How Much Does It Cost to Go to Universal Studios?

Whether you live in Miami or Seattle, a trip to Universal Studios can be a great time.

Are you pining for a pint of Butterbeer and an exhilarating ride on the VelociCoaster? We don’t blame you — after all, everyone loves a good theme park experience. 

But when you consider pricing — between park tickets, airfare, lodging and parking — such a vacation may feel out of budget.

Let’s take a look at how much a trip to Universal Studios Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood will cost you and some tips for helping reduce those expenses. 

When considering a trip to Universal Studios, you’re going to want to consider multiple aspects of the vacation, especially if you live far away.

Say, for example, that you’re heading to Universal Studios Orlando for a week during the summer. Here are some common expenses you’ll encounter during your trip:

• Flights.

• Accommodations.

• Theme park tickets.

• Rental car and parking.

• Souvenirs. 

• Food and drinks.

• Miscellaneous. 

Obviously, these costs are going to vary based on how many people you’re traveling with.

If you’re a group of four adults, you may want to split two rooms, which could double your accommodation costs. But if you’re a family with two parents and two children, you’re probably all going to want to squeeze into a single room. 

» Learn more: Best Universal Orlando hotels

Ticket prices can vary widely based on when you’re visiting, how long you’re staying and where you buy your ticket. 

• Universal Studios Orlando: At this Universal theme park, located in Florida, tickets start at $116.09 for a single day, single park visit for one adult. One-day tickets that grant you access to both parks, meanwhile, start at $174.66 for the day.

• Universal Studios Hollywood: If you’re visiting Universal Studios Hollywood in California, you’ll still be subject to varying costs depending on the date and demand. Single-day tickets start at $109. 

Note that all of these prices are after-tax. 

Prices fluctuate

The Universal Studios ticket price can have some pretty huge fluctuations, so expect to pay a lot more during peak periods.

For example, a one-day, park-to-park ticket to Universal Studios Orlando during the winter holiday season comes in at $227.91 — over $50 more than the same ticket during the low season. 

Multiday visits can drop your per-day price

If you’re visiting for more than one day, prices will adjust. You’ll pay more overall, but the per-day price will be lower.

This is true whether you’re visiting Universal Studios Orlando or Universal Studios Hollywood. 

» Learn more: Theme parks that are cheaper than Disney

If you’re flying to Universal Studios Orlando rather than driving, you’ll want to consider your budget carefully.

While it can be fairly inexpensive to fly to Orlando, especially on low-cost airlines such as Frontier and Spirit, you’ll want to watch out for extra fees that’ll drive up your overall cost. 

As an example, we looked at flights from New York-LaGuardia to Orlando in mid-April, a peak season trip to Universal Studios Orlando for spring break.

Although we found flights for less than $100 round-trip, you’ll have a stopover on the way home and will need to pay for add-ons such as seat selection and checked luggage. 

You can find similar cheap flights to Universal Studios Hollywood, which is located near a few different airports, including Los Angeles International Airport. This means you’ll have plenty of route options no matter where you originate.

» Learn more: How to travel to Orlando on points and miles

In 2023, the average daily hotel room rate was $192.98, according to data from Visit Orlando. But, prices can vary wildly depending on the actual property and date. Because Orlando is rife with lodging options, it's usually possible to find a room that fits your budget — and desires in terms of location.

Prices of a Universal-owned hotel

There's no shortage of Universal-owned hotels in Orlando.

Though expensive (and luxurious), the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando offers a particularly good value for Universal theme park fans because it offers guests a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass to skip the lines at attractions.

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando also ranks among one of the resort's most luxury hotels. Universal also offers other, more-budget friendly options for people who want the official Universal theming at a lower price point, such as Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. This includes low-cost stays in hotels — some of which can be had for as little as $30 per night. 

Prices for nearby, off-property hotels

There are plenty of hotels within walking distance of the Universal parks — and they're typically cheaper than prices you'll pay for a hotel owned by Universal. What's more, is that the value-oriented Universal owned hotels are often in a worse location than even many cheaper, off-property hotels.

For example, one of NerdWallet's favorite, affordable hotels near Universal Orlando is the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando. Its located within walking distance of the parks, made even more convenient by a pedestrian bridge so you can bypass vehicle traffic.

» Learn more: The best non-Disney hotels in Orlando to book with points

If you’ve decided to drive to Universal Studios rather than take a shuttle or rideshare, you’ll want to account for the costs of parking.

At Universal Studios Orlando, you’ll pay $30 per day for general parking, though those with a bus or recreational vehicle will be charged $40. 

In California, parking charges will depend on when you arrive. Before 5 p.m., general parking costs $30. However, after 5 p.m., the price drops down to just $10. 

We’ve already talked about how much tickets are to Universal Studios, which can be pretty pricey. However, there are ways to save money on nearly all facets of a theme park vacation, regardless of which coast you head toward.

Tickets

Universal Studios Orlando will often offer promotions allowing you to save money on multiday tickets. This can include promotions such as getting two days free when purchasing two-day tickets. 

Those who hold an eligible Chase card, meanwhile, can redeem their Chase Ultimate Rewards® for theme park tickets. The redemption rate you’ll receive will vary, but it can be as high as 1.5 cents per point for those who hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Finally, you can also save some money on theme park tickets by purchasing through a third party, such as Undercover Tourist. It’s not a huge difference in price, but every little bit helps. 

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

Flights and hotels

Our next recommendation applies equally to both flights and hotels, which is to redeem points against these purchases. 

Flexible points currencies with hotel and airline transfer partners can help you get to Orlando for as little money out of pocket as possible. Partners include:

• American Express Membership Rewards.

• Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Capital One Miles.

• Bilt Rewards.

• Citi ThankYou points.

If you’re paying with cash, you can also stack your savings by making sure you use a shopping portal for your purchases. Websites such as Cashback Monitor will show you the portals with the highest return for your spending. 

» Learn more: How to purchase theme park tickets with points

When trying to plan a trip, you’ll want to consider all the costs involved, including flights, tickets and accommodation.

Just note that if the cost looks to be a little high, consider taking advantage of some of our money-saving tips to help make that Universal Studios vacation happen. 

(Top photo courtesy of Universal Parks and Resorts)