A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Lancaster vs. Providence for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Lancaster or Providence?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lancaster or Providence, 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

Lancaster is a picturesque, scenic, and traditional town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Lancaster and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lancaster or Providence?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Lancaster than Providence. While Providence is larger than Lancaster, Lancaster has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Lancaster is very popular for its museums, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Providence attracts visitors for its food and nightlife. Lancaster is more touristy than Providence and is known for its history and long running Amish community. It is also well known for Bird-in-Hand Village. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Lancaster different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Providence and Lancaster. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lancaster or Providence?

Lancaster is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Lancaster. 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

Is the Food Better in Lancaster or Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Lancaster is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Providence has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

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.

Is Lancaster or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Providence is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Lancaster is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Providence has a few options to choose from. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Most people don't head to Lancaster specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Lancaster or Providence?

Lancaster is a great town for its shopping areas. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in 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.

Providence is a great destination for shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Lancaster or Providence Better for Families?

Lancaster is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lancaster. 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.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Lancaster or Providence Better for Couples?

Lancaster is a great town for couples. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

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.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Lancaster or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Lancaster is not popular with students.

Providence is a great city to visit as a student. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Lancaster is not popular with students.

Is Lancaster or Providence Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Providence 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 Providence offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

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.

Is Lancaster or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Lancaster is not known for its walkability.

Providence is a very walkable destination. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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 Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Lancaster?

How long in Lancaster or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Lancaster and Providence. In our opinion, Providence has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Providence than Lancaster. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Lancaster than Providence. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Lancaster, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Lancaster than Providence. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Lancaster that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence 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 Providence.

One day in Lancaster or Providence?

With museums and food around the scenic town of Lancaster, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Providence. 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.

A weekend in Lancaster or Providence?

With food and shopping around the destination of Lancaster, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Providence. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Lancaster or Providence?

Lancaster, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active city of Providence. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Lancaster or Providence?

Lancaster is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Providence is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. 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.

When comparing the travel costs between Lancaster and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Lancaster Expensive? and Is Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Lancaster or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Lancaster. When comparing the sizes of Lancaster and Providence, 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 Lancaster or Providence?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lancaster or Providence in the Summer?

Both Providence and Lancaster are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lancaster for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Lancaster is around the same temperature as Providence in the summer. The daily temperature in Lancaster averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Providence. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lancaster. Lancaster usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Providence during summer. Lancaster gets 310 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Lancaster usually receives more rain than Providence. Lancaster gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Lancaster or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence and Lancaster during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lancaster in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Providence for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Lancaster is a little warmer than Providence. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lancaster in October average around 56°F (13°C), and Providence averages at about 53°F (12°C).

In Providence, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Lancaster often gets less sunshine than Providence. Lancaster gets 194 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 211 hours of full sun.

Lancaster usually gets less rain in October than Providence. Lancaster gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lancaster or Providence in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Lancaster and Providence. Most visitors come to Lancaster for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Providence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Providence can be very cold. Lancaster can be very cold during winter. In January, Lancaster is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Lancaster average around 30°F (-1°C), and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

Lancaster usually receives less sunshine than Providence during winter. Lancaster gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Providence receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Lancaster usually receives less rain than Providence. Lancaster gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Lancaster or Providence in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Lancaster as well as Providence. The spring months attract visitors to Lancaster because of the natural beauty.

Lancaster is a little warmer than Providence in the spring. The daily temperature in Lancaster averages around 53°F (12°C) in April, and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Providence. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lancaster this time of the year. In the spring, Lancaster often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Providence. Lancaster gets 237 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Providence receives 225 hours of full sun.

Lancaster usually gets less rain in April than Providence. Lancaster gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Providence and Lancaster