A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bar Harbor vs. Salt Lake City for Food, Couples, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

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 Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a religious, architectural, and notable city. It's also known for food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and hiking.

Bar Harbor and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Salt Lake City than Bar Harbor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Salt Lake City is better known for its museums, nightlife, and scuba diving & snorkeling, while Bar Harbor is more popular for its food, resorts, beaches, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Bar Harbor is well known for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. Salt Lake City is well known for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Also, Salt Lake City is famous for Temple Square.

How is Bar Harbor different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Salt Lake City. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

Bar Harbor does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

Salt Lake City is a moderate city for nightlife. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for nightlife and partying.

Most people don't head to Salt Lake City specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around 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 Salt Lake City Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City is not a resort destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Salt Lake City. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Bar Harbor is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is very good for the beach. However, Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Bar Harbor to enjoy the beach. 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.

Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

Both Bar Harbor and Salt Lake City are destinations which offer notable hiking.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Bar Harbor. 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.

Salt Lake City offers some nice hiking trails. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City is a great destination for shopping. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

Both Bar Harbor and Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly coastal town. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for couples. Also, Salt Lake City 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.

Salt Lake City is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

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

Salt Lake City is a city with good options for its public transit. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for times when you don't have a car.

Salt Lake City has a few public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

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

Is Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is a very popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

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

Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Salt Lake City or Bar Harbor?

How long in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bar Harbor and Salt Lake City. In our opinion, Bar Harbor has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Bar Harbor than Salt Lake City. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Salt Lake City. 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 Salt Lake City. 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 Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City.

One day in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

Bar Harbor might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and food around the notable city of Salt Lake City, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the destination of Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Bar Harbor. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Salt Lake City, 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 Salt Lake City?

Bar Harbor is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Salt Lake City 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

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

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 Salt Lake City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bar Harbor or Salt Lake City?

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