A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Charlotte vs. Arlington for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Charlotte or Arlington?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Charlotte and Arlington can help you decide which place is right for you.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a evolving, up-and-coming, and growing city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Arlington

Arlington is a educational, international, and historical city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Charlotte and Arlington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlotte or Arlington?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlotte than Arlington. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Charlotte is very popular for its big city activities, while Arlington attracts visitors for its museums, food, and nightlife. Arlington is more touristy than Charlotte and is known for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. Charlotte is famous for its banking industry and growing Uptown area. It is also well known for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

How is Charlotte different from Arlington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Charlotte or Arlington?

Arlington is great for its historical sights. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Arlington specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Charlotte is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The Mint Museum is a popular place to visit, as is the Gantt Center for African American Arts. Art enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and sports enthusiasts will enjoy a stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Is the Food Better in Charlotte or Arlington? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Arlington has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

Charlotte offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene continues to grow and change around town. You'll find the latest trendy restaurant changes regularly, but dishes often include upscale southern faire or classic American. There are also many international restaurants, particularly Mexican, Thai, and Chinese.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Nightlife?

Arlington is great for its evening party scene. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

Many people head to Arlington for the nightlife scene. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Charlotte. Head Uptown for some of the best nightlife. The city has many bars and clubs that keep things fun late into the night.

Is the Shopping Better in Charlotte or Arlington?

If you're looking to go shopping, Charlotte and Arlington both offer plenty of nice spots.

Charlotte has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. Shopping malls such as SouthPark Mall or Carolina Place offer all of the standard retailers. Concord Mills is another favorite mall in the area. Aside from the malls, there is no shortage of shopping centers around town.

Arlington is a great destination for shopping. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Charlotte or Arlington.

Charlotte offers lots of family activities. There are a number of museums for kids, with one of the best being Discovery Place. It has many hands-on science based exhibits that kids will love. Another unique experience is a visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Carowinds Amusement Park is also in the area as are many great parks, playgrounds, and natural areas.

Arlington is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Couples?

Both Charlotte and Arlington are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Charlotte is a good city for couples to visit. There are a number of date night activities around town, particularly Uptown. You can see a show or concert at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center or hit up one of the trendy bars or restaurants. There are also sporting events and other festivals that are fun to experience.

Arlington is a nice destination for couples. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Charlotte is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

Charlotte is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. While it's not a backpacker destination, there are some cheaper motels that budget travelers can stay at.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Students?

Arlington is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for students.

Arlington is very popular with students. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

Charlotte is a good city to visit for students. There are a number of smaller colleges in town, but the biggest university is the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Is Charlotte or Arlington Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is terrific for times when you don't have a car. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

The thorough and effecient public transit system of Arlington can take you anywhere. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Charlotte has a few public transit options. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Is Charlotte or Arlington a more walkable city?

Arlington is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its walkability.

Arlington is a very walkable destination. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

Charlotte is somewhat walkable. The Uptown area is the most walkable part of the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Charlotte Worth Visiting? and Is Arlington Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arlington or Charlotte?

How long in Charlotte or Arlington?

It's fun to spend time in either Charlotte or Arlington. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Arlington due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Charlotte, and 2-4 days is enough time in Arlington.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than Charlotte 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 Arlington.

One day in Charlotte or Arlington?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Charlotte. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Charlotte has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Arlington. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Charlotte or Arlington?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the up-and-coming destination of Charlotte. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the international destination of Arlington. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Charlotte or Arlington?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the up-and-coming city of Charlotte. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the educational city of Arlington. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Charlotte or Arlington?

Charlotte is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Arlington is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Charlotte or Arlington?

Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Arlington. When comparing the sizes of Charlotte and Arlington, 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 Charlotte or Arlington?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Charlotte or Arlington in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlotte and Arlington. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Charlotte this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Arlington for the family-friendly experiences.

Charlotte is around the same temperature as Arlington in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Arlington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Arlington this time of the year. In Charlotte, it's very sunny this time of the year. Charlotte usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Arlington during summer. Charlotte gets 289 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 278 hours of full sun in the summer.

Charlotte gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Charlotte usually receives more rain than Arlington. Charlotte gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Charlotte or Arlington in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Charlotte as well as Arlington. Many travelers come to Charlotte for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Arlington in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Charlotte is a little warmer than Arlington. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlotte in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Arlington averages at about 60°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlotte this time of the year. In the autumn, Charlotte often gets more sunshine than Arlington. Charlotte gets 223 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 197 hours of full sun.

Charlotte usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Arlington. Charlotte gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlotte or Arlington in the Winter?

Both Arlington and Charlotte are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Charlotte in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Arlington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Arlington can be very cold during winter. In January, Charlotte is generally much warmer than Arlington. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 42°F (6°C), and Arlington fluctuates around 35°F (1°C).

Charlotte usually receives more sunshine than Arlington during winter. Charlotte gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Arlington receives 139 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Charlotte usually receives more rain than Arlington. Charlotte gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Charlotte or Arlington in the Spring?

Both Arlington and Charlotte during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Charlotte for the activities around the city during these months.

Charlotte is a little warmer than Arlington in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 63°F (17°C) in April, and Arlington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

In Arlington, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Charlotte. In the spring, Charlotte often gets more sunshine than Arlington. Charlotte gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Arlington receives 228 hours of full sun.

Charlotte usually gets more rain in April than Arlington. Charlotte gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Arlington and Charlotte