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

Should you visit Charlotte or Pasadena?

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 Pasadena 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Charlotte and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Charlotte or Pasadena?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Charlotte than Pasadena. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Charlotte is very popular for its big city activities, while Pasadena attracts visitors for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping. Charlotte is famous for its banking industry and growing Uptown area. It is also well known for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl.

How is Charlotte different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pasadena 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 Pasadena?

Pasadena 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 Pasadena specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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 Pasadena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pasadena 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.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

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 Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena 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 Pasadena for the nightlife scene. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

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 Pasadena?

Pasadena is great for its shopping areas. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Charlotte is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Charlotte or Pasadena Better for Families?

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

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.

Pasadena is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Charlotte or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Both Charlotte and Pasadena 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.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Is Charlotte or Pasadena Better for Students?

Charlotte is a good destination for students. However, Pasadena is not popular with students.

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.

Pasadena is not popular with students.

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

Charlotte and Pasadena both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Charlotte offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Pasadena has a few public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Is Charlotte or Pasadena a more walkable city?

Charlotte and Pasadena are nice when it comes to walkability.

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

Pasadena is somewhat walkable. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

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

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Charlotte?

How long in Charlotte or Pasadena?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.

One day in Charlotte or Pasadena?

The city of Charlotte offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Charlotte or Pasadena?

Charlotte is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Charlotte, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the picturesque destination of Pasadena. 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 Pasadena?

Charlotte is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the quaint city of Pasadena. 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 Pasadena?

Charlotte is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Pasadena 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 Pasadena, we can see that Charlotte is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Charlotte would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Charlotte than you might in Pasadena.

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

Which is Bigger, Charlotte or Pasadena?

Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Charlotte and Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?

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 Charlotte or Pasadena in the Summer?

Both Pasadena and Charlotte during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Charlotte in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Pasadena for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Charlotte is a little warmer than Pasadena in the summer. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Charlotte. Charlotte usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. Charlotte gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlotte or Pasadena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Charlotte and Pasadena. Most visitors come to Charlotte for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Charlotte is cooler than Pasadena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Charlotte in October average around 63°F (17°C), and Pasadena averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In October, Charlotte usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Charlotte gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Charlotte or Pasadena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Charlotte as well as Pasadena. The winter months attract visitors to Charlotte because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.

In January, Charlotte is generally much colder than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Charlotte average around 42°F (6°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Charlotte usually gets more rain in January than Pasadena. Charlotte gets 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Charlotte or Pasadena in the Spring?

Both Pasadena and Charlotte are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The activities around the city are the main draw to Charlotte this time of year.

Charlotte is around the same temperature as Pasadena in the spring. The daily temperature in Charlotte averages around 63°F (17°C) in April, and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In April, Charlotte usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Charlotte gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Charlotte