A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Chapel Hill vs. Roswell, New Mexico for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico? 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 southern, student-oriented, and collegiate town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico is a infamous, quirky, and mysterious town. Other popular activities here include food and museums.

Chapel Hill and Roswell, New Mexico: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Chapel Hill. Although Chapel Hill and Roswell, New Mexico are both popular with visitors, Chapel Hill has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Roswell, New Mexico is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is popular for being the site of an alleged UFO crash. Chapel Hill is popular for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States. It is also home to the University of North Carolina.

How is Chapel Hill different from Roswell, New Mexico?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Roswell, New Mexico 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 Roswell, New Mexico?

Chapel Hill is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Roswell, New Mexico is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Roswell, New Mexico. Most people stop in town specifically for the International UFO Museum and Research Center. It has a lot of information on the 1947 Roswell Crash and other supposed UFO incidents. Other museums in town include the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, the Roswell Museum, and the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art.

Is the Food Better in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Chapel Hill and Roswell, New Mexico offer good local cuisine and restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chapel Hill area. 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.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Roswell, New Mexico. It's a good place to grab lunch as there are many casual restaurants that serve everything from burgers to tacos or other Mexican dishes.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Nightlife?

Chapel Hill is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

Chapel Hill has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Roswell, New Mexico. There's no real nightlife scene and many visitors stop over in route somewhere else.

Is the Shopping Better in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

Chapel Hill is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Roswell, New Mexico has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find the typical suburban chains where you can pick up essentials or food while you're in town.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico.

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.

Roswell, New Mexico offers lots of family activities. Kids who enjoy a mystery will appreciate a visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center. There's also the Spring River Park and Zoo which has native animals and a carousel.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Couples?

Chapel Hill is a good destination for its romantic activities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for couples.

Chapel Hill makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Roswell, New Mexico is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's a bit outside the box as far as destinations go, so couples who enjoy the weird and quirky will enjoy a stop here.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is very popular for its student-friendly activities. However, Roswell, New Mexico 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.

Roswell, New Mexico is not popular with students.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico 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, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Chapel Hill has some public transit options. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Public transit is generally limited in Roswell, New Mexico. There are buses, but it's easier to have your own car.

Is Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill and Roswell, New Mexico both are good 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.

Roswell, New Mexico is somewhat walkable. The historic district is compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Chapel Hill Worth Visiting? and Is Roswell, New Mexico Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Roswell, New Mexico or Chapel Hill?

How long in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Chapel Hill than Roswell, New Mexico because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Chapel Hill, and 1-2 days is enough time in Roswell, New Mexico.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chapel Hill than Roswell, New Mexico 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 Roswell, New Mexico?

In Chapel Hill, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and museums when visiting the mysterious town of Roswell, New Mexico. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

Many people visit Chapel Hill for a weekend. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Chapel Hill, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the infamous destination of Roswell, New Mexico. This town 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 Roswell, New Mexico?

The destination of Chapel Hill offers shopping and museums. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The infamous town of Roswell, New Mexico offers food and museums. 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 Roswell, New Mexico?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Chapel Hill. This town offers something for everyone. 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Roswell, New Mexico. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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 Roswell, New Mexico, we can see that Chapel Hill is more expensive. And not only is Roswell, New Mexico much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Roswell, New Mexico would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roswell, New Mexico 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 Chapel Hill would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chapel Hill than you might in Roswell, New Mexico.

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 Roswell, New Mexico Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Roswell, New Mexico?

Chapel Hill has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Roswell, New Mexico. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill and Roswell, New Mexico, 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.