Which place is cheaper, Memphis or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Memphis?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Memphis? 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 Memphis?
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.
Memphis
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in southwest Tennessee, Memphis is a city famous for the blues, soul, and Rock 'n' Roll music that originated there. There are a number of museums and historic landmarks like Elvis Presley's Graceland dedicated to that history, while areas of the city like Beale Street keep the musical culture alive today with a vibrant scene of bars, restaurants, and live music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesMemphis Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Memphis $199
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Memphis is $199. 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 Memphis in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Memphis $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Memphis $168
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Memphis
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Memphis? 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 Memphis Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Memphis $59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Memphis
Also for Memphis, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Memphis Airport Transfers: $60
- Private Departure Transfer to Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Private Arrival Transfer from Memphis Airport MEM: $72
- Memphis Airport (MEM) to Memphis City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $171
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Memphis?
Prices for flights to both Memphis 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 $90Memphis $74
Typical Food Prices in Memphis
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Memphis:
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Baskin Robins (for 2)$6.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Memphis
For Memphis, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taste of Downtown Memphis Food Tour: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Memphis $45
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $15
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Memphis
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Memphis.
- Memphis Grizzlies Basketball Game Ticket at FedExForum: $3.36
- Memphis Grizzlies Basketball Game Ticket: $5.35
- Beale Street Experience Audio App Self Guided Walking Tour: $7.75
- Memphis Music Hall of Fame Admission Ticket: $8.00
- Memphis Civil Rights Smartphone Guided Walking Tour: $9.75
- Entry Ticket to the Edge Motor Museum: $10
- Memphis Botanic Garden Entry Ticket: $12
- A Self Guided Walking Tour of Brews, Blues and BBQ in Memphis: $15
- Woodruff-Fontaine House Museum Admission Ticket in Memphis: $15
- Memphis Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- 1-Hour Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $22
- Beale Street Guided Walking Tour: $22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Memphis $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Memphis
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Memphis:
- Drinking Spirits with Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl: $27
- Haunted Pub Crawl in Memphis: $31
- Guided Bar Crawl on a Pedal Bike: $40
- Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $69
- Signature Guided Brewery Tour: $69
- #1 Way To See Beale Street, Bar Crawl and Murals: $430
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Memphis, we can see that Hot Springs is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Memphis Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Memphis?
Memphis has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Memphis, 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 Memphis?
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 Memphis in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Memphis. Also, many visitors come to Memphis in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Memphis. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Memphis fluctuates around 83°F (29°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Memphis. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 328 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Memphis 83°F (29°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Memphis in the Autumn?
Both Memphis and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Memphis for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.
Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Memphis in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Memphis fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
It's quite sunny in Memphis. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Memphis during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 240 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Memphis 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Memphis in the Winter?
Both Memphis and Hot Springs during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Memphis because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
The weather in Memphis can be very cold. Hot Springs can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Hot Springs is around the same temperature as Memphis. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Memphis averages at about 40°F (5°C).
It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Memphis receives 163 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 2.4 inches (62 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Memphis 40°F (5°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Memphis in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Memphis. Furthermore, the activities around the city are the main draw to Memphis this time of year.
In April, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Memphis. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Memphis fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Memphis this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Memphis during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Memphis receives 254 hours of full sun in the spring.
Memphis receives a lot of rain in the spring. Hot Springs gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Memphis. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Memphis receives 4.3 inches (109 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Memphis 64°F (18°C)
Typical Weather for Memphis and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Memphis | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 40°F (5°C) | 2.4 inches (62 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 4.2 inches (106 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 4.3 inches (109 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.3 inches (84 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 80°F (27°C) | 2.3 inches (58 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 83°F (29°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 2.8 inches (72 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (66 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.6 inches (41 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 44°F (7°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) |
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.