Which place is cheaper, Tampa or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Tampa?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Tampa? 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 Tampa?
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.
Tampa
On the north shore of Tampa Bay, across the water from Saint Peterburg, is the city of Tampa. The city has a population of almost 350,000. The metropolitan area includes Tampa, St. Peterburg, and Clearwater. It has about 2.9 million residents and is the second largest metropolitan area in the state. The city is a popular destination for outdoor activities and in 2008 it was ranked the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes.
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 $182Tampa $179
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Tampa is $179. 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 Tampa in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Tampa $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Tampa $170
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Tampa
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Tampa? 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 Tampa Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Tampa $69
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 Tampa
Also for Tampa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private transfer: From Tampa to airport and vice versa : $18
- Private Arrival Transfer - from Tampa Airport (TPA): $36
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa hotels - Arrival Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa hotels to Tampa Bay Cruise Port-Departure Private Transfer : $50
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Arrival Private Transfer: $54
- Private Transfer to/from Tampa Airport (TPA): $69
- Departure Private Transfer: Tampa City to Tampa Airport TPA in Business Car: $72
- Arrival Private Transfer: Tampa Airport TPA to Tampa City in Business Car: $72
- Tampa Bay Cruise Port to Tampa Hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Tampa Bay Cruise Port - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $100
- Tampa Airport (TPA) to Lakeland / Winter Haven - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $107
- Private Transfer from Tampa Airport to Clearwater: $120
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Tampa?
Prices for flights to both Tampa 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 $52Tampa $53
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tampa
For Tampa, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Class near Disney in Tampa Florida: $88
- Ybor City Food Tour On Sundays: $89
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Tampa $20
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 Tampa
For Tampa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ybor City Immigrant influence Smart Phone guided App (GPS) walking tour: $6.50
- Tampa Riverwalk: A Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $7.31
- Smartphone Audio Private Walking Tour in Tampa Riverwalk: $7.99
- Tampa Terrors Ghost Tour: $26
- Tampa Terrors Ghost Tour By US Ghost Adventures: $30
- Shared Ybor City Historic Walking Tour: $30
- Downtown Tampa Historic Walking Tour: $30
- The Official Downtown Tampa Ghost Tour: $30
- 1.5-hour Dolphin Sightseeing Cruise from Tampa: $31
- Tampa Celebrity Homes Boat Tour: $31
- Tampa History Cruise: $31
- The Florida Aquarium Ticket: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Tampa $26
Sample the Local Flavors in Tampa
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tampa:
- Tampa Bar Crawl on a 2023 Street Legal Golf Cart: $40
- Haunted Pub Crawl: $40
- Ybor City Private Brewery Tour by Custom Golf Cart: $200
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Tampa, 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 Tampa Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Hot Springs or Tampa?
Tampa has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Hot Springs. When comparing the sizes of Hot Springs and Tampa, 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 Tampa?
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 Tampa in the Summer?
Both Tampa and Hot Springs during the summer are popular places to visit. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.
In July, Hot Springs is generally around the same temperature as Tampa. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 83°F (28°C), and Tampa fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).
In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Hot Springs. In the summer, Hot Springs often gets more sunshine than Tampa. Hot Springs gets 364 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tampa receives 265 hours of full sun.
Tampa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Hot Springs usually gets less rain in July than Tampa. Hot Springs gets 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyHot Springs 83°F (28°C)Tampa 82°F (28°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Tampa in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Hot Springs and Tampa. Also, many travelers come to Tampa for the city's sights and attractions.
Hot Springs is cooler than Tampa in the autumn. The daily temperature in Hot Springs averages around 64°F (18°C) in October, and Tampa fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In Hot Springs, it's very sunny this time of the year. Hot Springs usually receives more sunshine than Tampa during autumn. Hot Springs gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Tampa receives 234 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Tampa. Hot Springs gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberHot Springs 64°F (18°C)Tampa 75°F (24°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Tampa in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Hot Springs as well as Tampa. Also, many visitors come to Tampa in the winter for the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Hot Springs. In the winter, Hot Springs is much colder than Tampa. Typically, the winter temperatures in Hot Springs in January average around 40°F (4°C), and Tampa averages at about 60°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Hot Springs this time of the year. In the winter, Hot Springs often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Tampa. Hot Springs gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tampa receives 200 hours of full sun.
Hot Springs usually gets more rain in January than Tampa. Hot Springs gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryHot Springs 40°F (4°C)Tampa 60°F (15°C)
Should I visit Hot Springs or Tampa in the Spring?
Both Tampa and Hot Springs are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Tampa for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.
In April, Hot Springs is generally cooler than Tampa. Daily temperatures in Hot Springs average around 65°F (18°C), and Tampa fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).
It's quite sunny in Tampa. 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 Tampa during spring. Hot Springs gets 304 hours of sunny skies, while Tampa receives 299 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Hot Springs. In April, Hot Springs usually receives more rain than Tampa. Hot Springs gets 5.2 inches (133 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilHot Springs 65°F (18°C)Tampa 71°F (22°C)
Typical Weather for Tampa and Hot Springs
| Hot Springs | Tampa | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 40°F (4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) | 60°F (15°C) | 2.3 inches (59 mm) |
| Feb | 45°F (7°C) | 3.6 inches (91 mm) | 61°F (16°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
| Mar | 54°F (12°C) | 4.8 inches (121 mm) | 67°F (19°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) |
| Apr | 65°F (18°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 71°F (22°C) | 2.1 inches (53 mm) |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 77°F (25°C) | 2.4 inches (61 mm) |
| Jun | 79°F (26°C) | 3.3 inches (85 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.5 inches (165 mm) |
| Jul | 83°F (28°C) | 3.6 inches (92 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 8.4 inches (214 mm) |
| Aug | 81°F (27°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 82°F (28°C) | 8 inches (203 mm) |
| Sep | 75°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) | 81°F (27°C) | 6.3 inches (161 mm) |
| Oct | 64°F (18°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |
| Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 5.1 inches (130 mm) | 68°F (20°C) | 1.8 inches (45 mm) |
| Dec | 44°F (6°C) | 4.6 inches (118 mm) | 62°F (17°C) | 2.2 inches (56 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.