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

Should you visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

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 Cape Cod and Bar Harbor. 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.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod is a maritime, beautiful, and peaceful beach destination. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a picturesque, relaxed, and quaint 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 shopping, food, and beaches.

Cape Cod and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Cape Cod than Bar Harbor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Cape Cod is better known for its beaches, while Bar Harbor is more popular for its small town charm and quaint atmosphere. Cape Cod is well known for its long scenic coastline, charming compact towns, and magnificent migrating whales. Also, Cape Cod is famous for The Cape Cod National Seashore. Bar Harbor is well known for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park.

How is Cape Cod different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Cape Cod and Bar Harbor can be an enjoyable experience.

Cape Cod has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The region is famous for its fresh seafood and popular dishes include the fried clams and broiled lobster. There are also many diners and brunch cafes where you can enjoy pancakes or eggs benedict.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Bar Harbor makes for a great culinary experience. 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.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Neither Cape Cod or Bar Harbor offer decent nightlife.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Cape Cod This area isn't really known for its nightlife, but the downtown of Hyannis has some activity at night.

People don't go to Bar Harbor for the nightlife. It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

There are notable resorts to choose from in both Cape Cod and Bar Harbor.

Cape Cod has a few great resort options. Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, White Elephant Resorts, and Chatham Bars Inn are favorite resorts in the Cape Cod area.

Bar Harbor has a handful of resorts to choose from. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Cape Cod is a well-known place for its beaches. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for the beache.

The beaches at Cape Cod attract visitors from all over. Beaches in the area include long stretches of soft sand as well as tidal pools where kids can play. Several of the best beaches around Cape Cod include Mayflower Beach, Marconi Beach, and Race Point Beach.

Bar Harbor offers a nice beach destination. 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.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Cape Cod and Bar Harbor, and they are notable.

Cape Cod offers some nice hiking trails. Hikes range from casual strolls to longer trails. Popular options include Bass Hole Boardwalk in Yarmouth and the 22 mile Cape Cod Rail Trail.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

If you're looking to go shopping, Cape Cod and Bar Harbor both offer plenty of very good spots.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Cape Cod. Many of the area's towns have charming Main Streets where you can enjoy shopping and dining.

Bar Harbor is an extremely popular place for shoppers. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Cape Cod is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Cape Cod is a very family-friendly place to visit. The coastal towns have a number of kid-friendly activities. In the Upper Cape, Falmouth is one of the best towns for families. On Mid Cape, Dennis and Yarmouth are both kid-friendly. Dennis has a resorty vibe and Yarmouth has kid-friendly museums. On the Lower Cape, both Harwich and Orleans are family-friendly options.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly beach destination. 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.

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Cape Cod and Bar Harbor both very good destinations for a couple.

Cape Cod is a great beach destination if you're traveling as a couple. With its charming character and relaxing beach setting, honeymooners and couples will appreciate all that the area has to offer. There are peaceful settings and charming villages to explore. There are also award-winning restaurants and beautiful views.

Bar Harbor is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

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

Cape Cod and Bar Harbor both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Cape Cod. While there are buses and shuttles to help you get around, a car really is necessary to explore the area.

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

Is Cape Cod or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Cape Cod is not as popular, but is still a nice beach destination for its walkability.

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

Cape Cod is somewhat walkable. Many of the small towns in the area have compact and walkable areas, but the region is spread out so it's helpful to have a car to get from place to place.

For even more information, also check out Is Cape Cod Worth Visiting? and Is Bar Harbor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Cape Cod?

How long in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cape Cod and Bar Harbor. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cape Cod than in Bar Harbor. Usually, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Cape Cod, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bar Harbor.

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

One day in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Cape Cod might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The beautiful coastal town of Bar Harbor offers shopping and food. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Even though Cape Cod is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Bar Harbor is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this coastal town makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Bar Harbor, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Cape Cod, a popular beach destination, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this beach destination. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Cape Cod is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this beach destination makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this beach destination has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bar Harbor is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This coastal town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Cape Cod and Bar Harbor, we can see that Bar Harbor is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

Both Bar Harbor and Cape Cod during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cape Cod for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Bar Harbor because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Cape Cod is around the same temperature as Bar Harbor. Typically, the summer temperatures in Cape Cod in July average around 68°F (20°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 69°F (21°C).

Cape Cod usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. Cape Cod gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Cod and Bar Harbor. The autumn months attract visitors to Cape Cod because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

In October, Cape Cod is generally a little warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Cape Cod average around 53°F (12°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

Cape Cod gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cape Cod usually receives more rain than Bar Harbor. Cape Cod gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cape Cod as well as Bar Harbor. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Cape Cod this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Bar Harbor. It's quite cold in Cape Cod in the winter. Cape Cod is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the winter. The daily temperature in Cape Cod averages around 31°F (-0°C) in January, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Cape Cod receives a lot of rain in the winter. Cape Cod usually gets more rain in January than Bar Harbor. Cape Cod gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Cod or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

Both Bar Harbor and Cape Cod are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cape Cod for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Bar Harbor in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Cape Cod is a little warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the spring temperatures in Cape Cod in April average around 45°F (7°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 43°F (6°C).

It's quite rainy in Cape Cod. In April, Cape Cod usually receives more rain than Bar Harbor. Cape Cod gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Cape Cod