Which place is cheaper, Kamloops or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Kamloops?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kamloops? 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.
Where Should I go: Hot Springs or Kamloops?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Kamloops
In British Columbia, Canada, Kamloops is perhaps most famous for the large number of tournaments it hosts, everything from the Strauss Canada Cup of Curling, to the World Fly Fishing Championships. It also hosts Skate Canada, Tim Horton's Olympic Qualifying Bike Race, and the World Junior Hockey Championships among others. The city is in the south central part of the province and it sits near the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River near Kamloops Lake. The city has a population of about 85,000 and it's the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Kamloops $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Kamloops is $81. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Hot Springs and Kamloops in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Kamloops $44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Kamloops $88
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Kamloops
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Kamloops? 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.
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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Kamloops Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Kamloops $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Kamloops?
Prices for flights to both Kamloops and Hot Springs 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
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Food Meals for one dayHot Springs $52Kamloops $24
Typical Food Prices in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Pastries$5.81
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Lunch for Two$25
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Coffee and Gelato$12
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Kamloops $13
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Kamloops
For Kamloops, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Vancouver and Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops and Vancouver: $6.31
- Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Kamloops & Revelstoke: $6.33
- Skip the Line: Kamloops BC Wildlife Park Admission Ticket: $14
- Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Kamloops by Zombie Scavengers: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Kamloops $6.77
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Kamloops, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. And not only is Kamloops much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kamloops would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kamloops 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs than you might in Kamloops.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Kamloops Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Kamloops?
Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 83% larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Kamloops, 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 Hot Springs or Kamloops?
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 Hot Springs or Kamloops in the Summer?
Both Kamloops and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit.
In the summer, Hot Springs is a little warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hot Springs in July average around 83°F (28°C), and Kamloops averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Kamloops. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Kamloops 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kamloops in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Kamloops.
In October, Hot Springs is generally much warmer than Kamloops. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 64°F (18°C), and Kamloops fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Kamloops 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kamloops in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Kamloops.
It's quite cold in Kamloops in the winter. The weather in Hot Springs can be very cold. Hot Springs is much warmer than Kamloops in the winter. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and Kamloops fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Kamloops. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Kamloops -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Kamloops in the Spring?
Both Kamloops and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Hot Springs is much warmer than Kamloops. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hot Springs in April average around 65°F (18°C), and Kamloops averages at about 12°C (53°F).
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Kamloops. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Kamloops receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Kamloops 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Kamloops and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Kamloops | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | -3°C (27°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 2°C (35°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 7°C (44°F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 12°C (53°F) | 15 mm (0.6 in) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 16°C (61°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 21°C (69°F) | 29 mm (1.1 in) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 23°C (73°F) | 30 mm (1.2 in) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 17°C (63°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 11°C (51°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 4°C (39°F) | 22 mm (0.9 in) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | -1°C (30°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.