes of Arlington and Lancaster, 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 Lancaster?

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 Arlington or Lancaster in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Arlington and Lancaster. The summer months attract visitors to Arlington because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lancaster this time of year.

Arlington is around the same temperature as Lancaster in the summer. The daily temperature in Arlington averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Lancaster fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lancaster this time of the year. In Arlington, it's very sunny this time of the year. Arlington usually receives less sunshine than Lancaster during summer. Arlington gets 278 hours of sunny skies, while Lancaster receives 310 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Arlington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lancaster. Arlington gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Arlington or Lancaster in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Arlington as well as Lancaster. The shopping scene are the main draw to Arlington this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Lancaster for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Arlington is a little warmer than Lancaster. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Arlington in October average around 60°F (15°C), and Lancaster averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In the autumn, Arlington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lancaster. Arlington gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lancaster receives 194 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Lancaster. Arlington gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Arlington or Lancaster in the Winter?

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

Lancaster can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Arlington. In January, Arlington is generally much warmer than Lancaster. Daily temperatures in Arlington average around 35°F (1°C), and Lancaster fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

Arlington usually receives less sunshine than Lancaster during winter. Arlington gets 139 hours of sunny skies, while Lancaster receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Arlington usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lancaster. Arlington gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Arlington or Lancaster in the Spring?

Both Lancaster and Arlington during the spring are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Lancaster for the natural beauty during these months.

Arlington is a little warmer than Lancaster in the spring. The daily temperature in Arlington averages around 56°F (14°C) in April, and Lancaster fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In Lancaster, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Arlington. In the spring, Arlington often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lancaster. Arlington gets 228 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lancaster receives 237 hours of full sun.

Arlington usually gets less rain in April than Lancaster. Arlington gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Lancaster and Arlington