A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Baltimore vs. Dallas for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Baltimore or Dallas?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Baltimore and Dallas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Baltimore

Baltimore is a vibrant, diverse, and colorful city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dallas

Dallas is a upscale, chic, and active city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Baltimore and Dallas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Baltimore or Dallas?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Baltimore than Dallas. While Dallas is larger than Baltimore, Baltimore has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Baltimore is more touristy than Dallas and is known for the Inner Harbor and its many water based activities. Also, Baltimore is famous for the National Aquarium. Dallas is well known for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture.

How is Baltimore different from Dallas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Baltimore or Dallas?

Plenty of people visit the very good sights and museums in both Baltimore and Dallas.

Many visitors head to Baltimore specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is known for its historic ships that are found in the Inner Harbor. There are many other museums around town as well like the American Visionary Art Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Many days can be filled exploring the many art, history, or science museums in the area.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dallas can be an interesting and educational experience. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.

Is the Food Better in Baltimore or Dallas? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Baltimore and Dallas both to be very good destinations.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Baltimore. The city's location near the Chesapeake Bay means that there are many great local seafood dishes. Blue crab is a regional favorite and is often served as crab soup, crab dip, or crab cakes. You'll find many famous restaurants in the Inner Harbor, but if you want something more local you should check out Little Italy or Fells Point.

Dallas has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.

Is Baltimore or Dallas Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Baltimore and Dallas.

Baltimore is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's a vibrant city with many night time activities like breweries, night clubs, and cocktail bars. There's even outside the box activities like ballroom dancing or arcade bars.

Many people head to Dallas for the nightlife scene. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.

Is the Shopping Better in Baltimore or Dallas?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Dallas and Baltimore.

Baltimore is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. Shopping is a great way to experience the different neighborhoods around town. For high end shopping head to Harbor East. For a bit more history check out Federal Hill. Hampden is known for its quirky style and Fell's Point is particularly popular with tourists.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Dallas. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.

Is Baltimore or Dallas Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Baltimore or Dallas.

Baltimore is a very kid-friendly city. The National Aquarium is a highlight for many families. It's an impressive aquarium with dolphins, sharks, puffins, and fish. Also in town is the Port Discovery Children’s Museum which has many interactive exhibits. The Maryland Science Center, the Maryland Zoo, and the many historic ships in the harbor also offer educational opportunities for kids. For something a bit different, check out Urban Pirates in the Inner Harbor.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Dallas. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Is Baltimore or Dallas Better for Couples?

Dallas is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Baltimore is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Dallas frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.

Baltimore is a good city for couples to visit. Most visitors spend the majority of their time around the Inner Harbor. There are restaurants and romantic hotels that are perfect for couples. The city also has many entertainment options and other activities that make for a great date night.

Is Baltimore or Dallas Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Baltimore is very good for backpackers. However, Dallas is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Baltimore is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most international travelers overlook this city.

Dallas is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While there are a couple of hostels around town, this isn't a popular destination for the backpacker crowd.

Is Baltimore or Dallas Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Baltimore is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Dallas is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Baltimore can get you around easily. There are water taxis and a free downtown bus service that's called the Charm City Circulator. MTA also operates a metro and a light rail system.

Dallas has some public transit options. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.

Is Baltimore or Dallas a more walkable city?

Baltimore is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Dallas is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Baltimore is a very walkable city. The downtown area is the most walkable part of the city. In particular, the Inner Harbor and Fells Point are particularly walkable.

Dallas is generally not a very walkable city. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.

For even more information, also check out Is Baltimore Worth Visiting? and Is Dallas Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Dallas or Baltimore?

How long in Baltimore or Dallas?

It's fun to spend time in either Baltimore or Dallas. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Dallas due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Baltimore, and 2-4 days is enough time in Dallas.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Baltimore than Dallas 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 Baltimore.

One day in Baltimore or Dallas?

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

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Dallas. 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 Baltimore or Dallas?

Baltimore 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the upscale destination of Dallas. 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 Baltimore or Dallas?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Baltimore. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the chic city of Dallas. 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 Baltimore or Dallas?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the historic destination of Baltimore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Dallas 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Baltimore or Dallas?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 98% larger than the population of Baltimore. When comparing the sizes of Baltimore and Dallas, 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 Baltimore or Dallas?

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 Baltimore or Dallas in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Baltimore and Dallas. The summer months attract visitors to Baltimore because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dallas this time of year.

Baltimore is cooler than Dallas in the summer. The daily temperature in Baltimore averages around 78°F (25°C) in July, and Dallas fluctuates around 88°F (31°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dallas this time of the year. In Baltimore, it's very sunny this time of the year. Baltimore usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during summer. Baltimore gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 337 hours of full sun in the summer.

Baltimore gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Baltimore usually receives more rain than Dallas. Baltimore gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Baltimore or Dallas in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Baltimore as well as Dallas. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Baltimore this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Baltimore is cooler than Dallas. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Baltimore in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Dallas averages at about 69°F (21°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. In the autumn, Baltimore often gets less sunshine than Dallas. Baltimore gets 196 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 222 hours of full sun.

Baltimore usually gets less rain in October than Dallas. Baltimore gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Baltimore or Dallas in the Winter?

Both Dallas and Baltimore are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Baltimore for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Dallas in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Baltimore. In January, Baltimore is generally much colder than Dallas. Daily temperatures in Baltimore average around 32°F (0°C), and Dallas fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).

Baltimore usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during winter. Baltimore gets 153 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 183 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Baltimore usually receives more rain than Dallas. Baltimore gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Baltimore or Dallas in the Spring?

Both Dallas and Baltimore during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Baltimore in the spring for the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Dallas for the activities around the city during these months.

Baltimore is much colder than Dallas in the spring. The daily temperature in Baltimore averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Dallas fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Baltimore. In the spring, Baltimore often gets less sunshine than Dallas. Baltimore gets 225 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 251 hours of full sun.

Baltimore usually gets less rain in April than Dallas. Baltimore gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dallas and Baltimore