A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Asheville vs. Chapel Hill for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Asheville or Chapel Hill?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Asheville and Chapel Hill. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Asheville

Asheville is a progressive, open-minded, and eclectic mountain town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and shopping.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a southern, student-oriented, and collegiate town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Asheville and Chapel Hill: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Asheville. Although Asheville and Chapel Hill are both popular with visitors, Asheville has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Asheville is more popular for its music, resorts, historical sights, hiking, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Chapel Hill is known for its museums. Asheville is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is known for its fall foliage, artsy downtown, local North Carolina barbecue, and being home to the Biltmore Estate. It is also home to The Biltmore Estate. Chapel Hill is popular for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States.

How is Asheville different from Chapel Hill?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Chapel Hill is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Chapel Hill. Many of the museums are affiliated with UNC. A highlight of many trips is a visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Hours can vary, so check the schedule ahead of time. Also worth visiting are the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum.

Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Asheville or Chapel Hill? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Asheville and Chapel Hill can be an enjoyable experience.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Asheville. Downtown Asheville is filled with local restaurants that serve everything from brunch to late night snacks. There are many vegan and vegetarian options as well as a number of international restaurants. Popular local dishes include North Carolina barbeque and country ham biscuits.

Chapel Hill is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Students often eat on Franklin Street, which has a diverse mix of casual and slightly nicer restaurants. You'll find Indian food, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek. The city also has excellent barbecue and other southern favorites.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Asheville and Chapel Hill.

Asheville is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has a fun and eclectic nightlife scene that centers around the city's breweries and live music venues.

Many people head to Chapel Hill for the nightlife scene. Most of the nightlife is centered around the student population. Franklin Street has a number of bars where students hang out. There are also parties hosted by fraternities and sororities. Things are quieter during the summer months when students are mostly gone.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Music?

Asheville is well known for its music scene. However, Chapel Hill is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Asheville. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

Chapel Hill is not a live music destination.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Resorts?

Asheville is a popular place for its resorts. However, Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Asheville has a few great resort options. The most famous resorts in the area are the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn. Both offer luxury restaurants and beautiful grounds that are particularly nice during the holidays.

Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for its Old Town?

Asheville is a mountain town with a few options for its historic old town charm. However, Chapel Hill does not have a historic old town.

The old town area in Asheville is worth visiting. Downtown Asheville maintains much of its historic vibe, but it's smaller than some of the more notable old cities around the country.

Chapel Hill does not have a historic old town.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Hiking?

Asheville is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Asheville. Just outside of town are many great hikes to waterfalls or through the mountains. The hikes range in skill level and length but many pass through local forests or along the beautiful skyline.

Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Asheville is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Asheville. The city has many local shops that sell local crafts and independent art. The downtown area is filled with art vendors and you'll find the greatest concentration of shopping along the pedestrian-friendly Lexington Avenue.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Chapel Hill. There are a mix of local shops, larger shopping centers, and suburban malls. There are also weekly farmer's markets that are fun to check out.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Christmas?

Asheville is well known for its Christmas activities. However, Chapel Hill does not offer Christmas activities.

Visitors come from all around to experience the Christmas activities in Asheville. Head to the Biltmore Estate to see it fully decorated for the Christmas season. It's also worth going to see the winning Gingerbread Houses on display at the Grove Park Inn.

Chapel Hill does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Christmas Markets?

Asheville is a mountain town with a few options for its Christmas markets. However, Chapel Hill does not offer Christmas markets.

During the holidays, visitors often browse through the Christmas markets in Asheville. There are a handful of local Christmas shops around town where you can buy personalized gifts.

Chapel Hill does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Families?

Asheville is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Asheville is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. With its beautiful hiking, interesting nature centers, and outdoor adventure activities, this mountain town makes a great kid-friendly destination. There are outdoor adventure parks where kids can zipline or climb. There are also hands on farms and orchards for fruit-picking.

Chapel Hill offers lots of family activities. You can wander around the UNC campus or visit one of the museums affiliated with the school. This includes a planetarium that has regular shows and movies (The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). There are also science exhibits geared specifically towards kids.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Couples?

Asheville is well known for couples. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Couples visit Asheville frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples enjoy exploring the beautiful Biltmore Estates or visiting the spa at the Grove Park Inn. The quaint town makes a great honeymoon destination or a nice romantic getaway. There are luxury hotels or intimate bed and breakfasts that offer different options for couples on a romantic trip.

Chapel Hill is a nice destination for couples. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants on Franklin Street. Couples will also enjoy exploring the campus at UNC, visiting the botanical garden, or checking out one of the town's museums.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Asheville is well known for backpackers. However, Chapel Hill is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Asheville is a very popular mountain town for backpackers and budget travelers. The town has an eclectic vibe that backpackers appreciate. There are a few good hostels around town as well as nearby campgrounds that are perfect for budget travelers or hikers.

Chapel Hill is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a young population thanks to the university, but there's little else to attract backpackers.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Chapel Hill is a very popular place to visit for students. It's a quintessential college town. UNC has a nice campus and Franklin Street is the main spot for restaurants and shopping. Most of the students live near or on campus, but once you head further out things get more suburban.

Asheville is a very popular mountain town for students and younger travelers. With its progressive personality and charming downtown, students enjoy spending time in this great town.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Chapel Hill is a good destination for its public transit. However, Asheville is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Chapel Hill, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Public transit is mostly limited in Asheville. There are buses around town, but almost everyone gets around town with their own vehicle.

Is Asheville or Chapel Hill a more walkable city?

Asheville and Chapel Hill both are good when exploring on foot.

Asheville is a somewhat walkable place. If you stay downtown and don't plan to explore the outlying areas, then it's possible to walk around town. Otherwise, you'll need a car.

Chapel Hill is a somewhat walkable mountain town. The area around UNC is the most walkable part of town. Elsewhere things are very suburban and you'll need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Asheville Worth Visiting? and Is Chapel Hill Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chapel Hill or Asheville?

How long in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Asheville and Chapel Hill. In our opinion, Asheville has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Asheville than Chapel Hill. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Asheville, and 1-3 days is enough time in Chapel Hill.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Asheville than Chapel Hill 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 Asheville.

One day in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the progressive mountain town of Asheville. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

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

A weekend in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the open-minded destination of Asheville. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This mountain town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

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

Five days in Asheville or Chapel Hill?

The outdoorsy mountain town of Asheville offers food and shopping. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-oriented town of Chapel Hill. 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 Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Asheville. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Chapel Hill 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Asheville or Chapel Hill?

Asheville has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Chapel Hill. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Chapel Hill, 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 Asheville or Chapel Hill?

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 Asheville or Chapel Hill in the Summer?

Both Chapel Hill and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Asheville is around the same temperature as Chapel Hill. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Chapel Hill averages at about 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Chapel Hill. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chapel Hill during summer. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. It's quite rainy in Asheville. In July, Asheville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Asheville or Chapel Hill in the Autumn?

Both Chapel Hill and Asheville during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Chapel Hill in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Chapel Hill. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the autumn, Asheville often gets more sunshine than Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 211 hours of full sun.

Asheville usually gets more rain in October than Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asheville or Chapel Hill in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Chapel Hill. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Chapel Hill for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Chapel Hill can be very cold during winter. Asheville is a little warmer than Chapel Hill in the winter. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Asheville usually receives more sunshine than Chapel Hill during winter. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Asheville or Chapel Hill in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Chapel Hill. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Asheville is a little warmer than Chapel Hill. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Chapel Hill averages at about 60°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In the spring, Asheville often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 251 hours of full sun.

Asheville receives a lot of rain in the spring. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Chapel Hill. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chapel Hill and Asheville