Which place is cheaper, Moab or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Moab?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Moab? 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 Moab?
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.
Moab
Moab is the closest town to Arches National Park in Utah's Canyon Country. It is also a popular base for exploring Canyonlands National Park. It's a small town that serves mainly to accommodate tourists to the popular national parks and other surrounding wildlife areas. It has grown dramatically in recent years and has a population of just over 5,000. In town you will find hotels and motels, a handful of restaurants and a few shops where you can stock up on supplies. There's a small museum, the Museum of Moab, and a variety of tour operators in town. You can easily book river rafting trips, jeep expeditions, and tours of the surrounding area. For many, exploring Arches National Park on your own is a more enjoyable and independent experience.
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 Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Moab $388
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Moab is $388. 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 Moab in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Moab $336
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Moab $672
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Moab
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Moab? 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 Moab Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Moab $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $143
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Moab?
Prices for flights to both Moab 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 $52Moab $37
Typical Food Prices in Moab
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Moab:
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Moab Brewery$42
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Breakfast for Two$17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Moab
For Moab, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Colorado River Dinner Cruise with Music and Light Show: $99
- Colorado River Sunset Boat Tour with Optional Dinner: $109
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Moab $3.13
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Moab
For Moab, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Slickrock Trail Pass$5.00
Tours and Activities in Moab
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Moab.
- La Sal Mountain Loop: Scenic Self-Driving App Tour: $8.99
- La Sal Mountain Loop Scenic Drive: Half-Day Audio Driving Private Tour : $8.99
- Canyonlands National Park: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $8.99
- Arches National Park: Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $8.99
- La Sal Mountain: Scenic Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $12
- Canyonlands National Park Self-Driving Tour: $13
- Arches National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17
- Explore Arches, Canyonlands & La Sal Audio Tour Guide: $19
- Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks Self-Driving Bundle Tour: $25
- Moab Giants Dinosaur Park and Museum Entrance Ticket: $28
- Ultimate Utah Combo Self-Driving Audio Tour: $40
- Utah: The Grand Circle Self-Guided Driving Tour Bundle: $42
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Moab $66
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Moab, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Hot Springs much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hot Springs would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hot Springs 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Hot Springs.
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 Moab Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Moab?
Hot Springs has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Moab, 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.
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.