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

Should you visit Asheville or Reno?

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 Reno. 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 outdoorsy, progressive, and open-minded 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 food, hiking, and shopping.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Asheville and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Asheville or Reno?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Asheville than Reno. While Reno is larger than Asheville, Asheville has more sights and attractions for tourists. Asheville is more popular for its music, resorts, historical sights, hiking, shopping, christmas markets, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Reno is known for its museums. Asheville 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. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Asheville different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Asheville and Reno 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.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Asheville or Reno Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Reno for the nightlife scene. 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 Asheville or Reno Better for Music?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its music scene. However, Reno is not a live music destination.

Whether you like big venues or smaller artists, Asheville has diverse options. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

Reno is not a live music destination.

Is Asheville or Reno Better for Resorts?

Asheville is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Reno 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.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Asheville or Reno Better for its Old Town?

Asheville is a decent place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Reno 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.

Reno does not have a historic old town.

Is Asheville or Reno Better for Hiking?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting 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.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Asheville or Reno?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

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 Asheville or Reno Better for Christmas?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Reno does not offer Christmas activities.

Since it has plenty to do, Asheville is a very popular place to visit 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.

Reno does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Asheville or Reno Better for Christmas Markets?

Asheville is a decent place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, Reno 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.

Reno does not offer Christmas markets.

Is Asheville or Reno Better for Families?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

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 Asheville or Reno Better for Couples?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Asheville makes for a fun place to visit for 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.

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 Asheville or Reno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Asheville 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 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.

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 Asheville or Reno Better for Students?

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

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.

Reno is not popular with students.

Is Asheville or Reno 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 Reno.

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 Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Asheville or Reno a more walkable city?

Asheville is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options 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.

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 Asheville Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Asheville?

How long in Asheville or Reno?

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

Families should spend more time in Asheville than Reno. 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 Reno. 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 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 Asheville.

One day in Asheville or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the destination of Asheville. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Asheville or Reno?

Asheville is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 vibrant 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 Asheville or Reno?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the open-minded destination of Asheville. This mountain town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Asheville or Reno?

The eclectic mountain town of Asheville offers nightlife and live music. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Asheville and Reno, we can see that Reno is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Asheville or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville 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.