Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Sacramento?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Sacramento? 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 Sacramento?
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.
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital city and one of the oldest cities in the state of California. It was founded in 1849 in the midst of the Gold Rush, and has since grown to a population of over 500,000 people. The atmosphere is more laid back than most major cities, and its heritage is rooted in the Gold Rush and Transcontinental Railroad era.
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 $182Sacramento $281
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $281. 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 Sacramento in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Sacramento $111
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Sacramento $222
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Sacramento
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Sacramento? 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 Sacramento Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Sacramento $51
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sacramento
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $110
- Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Sacramento hotel/address- RoundTrip Private Transfer: $122
- Sacramento Airport to Northstar/Squaw Valley - Arrival Transfer: $218
- Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $221
- Round Trip Private Transfer in Sacramento Airport to Calistoga: $294
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Sacramento?
Prices for flights to both Sacramento 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 $52Sacramento $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Historic Old Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $95
- Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour: $98
- Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour: $98
- Midtown Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $125
- Midtown Walking Food Tour: $145
- Italian Cooking and Dance Class Experience: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Sacramento $19
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 Sacramento
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Gold Rush & Ghosts SmartPhone App Walking Tour: $6.50
- Gold Rush and Ghosts of Sacramento Smart Phone guided (App/GPS) Walking Tour: $6.75
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Historic Folsom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- Sacramento Urban Murals: A Self-Guided Cycling Tour: $8.99
- Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
- Driving in Delta’s Wine Country: Private Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Delta's History and Wine: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
- A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Jackson to Angels Camp: $12
- A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Placerville to Jackson: $12
- A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Auburn to Placerville: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Sacramento $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
- Placer County Wine Tasting Pass: $19
- Wine Tasting Audio Tour - Lodi California: $35
- Cider and Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch - near Sacramento: $125
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento 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 Sacramento Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Sacramento?
Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?
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 Sacramento in the Summer?
Both Sacramento and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many visitors come to Sacramento in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Hot Springs is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in Hot Springs in July average around 83°F (28°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).
In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Sacramento 76°F (24°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Sacramento in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Sacramento. Furthermore, most visitors come to Sacramento for the shopping scene during these months.
In October, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 64°F (18°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Sacramento 64°F (18°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Sacramento in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Sacramento. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Hot Springs can be very cold during winter. Hot Springs is much colder than Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 40°F (4°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Sacramento 45°F (7°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Sacramento in the Spring?
Both Sacramento and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.
In the spring, Hot Springs is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in Hot Springs in April average around 65°F (18°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).
It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Hot Springs. Hot Springs usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Sacramento 58°F (15°C)
Typical Weather for Sacramento and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Sacramento | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 inches (65 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.