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

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Hershey?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill 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.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a collegiate, southern, and student-oriented town. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Hershey

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

Chapel Hill and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Chapel Hill than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Chapel Hill is better known for its museums, food, and nightlife, while Hershey is more popular for its resorts. Hershey is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is known for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Chapel Hill is well known for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States. Also, Chapel Hill is famous for the University of North Carolina.

How is Chapel Hill different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

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

Chapel Hill offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the museums are affiliated with UNC. A highlight of many trips is a visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Hours can vary, so check the schedule ahead of time. Also worth visiting are the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum.

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 Chapel Hill or Hershey? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Chapel Hill offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Students often eat on Franklin Street, which has a diverse mix of casual and slightly nicer restaurants. You'll find Indian food, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek. The city also has excellent barbecue and other southern favorites.

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 Chapel Hill or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

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

The people in Chapel Hill know how to have a good time. Most of the nightlife is centered around the student population. Franklin Street has a number of bars where students hang out. There are also parties hosted by fraternities and sororities. Things are quieter during the summer months when students are mostly gone.

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 Chapel Hill or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is well known for its resorts. However, Chapel Hill 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.

Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Hershey and Chapel Hill.

Many visitors go to Chapel Hill to go shopping. There are a mix of local shops, larger shopping centers, and suburban malls. There are also weekly farmer's markets that are fun to check out.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Hershey. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Is Chapel Hill or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is very popular for its family-friendly activities. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-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.

Chapel Hill offers lots of family activities. You can wander around the UNC campus or visit one of the museums affiliated with the school. This includes a planetarium that has regular shows and movies (The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). There are also science exhibits geared specifically towards kids.

Is Chapel Hill or Hershey Better for Couples?

Hershey is well known for couples. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Hershey frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Chapel Hill is a nice destination for couples. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants on Franklin Street. Couples will also enjoy exploring the campus at UNC, visiting the botanical garden, or checking out one of the town's museums.

Is Chapel Hill or Hershey Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is very popular for students. However, Hershey is not popular with students.

Many students frequent Chapel Hill. It's a quintessential college town. UNC has a nice campus and Franklin Street is the main spot for restaurants and shopping. Most of the students live near or on campus, but once you head further out things get more suburban.

Hershey is not popular with students.

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

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

You'll find some public transit in Chapel Hill, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

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 Chapel Hill or Hershey a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its walkability. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its high level of walkability.

Chapel Hill is somewhat walkable. The area around UNC is the most walkable part of town. Elsewhere things are very suburban and you'll need a car.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Chapel Hill?

How long in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

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

Families should spend more time in Hershey than Chapel Hill. 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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill.

One day in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

In Chapel Hill, you'll find nightlife and food. 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.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the playful town of Hershey. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

In Chapel Hill, 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 Chapel Hill has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the museums and shopping when visiting the playful destination of Hershey. It's also a relaxing resort destination. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

Chapel Hill 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.

The fun-filled town of Hershey offers shopping and museums. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Chapel Hill or Hershey?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and shopping when visiting Hershey. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Hershey?

Chapel Hill has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill 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 Chapel Hill or Hershey in the Summer?

Both Hershey and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

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

It's quite sunny in Hershey. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually receives less sunshine than Hershey during summer. Chapel Hill gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Chapel Hill. In July, Chapel Hill usually receives more rain than Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Hershey in the Autumn?

Both Hershey and Chapel Hill during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene.

In October, Chapel Hill is generally a little warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 61°F (16°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

It's quite sunny in Chapel Hill. In the autumn, Chapel Hill often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Hershey in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and Hershey. Many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, 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 Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

Chapel Hill usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey during winter. Chapel Hill gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Chapel Hill usually receives more rain than Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Hershey in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as Hershey.

In the spring, Chapel Hill is a little warmer than Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Chapel Hill in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hershey. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chapel Hill this time of the year. In the spring, Chapel Hill often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Hershey. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Chapel Hill