A Travel Price Comparison for Colorado Avon vs. Denver for Skiing, Food, Nightlife, and Hiking

Should you visit Avon or Denver?

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 Avon and Denver. 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.

Avon

Avon is a scenic, active, and outdoorsy town. And you can't forget about the skiing, nightlife, and food. See Avon travel costs.

Denver

Denver is a sprawling, park-filled, and suburban city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for skiing, nightlife, and hiking. See Denver travel costs.

Avon and Denver: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avon or Denver?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Denver. Although Avon and Denver are popular destinations, Denver has more sights and attractions for tourists. Denver is very popular for its shopping and big city activities, while Avon attracts visitors for its skiing, food, and resorts. Avon is more touristy than Denver and is known for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Denver is famous for serving as a gateway to the Rocky Mountains and the many national parks that are in the area. It is also well known for Red Rocks Park.

How is Avon different from Denver?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Avon or Denver Better for Skiing?

Avon is a well-known place for snow skiing. Also, Denver is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for skiing and snowboarding.

People head to Avon specifically to take advantage of the area's skiing and winter sports. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Head to Denver for some great skiing and other winter activities. Although there's no skiing in the immediate area, there is a huge list of world class ski resorts within an hour or two of town. Two of the closest are Echo Mountain Resort and Loveland Ski Area.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Avon or Denver?

Both Avon and Denver have reasonable landmarks and museums for visitors.

Avon offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

While most people don't head to Denver specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Many people use Denver as a starting or ending point for their mountain and national park trip, but those who linger can visit some of the city's museums and sights. Popular museums include the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the History Colorado Center, and the Forney Museum of Transportation.

Is the Food Better in Avon or Denver? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Avon is a nice place to visit for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Denver is not a good city for its restaurants.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Avon. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Denver may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. It's a pretty large city, so you'll find some nice local restaurants, but the foodie scene is still emerging in many neighborhoods. A number of restaurants offer outdoor seating, which is nice. You'll also find a growing selection of international restaurants. For something uniquely local, you should try the Bison steak and fried pickles.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Avon and Denver.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Avon. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Denver. The city has come a long way with its nightlife. There's a great craft beer scene and the downtown area has really come to life. Popular bars and clubs in town include the Grizzly Rose and 54Thirty Rooftop. Many places are concentrated in the Soco Nightlife District.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Resorts?

Avon is a nice place to visit for its resorts. However, Denver is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Avon makes a nice vacation spot. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Denver is not a resort destination.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Avon and Denver, and they are nice.

Avon offers some nice hiking trails. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Denver is a good destination for hiking. The city is very close to many beautiful parks and hiking areas in the Rocky Mountains. It's not hard to make a day trip from town and enjoy some great hiking. Nice options include the Trading Post Trail in Red Rocks Mountain Park, Bergen Peak near Evergreen, and Chimney Gulch Trail near the town of Golden.

Is the Shopping Better in Avon or Denver?

Denver is a good destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Denver is a great destination for shopping. The city has many outlet malls that budget shoppers appreciate. There are also weekend farmer's markets, boutique shopping areas, and all of the major chains that you'll find in most larger cities.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Families?

Both Avon and Denver are nice family-friendly destinations.

Avon is a family-friendly place to visit. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Denver is a family-friendly town. It is a family-friendly city with museums, playgrounds, and plenty of outdoor activities. There are also a few ropes courses near town that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Popular activities include the Denver Zoo, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Couples?

Avon and Denver both nice destinations for a couple.

Avon is a nice destination for couples. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

Denver makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many beautiful and romantic outdoor activities in the area such as parks and botanical gardens. There are also spas, including the impressive Spa at the Brown Palace, as well as upscale restaurants and fun bars and clubs to explore.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Students?

Denver is a good destination for students. However, Avon is not popular with students.

Denver is a good city to visit for students. There are a few students in the city, but there isn't a college town vibe that you'd get at other nearby university areas.

Avon is not popular with students.

Is Avon or Denver Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Avon and Denver offer nice public transit options.

Avon has a few public transit options. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

Denver has some public transit options. If you're not planning to leave town, the light rail and bus systems offer good access to much of Denver.

Is Avon or Denver a more walkable city?

Avon is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Denver is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Avon is a somewhat walkable place. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

Denver is not a very walkable town. While the downtown area is generally walkable, this is still a sprawling city where you'll really want to have a car to access areas outside of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Avon Worth Visiting? and Is Denver Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Denver or Avon?

How long in Avon or Denver?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avon than Denver 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 Avon.

One day in Avon or Denver?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Avon. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Avon or Denver?

Avon is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Denver 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.

Five days in Avon or Denver?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avon. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A week in Avon or Denver?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active destination of Avon. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

The accessible city of Denver offers shopping and skiing. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Avon or Denver?

Denver has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Avon and Denver, 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.