A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Chapel Hill vs. Martha's Vineyard for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard? 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.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a student-oriented, collegiate, and southern town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a coastal, peaceful, and affluent island. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and food.

Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Martha's Vineyard. Although Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard are popular destinations, Martha's Vineyard has more sights and attractions for tourists. Martha's Vineyard is very popular for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Chapel Hill attracts visitors for its museums and nightlife. Martha's Vineyard is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is popular for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping. It is also well known for the Aquinnah Cliffs. Chapel Hill is famous for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States.

How is Chapel Hill different from Martha's Vineyard?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Chapel Hill is a great town for its historical sights. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Chapel Hill. Many of the museums are affiliated with UNC. A highlight of many trips is a visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Hours can vary, so check the schedule ahead of time. Also worth visiting are the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum.

Martha's Vineyard offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Is the Food Better in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Martha's Vineyard is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Martha's Vineyard is an experience not to be missed. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Chapel Hill. Students often eat on Franklin Street, which has a diverse mix of casual and slightly nicer restaurants. You'll find Indian food, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek. The city also has excellent barbecue and other southern favorites.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Nightlife?

Chapel Hill is a great town for its evening party scene. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Chapel Hill has something for everybody. Most of the nightlife is centered around the student population. Franklin Street has a number of bars where students hang out. There are also parties hosted by fraternities and sororities. Things are quieter during the summer months when students are mostly gone.

Most people don't head to Martha's Vineyard specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is very popular for its resorts. However, Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Martha's Vineyard is a great choice. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Beaches?

Martha's Vineyard is well known for the beach. However, Chapel Hill is not a beach destination.

Martha's Vineyard is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

Chapel Hill is not a beach destination.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Hiking?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

Martha's Vineyard is a good destination for hiking. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Martha's Vineyard is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Martha's Vineyard. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Chapel Hill. There are a mix of local shops, larger shopping centers, and suburban malls. There are also weekly farmer's markets that are fun to check out.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Chapel Hill. You can wander around the UNC campus or visit one of the museums affiliated with the school. This includes a planetarium that has regular shows and movies (The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). There are also science exhibits geared specifically towards kids.

Martha's Vineyard offers lots of family activities. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard is very popular for couples. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Martha's Vineyard makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

Chapel Hill is a nice destination for couples. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants on Franklin Street. Couples will also enjoy exploring the campus at UNC, visiting the botanical garden, or checking out one of the town's museums.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is an amazing town to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

Chapel Hill is a very popular place to visit for students. It's a quintessential college town. UNC has a nice campus and Franklin Street is the main spot for restaurants and shopping. Most of the students live near or on campus, but once you head further out things get more suburban.

Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Chapel Hill is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for its public transit.

While Chapel Hill offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Public transit is generally limited in Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

Is Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard both are nice when exploring on foot.

Chapel Hill is a somewhat walkable town. The area around UNC is the most walkable part of town. Elsewhere things are very suburban and you'll need a car.

Martha's Vineyard is somewhat walkable. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Chapel Hill Worth Visiting? and Is Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Martha's Vineyard or Chapel Hill?

How long in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard. In our opinion, Martha's Vineyard has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Martha's Vineyard than Chapel Hill. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chapel Hill than Martha's Vineyard 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 Chapel Hill.

One day in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Chapel Hill, there's plenty to do. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

Martha's Vineyard is a small town with plenty to do. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this island has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

With museums and nightlife around the student-oriented town of Chapel Hill, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Martha's Vineyard might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This island offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-oriented destination of Chapel Hill. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Because Martha's Vineyard is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

Chapel Hill is a popular choice for travelers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Since Martha's Vineyard is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard, we can see that Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Martha's Vineyard than you might in Chapel Hill.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chapel Hill Expensive? and Is Martha's Vineyard Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard?

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 Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard in the Summer?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Chapel Hill during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Chapel Hill for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

Chapel Hill is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the summer. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

In Martha's Vineyard, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Chapel Hill. In the summer, Chapel Hill often gets less sunshine than Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Martha's Vineyard receives 293 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually gets more rain in July than Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and Martha's Vineyard. The autumn months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year.

In the autumn, Chapel Hill is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Chapel Hill in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Martha's Vineyard averages at about 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Martha's Vineyard this time of the year. In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chapel Hill usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Martha's Vineyard during autumn. Chapel Hill gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Martha's Vineyard receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chapel Hill usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as Martha's Vineyard. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Martha's Vineyard for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Martha's Vineyard. It's quite cold in Chapel Hill in the winter. In January, Chapel Hill is generally much warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 40°F (5°C), and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Chapel Hill often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Martha's Vineyard receives 170 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill usually gets less rain in January than Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Martha's Vineyard in the Spring?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Martha's Vineyard in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Chapel Hill is much warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the spring. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

It's quite sunny in Martha's Vineyard. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than Martha's Vineyard during spring. Chapel Hill gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Martha's Vineyard receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chapel Hill usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Martha's Vineyard and Chapel Hill