A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Arlington vs. Reno for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Arlington or Reno?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Arlington or Reno, 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.

Arlington

Arlington is a educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Arlington travel costs.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Reno travel costs.

Arlington and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Arlington or Reno?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Arlington. Although Arlington and Reno are popular destinations, Arlington has more sights and attractions for tourists. Arlington is more touristy than Reno and is known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. It is also well known for Arlington National Cemetery. Reno is famous for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Arlington different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Arlington or Reno?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Arlington offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Is the Food Better in Arlington or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Both Arlington and Reno have very good vibes after the sun sets.

Arlington has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

The people in Reno know how to have a good time. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Is the Shopping Better in Arlington or Reno?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Arlington and Reno.

Arlington has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Reno is a great destination for shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Families?

Arlington and Reno are both nice destinations for the whole family.

Arlington is a family-friendly city. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Couples?

Arlington and Reno are both nice to visit as a couple.

Arlington is a good city for couples to visit. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Students?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Reno is not popular with students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Reno is not popular with students.

Is Arlington or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is renowned for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.

Arlington has a great public transit system. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Public transit is generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Arlington or Reno a more walkable city?

Arlington is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Arlington is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Arlington Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Arlington?

How long in Arlington or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Arlington and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Arlington than in Reno. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Arlington, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Reno 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 Arlington.

One day in Arlington or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Arlington. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Reno. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Reno has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Arlington or Reno?

Arlington is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the growing destination of Reno. 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 Arlington or Reno?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the international destination of Arlington. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the growing city of Reno. 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 Arlington or Reno?

The international city of Arlington offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Reno 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 The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Arlington or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Arlington. When comparing the sizes of Arlington and Reno, 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.