A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Asheville vs. Santa Barbara for Hiking, Couples, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Asheville or Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara. 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 eclectic, outdoorsy, and progressive mountain town. Asheville 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. See Asheville travel costs.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a scenic, stunning, and wealthy coastal town. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Asheville and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara than Asheville, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Santa Barbara is more popular for its museums and attractions, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Asheville is known for its nightlife, music, and christmas markets. Santa Barbara is more touristy than Asheville and is known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also home to The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Asheville is popular for its fall foliage, artsy downtown, and local North Carolina barbecue.

How is Asheville different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

Asheville does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Asheville and Santa Barbara can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Santa Barbara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Asheville is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for nightlife.

Asheville offers plenty to do in the evening. The city has a fun and eclectic nightlife scene that centers around the city's breweries and live music venues.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Music?

Asheville is a well-known place for its music scene. However, Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Asheville is very popular with diverse venues. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

Santa Barbara is not a live music destination.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is well known for its resorts. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its luxury resorts.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

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.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a coastal town with a few options for its diving and snorkeling. However, Asheville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Santa Barbara has a few snorkeling spots. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Asheville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Asheville is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Asheville is not a beach destination.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its old town. However, Asheville is not particularly known for its historic old town charm.

Many people head to Santa Barbara to see the old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

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.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping areas.

The abundance of shops in Santa Barbara make it a world-class shopping destination. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

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.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Santa Barbara is one of the main draws. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Asheville offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With the surrounding mountains and the charming town, the area is filled with natural beauty.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Both Asheville and Santa Barbara are superb family-friendly destinations.

Asheville is a very kid-friendly mountain town. 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 family-friendly things to do in Santa Barbara. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its romantic activities. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

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.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Asheville is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town 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.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Asheville and Santa Barbara are superb places to visit for students.

Many students visit Asheville. With its progressive personality and charming downtown, students enjoy spending time in this great town.

Santa Barbara is a very popular mountain town for students and younger travelers. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

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

Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is mostly limited in Asheville. There are buses around town, but almost everyone gets around by using their own vehicle. In particular, if you plan to hike or explore the Blue Ridge Mountains, you'll need a car. Many of the downtown hotels offer shuttle buses to the Biltmore area.

Is Asheville or Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is well known for its high level of walkability. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable coastal town. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

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 reach restaurants and shops on foot. Otherwise, you'll need a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Asheville?

How long in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Asheville and Santa Barbara. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Barbara than Asheville. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Asheville 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the open-minded destination of Asheville. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

You'll find shopping and museums around the coastal town of Santa Barbara. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Asheville. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the opulent destination of Santa Barbara. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal town has to offer. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the eclectic destination of Asheville. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This mountain town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the stunning coastal town of Santa Barbara. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Asheville or Santa Barbara?

You'll find live music and food around the mountain town of Asheville. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Santa Barbara is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Asheville and Santa Barbara, we can see that Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Asheville or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of Asheville and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Asheville and Santa Barbara. The hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Asheville this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Asheville is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the summer temperatures in Asheville in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 65°F (19°C).

Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Asheville usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Asheville gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Asheville or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Asheville as well as Santa Barbara. Many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Additionally, many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Asheville is generally around the same temperature as Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Asheville average around 64°F (18°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

Asheville usually gets more rain in October than Santa Barbara. Asheville gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Asheville or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

Both Santa Barbara and Asheville are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Asheville in the winter for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Asheville is much colder than Santa Barbara in the winter. The daily temperature in Asheville averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

It's quite rainy in Asheville. In January, Asheville usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Asheville gets 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Asheville or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Asheville during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Asheville for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Asheville is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the spring temperatures in Asheville in April average around 64°F (18°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 57°F (14°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. Asheville usually gets more rain in April than Santa Barbara. Asheville gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Asheville