A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Asheville vs. Phoenix for Nightlife, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Asheville or Phoenix?

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 Phoenix. 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 open-minded, eclectic, and outdoorsy mountain town. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the nightlife, live music, and food.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and shopping.

Asheville and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Asheville or Phoenix?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Asheville than Phoenix. While Phoenix is larger than Asheville, Asheville has more sights and attractions for tourists. Asheville is more popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, historical sights, hiking, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Phoenix is known for its museums. Asheville is more touristy than Phoenix and is popular 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. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Asheville different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

Phoenix is a good destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

Phoenix offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Asheville and Phoenix 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.

Phoenix is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Asheville has something for everybody. The city has a fun and eclectic nightlife scene that centers around the city's breweries and live music venues.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Music?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its music scene. However, Phoenix is not a live music destination.

Asheville has a thriving music scene. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

Phoenix is not a live music destination.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Resorts?

Asheville is a mountain town with good options for its luxury resorts. However, Phoenix 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.

Phoenix is not a resort destination.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for its Old Town?

Asheville is adequate for its historic old town charm. However, Phoenix 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.

Phoenix does not have a historic old town.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Asheville is a great mountain town for hiking. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Asheville for the hiking trails. 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.

Phoenix offers some nice hiking trails. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Is the Shopping Better in Asheville or Phoenix?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its shopping areas. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Christmas?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Phoenix does not offer Christmas activities.

Asheville is a very popular destination during Christmas. 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.

Phoenix does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Christmas Markets?

Asheville is adequate for visiting Christmas markets. However, Phoenix 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.

Phoenix does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Families?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix 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 Asheville. 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.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Asheville is a great mountain town for couples. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Asheville is a great mountain town if you're traveling as a couple. 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.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Asheville is a great mountain town for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Phoenix is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Asheville. 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.

Phoenix is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a hostel or two around town for budget travelers.

Is Asheville or Phoenix Better for Students?

Asheville is a great mountain town for its student-friendly activities. However, Phoenix is not popular with students.

Students come from all over to stay in Asheville. With its progressive personality and charming downtown, students enjoy spending time in this great town.

Phoenix is not popular with students.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Asheville and Phoenix.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Asheville or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Asheville is a mountain town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Phoenix is not known for its walkability.

Asheville is a somewhat walkable mountain town. 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.

Phoenix is generally not very walkable. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Asheville?

How long in Asheville or Phoenix?

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

Families should spend more time in Asheville than Phoenix. 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 Phoenix. 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

In Asheville, you'll find nightlife and live music. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This mountain town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

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

A weekend in Asheville or Phoenix?

In Asheville, you'll find live music and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Asheville has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the desert destination of Phoenix. 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 Asheville or Phoenix?

Asheville is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sprawling city of Phoenix. 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 Phoenix?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Asheville. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Asheville. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Phoenix 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 Phoenix, we can see that Phoenix 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 Phoenix would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Phoenix 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 Phoenix Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Asheville or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Phoenix, 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 Phoenix?

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 Asheville or Phoenix in the Summer?

Both Phoenix and Asheville during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Asheville is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Asheville. In the summer, Asheville often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Asheville gets 268 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asheville or Phoenix in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Phoenix. The autumn months attract visitors to Asheville because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.

In October, Asheville is generally cooler than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Asheville gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Asheville usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Asheville or Phoenix in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Phoenix. The Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Asheville this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Phoenix for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Asheville is much colder than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. In the winter, Asheville often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Asheville gets 176 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.

Asheville receives a lot of rain in the winter. Asheville usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asheville or Phoenix in the Spring?

Both Phoenix and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Asheville for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Asheville is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Asheville gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Asheville. In April, Asheville usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Asheville