A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Hershey for Families, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Tampa or Hershey?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Hershey? 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.

Tampa

Tampa is a low-key, laid-back, and easy-going city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for food and beaches.

Hershey

Hershey is a playful, lighthearted, and fun-filled town. It's also popular because of the shopping and museums.

Tampa and Hershey: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Hershey?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Tampa than Hershey, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Tampa is better known for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Hershey is more popular for its museums, resorts, and shopping. Hershey is more touristy than Tampa and is popular for being the home of the Hershey's milk chocolate bar. Tampa is well known for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. Also, Tampa is famous for Busch Gardens.

How is Tampa different from Hershey?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tampa or Hershey?

Hershey is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Hershey. In addition to Hershey's Chocolate World, there's the Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Historic Center, and the Pennsylvania State Police Museum. There's also the AACA Museum (a car museum).

Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Tampa or Hershey? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tampa is a popular place for its restaurant scene. However, Hershey is a town with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

Tampa offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are a surprising number of great local restaurants around town as well as a good food truck scene. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hershey. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining, and many have a very family-friendly atmosphere.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Nightlife?

Both Tampa and Hershey have respectable vibes after the sun sets.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Tampa. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Hershey is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Head to downtown Harrisburg for the best nightlife. You'll find some bars and casino's in the area.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Resorts?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Tampa is not a resort destination.

Hershey is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are a few of resorts affiliated with Hersheypark including a lodge, a hotel, and even camping.

Tampa is not a resort destination.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a city with a few options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Hershey is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Tampa has a few snorkeling spots. While the water isn't always the clearest, there are some nice snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Options include Shell Key and Egmont Key, Crystal River, and Fort De Soto.

Hershey is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Beaches?

Tampa is a great destination for its beaches. However, Hershey is not a beach destination.

Tampa is considered a top beach destination. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Hershey is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Hershey?

Hershey is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Hershey has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find shops, boutiques, and plenty of Hershey apparel that you can pick up in town.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Families?

Hershey is an amazing town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Tampa is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Hershey is a very family-friendly destination. Hersheypark offers family-friendly resorts and camping. There's also the themed amusement park and even a zoo. When the weather's warm there's a water park and, of course, there's the famous Hershey's Chocolate World.

Tampa is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Couples?

Hershey is an excellent place to visit for couples. However, Tampa is lacking in options for romance.

Hershey makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you don't take yourself too seriously, couples can enjoy a fun and active few days exploring the activities in the area.

Tampa is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore, but the downtown area has room for improvement and much of the city is suburban.

Is Tampa or Hershey Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hershey is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Hershey. While there is a bus system, it's very limited and most visitors do not rely on it.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Is Tampa or Hershey a more walkable city?

Tampa and Hershey are respectable when it comes to walkability.

Tampa is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

Hershey is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get to the area's attractions.

For even more information, also check out Is Tampa Worth Visiting? and Is Hershey Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hershey or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Hershey?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hershey than Tampa 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 Hershey.

One day in Tampa or Hershey?

In Tampa, you'll find food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

In Hershey, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this fun-filled destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Tampa or Hershey?

In Tampa, you'll find food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Tampa has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hershey. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tampa or Hershey?

Tampa is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Hershey is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Hershey. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tampa or Hershey?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tampa. Many people enjoy the food when visiting Tampa. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums and shopping around the playful destination of Hershey. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tampa and Hershey, we can see that Hershey is more expensive. And not only is Tampa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tampa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampa 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 Hershey would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hershey than you might in Tampa.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tampa Expensive? and Is Hershey Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Hershey?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Hershey. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Hershey, 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 Tampa or Hershey?

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 Tampa or Hershey in the Summer?

Both Hershey and Tampa during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Tampa because of the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hershey this time of year.

In the summer, Tampa is a little warmer than Hershey. Typically, the summer temperatures in Tampa in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Hershey averages at about 77°F (25°C).

In Hershey, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tampa. In the summer, Tampa often gets less sunshine than Hershey. Tampa gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 310 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually gets more rain in July than Hershey. Tampa gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampa or Hershey in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tampa and Hershey. The city's sights and attractions are the main draw to Tampa this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hershey for the shopping scene.

In October, Tampa is generally much warmer than Hershey. Daily temperatures in Tampa average around 75°F (24°C), and Hershey fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

In Tampa, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during autumn. Tampa gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tampa usually receives less rain than Hershey. Tampa gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Tampa or Hershey in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tampa as well as Hershey. Many travelers come to Tampa for the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hershey in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hershey can get quite cold in the winter. Tampa is much warmer than Hershey in the winter. The daily temperature in Tampa averages around 60°F (15°C) in January, and Hershey fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tampa this time of the year. In the winter, Tampa often gets more sunshine than Hershey. Tampa gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Hershey receives 153 hours of full sun.

Tampa usually gets less rain in January than Hershey. Tampa gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Tampa or Hershey in the Spring?

Both Hershey and Tampa are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Tampa in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

In the spring, Tampa is much warmer than Hershey. Typically, the spring temperatures in Tampa in April average around 71°F (22°C), and Hershey averages at about 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Hershey. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tampa. Tampa usually receives more sunshine than Hershey during spring. Tampa gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Hershey receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Tampa usually receives less rain than Hershey. Tampa gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Hershey receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hershey and Tampa