A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bar Harbor vs. Reno for Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Reno?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bar Harbor and Reno can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a quaint, charming, and picturesque coastal town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the beaches, hiking, and shopping.

Reno

Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bar Harbor and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Bar Harbor than Reno, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Bar Harbor is better known for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Reno is more popular for its museums & sights and nightlife. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Also, Bar Harbor is famous for Acadia National Park. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Bar Harbor different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Reno is a city with good options for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Bar Harbor has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a well-known place for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

Reno offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

Bar Harbor doesn't offer many options. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a few great resort options. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor is a good option for a beach vacation. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Bar Harbor 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 Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

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 Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Families?

Both Bar Harbor and Reno are notable to visit with kids.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly place to visit. It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Reno is a family-friendly coastal town. 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 Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Couples?

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

Bar Harbor makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

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 Bar Harbor or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Bar Harbor and Reno offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Bar Harbor or Reno a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Bar Harbor is a very walkable destination. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

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 Bar Harbor Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Reno?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Bar Harbor 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 Reno.

One day in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Bar Harbor is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant city of Reno, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Bar Harbor 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Reno, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Bar Harbor is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Reno, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Bar Harbor or Reno?

Because Bar Harbor is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. 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 place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Bar Harbor. When comparing the sizes of Bar Harbor 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.