Which place is cheaper, Beaver Creek or Lancaster?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lancaster or Beaver Creek, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Lancaster is a scenic, traditional, and picturesque town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.
Beaver Creek is a adventurous, charming, and active town. It's also popular because of the shopping, skiing, and food.
Visitors will usually find more to do in Beaver Creek than Lancaster, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Beaver Creek is better known for its skiing, theatre productions, food, resorts, and hiking, while Lancaster is more popular for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty. Beaver Creek is more touristy than Lancaster and is known for its skiing and charming atmosphere Also, Beaver Creek is famous for Beaver Creek Golf Club. Lancaster is well known for its history and long running Amish community.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Beaver Creek and Lancaster. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Beaver Creek is an amazing town to visit for skiing. However, Lancaster is not a skiing destination.
The snow ski experience you'll have in Beaver Creek is among the best in the world. Beaver Creek Ski Resort is a top ski destination with 26 lifts and 149 different trails. It climbs to an elevation of 11,440 feet and the village is filled with ski-in/ski-out accommodation. There's also an excellent ski school.
Lancaster is not a skiing destination.
Lancaster is a great town for its historical sights. However, Beaver Creek does not have museums and landmarks.
With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Lancaster can be an interesting and educational experience. Filled with history and local culture, there are many educational opportunities in the area where you can learn about Amish traditions. The Amish Village has tours and unique experiences. The town also has James Buchanan's Wheatland, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum, the Ephrata Cloister, and the National Watch & Clock Museum, among many others.
Beaver Creek does not have museums and landmarks.
Beaver Creek is mediocre for its shows and theatre. However, Lancaster is not a theatre destination.
While not known for its theater, you might be able to find something in Beaver Creek while you're in town. There are a couple of art galleries around town.
Lancaster is not a theatre destination.
Beaver Creek is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Lancaster is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.
Beaver Creek has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There are many great dining options where you can enjoy a meal after working up an appetite on the slopes. The cuisine has many mountain classics as well as fine dining and more casual restaurants.
Lancaster offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You can sample authentic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes at one of the Amish restaurants in the area. Many places serve food family-style and dishes include chicken pot pie, ham balls, and pork and sauerkraut. Whoopie pies also originated in the area.
If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find respectable options in both Lancaster and Beaver Creek.
Lancaster doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town, but you'll still find local pubs and cozy bars where you can enjoy a drink in a laid back atmosphere.
Most people don't head to Beaver Creek specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. You won't find a wild nightlife scene, but most of the activities center around the Vilar Performing Arts Center.
Beaver Creek is a nice place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Lancaster is not a resort destination.
Beaver Creek has a few great resort options. There are many resorts in the area including the Westin and the Hyatt.
Lancaster is not a resort destination.
Beaver Creek is a great town for hiking. However, Lancaster is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors go to Beaver Creek for the hiking trails. The surrounding countryside is filled with trails that take you through flowered meadows, along scenic ridgelines, and to the top of dramatic peaks. During the warmer months, hiking is a wonderful way to enjoy the area.
Lancaster is not a hiking destination.
Lancaster is a great town for shopping. Also, Beaver Creek is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping opportunities.
Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Lancaster. Many visitors pick up hand-crafted Amish items while they're in town. Furniture and Amish quilts are particularly popular. Farmers markets and antique shopping are both unique in the area and there are also art galleries and several outlet stores that you can visit.
Beaver Creek offers some nice shopping areas. The village has pedestrian streets that are lined with fashion boutiques, jewelry stores, sporting equipment stores, and art galleries.
Beaver Creek is an amazing town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Lancaster is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.
Beaver Creek is an amazing family-friendly town to visit. This is one of the most kid-friendly ski resorts in the country. There's a ski and snowboard school where kids can enjoy private or group lessons as well as other fun activities for kids. There are also many family-friendly restaurants in the area.
Lancaster is a very family-friendly place to visit. In you area you'll find farms and petting zoos, amusement parks, and train rides. They can learn about a unique lifestyle at the Amish Experience or soak up the local beauty and farmland in the surrounding countryside.
Lancaster and Beaver Creek are both superb to visit as a couple.
Lancaster is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. This region is known for it's local beauty and serene farmland, making it a relaxing and peaceful destination for couples. There are walking trails, outdoor activities, buggy rides, and a variety of dining experiences. You can also stay at a bed and breakfast or local inn.
Beaver Creek is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are romantic resorts nearby as well as great adventure sports, skiing, snowboarding, and a beautiful setting.
Beaver Creek is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Lancaster is not known for its public transit.
While Beaver Creek offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There free transportation that's offered by Village Transportation.
Public transit is generally limited in Lancaster. The city has buses and several transportation options, but once you're outside of the urban core, your options are limited.
Beaver Creek is an amazing town to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Lancaster is not known for its walkability.
Beaver Creek is a very easy town to get around on foot. It's a quaint little village that is very walkable.
Lancaster is generally not very walkable. While the city itself has walkable areas, most visitors want to get out and explore the countryside, which requires a car.
For even more information, also check out Is Lancaster Worth Visiting? and Is Beaver Creek Worth Visiting?.
Both Lancaster and Beaver Creek have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Beaver Creek than in Lancaster. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Lancaster, and 3-7 days is enough time in Beaver Creek.
Families should spend more time in Beaver Creek than Lancaster. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Beaver Creek, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Beaver Creek than Lancaster. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Beaver Creek that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Beaver Creek than Lancaster if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Beaver Creek.
In Lancaster, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this picturesque town offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
You'll find food and shopping around the town of Beaver Creek. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Lancaster is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.
You'll find shopping and skiing around the active destination of Beaver Creek. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.
You'll find food and shopping around the scenic destination of Lancaster. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.
You'll find skiing and food around the adventurous town of Beaver Creek. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Most people head to the area for the skiing. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer.
Lancaster is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Beaver Creek is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Beaver Creek, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lancaster is $183, while the average daily cost in Beaver Creek is $316. 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 Lancaster and Beaver Creek in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Lancaster or Beaver Creek? 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.
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Prices for flights to both Beaver Creek and Lancaster 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.
For Lancaster, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Lancaster.
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lancaster:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lancaster and Beaver Creek, we can see that Beaver Creek is more expensive. And not only is Lancaster much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lancaster would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lancaster 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 Beaver Creek would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaver Creek than you might in Lancaster.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lancaster Expensive? and Is Beaver Creek Expensive?.