A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Chapel Hill vs. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a college town in North Carolina that, together with Raleigh and Durham, makes up the Research Triangle area. The town is 28 miles northwest of Raleigh and 12 miles southwest of Durham. Chapel Hill dates back to 1819 when it was founded to support the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. With a population of just over 52,000, Chapel Hill has the vibe of a small college town with the amenities of a larger community. It's proximity to both Raleigh and Durham give it an economic boost that provides economic diversity and security.

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure

The town of Chimney Rock and the neighboring Lake Lure draws a fairly large number of visitors every year, especially in the warmer summer months. This mountain area can sometimes be an expensive travel destination due to its popularity, but it is often still more affordable than many other destinations in the southeastern U.S. If you're on a tight budget, then it's not hard to find affordable places to stay, cook your own meals, and avoid the more expensive activities while still having fun. If you do wish to splurge and spend more money, it's quite easy and tempting with all of the activities around.

Which place is cheaper, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Chapel Hill?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chapel Hill is $164, while the average daily cost in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is $196. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Chapel Hill and Chimney Rock and Lake Lure in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chapel Hill $95
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $117
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chapel Hill $190
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $234
Compare Hotels in Chapel Hill and Chimney Rock and Lake Lure

Looking for a hotel in Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Chapel Hill


Hotels in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chapel Hill Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chapel Hill $34
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $35

Is it cheaper to fly into Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

Prices for flights to both Chimney Rock and Lake Lure and Chapel Hill change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Chapel Hill $49
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $52

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chapel Hill $17
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $34

Tours and Activities in Chapel Hill

Here are a few actual costs in Chapel Hill for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Carolina History & Haunts Greensboro Historical Ghost Tour: $19
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Greensboro by Zombie Scavengers: $20
  • Morning Aerial Adventure Adult Course from Riegelwood: $55
  • Coastal Excursion/Sunset Cruise/Sand Dollars/Sea Shells/Horses: $225
  • 8 Hours Private Crystal Coast Sightseeing in North Carolina: $275
  • Full-Day Private Tour to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge: $1,000

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chapel Hill $40
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $21

Sample the Local Flavors in Chapel Hill

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Chapel Hill:

  • Wacky Fayetteville Bar Crawl: By Let’s Roam: $12

How are these travel costs calculated?

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

Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

Chapel Hill is bigger, and its population is about 286.3 times larger than the population of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. When comparing the population of Chapel Hill vs. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, 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 and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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Chapel Hill vs. Chimney Rock and Lake Lure Travel Comparison

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