A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Gainesville vs. Pocono Mountains for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Gainesville or Pocono Mountains?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Pocono Mountains, 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.

Where Should I go: Gainesville or Pocono Mountains?

Gainesville

Home to the University of Florida as well as Santa Fe College, the town of Gainesville has all of the shopping, entertainment, and restaurants that you could want in a college town - plus easy access to a number of outdoor adventures from canoeing, diving, and kayaking to birding, fishing, hiking, and biking. Some of the top features include the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, and Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.

Pocono Mountains

The Poconos are a region of mountains, small towns, and natural areas in Eastern Pennsylvania. Located just a few hours from both New York City and Philadelphia, this region of 4 counties (Wayne, Pike, Monroe, & Carbon) consists of plenty of mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes, historic small towns, ski resorts, state parks, water parks, and more.

Which city is cheaper, Pocono Mountains or Gainesville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $215, while the average daily cost in Pocono Mountains is $174. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Gainesville and Pocono Mountains in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gainesville $119
    Pocono Mountains $89
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gainesville $238
    Pocono Mountains $178
Compare Hotels in Gainesville and Pocono Mountains

Looking for a hotel in Gainesville or Pocono Mountains? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Gainesville


Hotels in Pocono Mountains


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Gainesville Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gainesville $41
    Pocono Mountains $49

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gainesville

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Gainesville:

  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando (MCO) Airport: $453
  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Port Canaveral: $658
  • Private Transfer from Gainesville to Orlando-Sanford (SFB) Airport: $676

Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Pocono Mountains?

Prices for flights to both Pocono Mountains and Gainesville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gainesville $70
    Pocono Mountains $53
Typical Food prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gainesville $20
    Pocono Mountains $30
Typical Entertainment prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • Tour Guide Tip
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Gainesville

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:

  • Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $14

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gainesville $49
    Pocono Mountains $13


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


When is the best time to visit Gainesville or Pocono Mountains?

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 Gainesville or Pocono Mountains in the Summer?

Both Pocono Mountains and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities.

In the summer, Gainesville is a little warmer than Pocono Mountains. Typically, the summer temperatures in Gainesville in July are around 81°F (27°C), and Pocono Mountains is about 75°F (24°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pocono Mountains. It's quite rainy in Gainesville. In July, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Pocono Mountains. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gainesville 81°F (27°C) 
    Pocono Mountains 75°F (24°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Pocono Mountains in the Autumn?

Both Pocono Mountains and Gainesville during the autumn are popular places to visit.

In October, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Temperatures in Gainesville average around 71°F (22°C), and Pocono Mountains stays around 55°F (13°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in October than Pocono Mountains. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gainesville 71°F (22°C) 
    Pocono Mountains 55°F (13°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Pocono Mountains in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Pocono Mountains.

Pocono Mountains can be very cold during winter. Gainesville is much warmer than Pocono Mountains in the winter. The temperature in Gainesville is usually 54°F (12°C) in January, and Pocono Mountains stays around 28°F (-2°C).

In January, Gainesville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pocono Mountains. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gainesville 54°F (12°C) 
    Pocono Mountains 28°F (-2°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Pocono Mountains in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Pocono Mountains.

In the spring, Gainesville is much warmer than Pocono Mountains. Typically, the spring temperatures in Gainesville in April are around 69°F (20°C), and Pocono Mountains is about 51°F (11°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in April than Pocono Mountains. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Pocono Mountains receives 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gainesville 69°F (20°C) 
    Pocono Mountains 51°F (11°C)

Typical Weather for Pocono Mountains and Gainesville

Gainesville Pocono Mountains
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 54°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm) 28°F (-2°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Feb 57°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm) 31°F (-1°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Mar 63°F (17°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 41°F (5°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Apr 69°F (20°C) 2 inches (50 mm) 51°F (11°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
May 75°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 62°F (17°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Jun 80°F (26°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 71°F (22°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 75°F (24°C) 4.4 inches (111 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 8.3 inches (211 mm) 73°F (23°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm)
Sep 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (139 mm) 66°F (19°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Oct 71°F (22°C) 2 inches (51 mm) 55°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)
Nov 63°F (17°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 45°F (7°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Dec 56°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 33°F (1°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)


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Gainesville vs. Pocono Mountains Travel Comparison

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