A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Chapel Hill vs. North Conway for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chapel Hill or North Conway?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or North Conway? 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 North Conway?

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.

North Conway

North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.

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.


Which place is cheaper, North Conway 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 North Conway is $224. 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 North Conway in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chapel Hill $95
    North Conway $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chapel Hill $190
    North Conway $250
Compare Hotels in Chapel Hill and North Conway

Looking for a hotel in Chapel Hill or North Conway? 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 North Conway


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 and North Conway Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chapel Hill $34
    North Conway $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Chapel Hill or North Conway?

Prices for flights to both North Conway 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
    North Conway $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chapel Hill $17
    North Conway $38

Tours and Activities in Chapel Hill

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

  • 8 Hours Private Crystal Coast Sightseeing in North Carolina: $275
  • Carolina History & Haunts Greensboro Historical Ghost Tour: $20
  • Chapel Hill Historic Churches Tour: $16
  • Chapel Hill, NC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $15
  • Coastal Excursion/Sunset Cruise/Sand Dollars/Sea Shells/Horses: $225
  • Morning Aerial Adventure Adult Course from Riegelwood: $55
  • Raleigh Guided E-Bike Tour: Burgers, Brews, and History too: $107
  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Greensboro by Zombie Scavengers: $20

Tours and Activities in North Conway

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.

  • Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
  • Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
  • 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
  • Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chapel Hill $40
    North Conway $33

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


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chapel Hill and North Conway, we can see that North Conway 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway 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 North Conway Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or North Conway?

Chapel Hill has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill and North Conway, 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.


When is the best time to visit Chapel Hill or North Conway?

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 North Conway in the Summer?

Both North Conway and Chapel Hill during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Chapel Hill is generally a little warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 79°F (26°C), and North Conway fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

In North Conway, 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 North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 282 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 North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Chapel Hill 79°F (26°C) 
    North Conway 69°F (20°C)

Should I visit Chapel Hill or North Conway in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Chapel Hill and North Conway. The shopping scene are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year.

Chapel Hill is much warmer than North Conway in the autumn. The daily temperature in Chapel Hill averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and North Conway fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

In Chapel Hill, it's very sunny this time of the year. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during autumn. Chapel Hill gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Chapel Hill usually receives less rain than North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Chapel Hill 61°F (16°C) 
    North Conway 49°F (9°C)

Should I visit Chapel Hill or North Conway in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Chapel Hill as well as North Conway. Many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

North Conway can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Chapel Hill. In the winter, Chapel Hill is much warmer than North Conway. Typically, the winter temperatures in Chapel Hill in January average around 40°F (5°C), and North Conway averages at about 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Chapel Hill often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 163 hours of full sun.

Chapel Hill usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Chapel Hill 40°F (5°C) 
    North Conway 21°F (-6°C)

Should I visit Chapel Hill or North Conway in the Spring?

Both North Conway and Chapel Hill are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Chapel Hill is generally much warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in Chapel Hill average around 60°F (16°C), and North Conway fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

It's quite sunny in North Conway. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. Chapel Hill usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during spring. Chapel Hill gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Chapel Hill usually receives less rain than North Conway. Chapel Hill gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Chapel Hill 60°F (16°C) 
    North Conway 43°F (6°C)

Typical Weather for North Conway and Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill North Conway
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 21°F (-6°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 24°F (-5°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Mar 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm) 33°F (1°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Apr 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Jun 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm) 63°F (17°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 69°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Aug 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm) 67°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Sep 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 59°F (15°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Oct 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 49°F (9°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Nov 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm) 39°F (4°C) 4.8 inches (123 mm)
Dec 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 27°F (-3°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm)