A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Chimney Rock and Lake Lure vs. Durham for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Durham?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Chimney Rock and Lake Lure and Durham can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Durham?

Chimney Rock and Lake Lure

The town of Chimney Rock and the neighboring Lake Lure draws a fairly large number of visitors every year, especially in the warmer summer months. This mountain area can sometimes be an expensive travel destination due to its popularity, but it is often still more affordable than many other destinations in the southeastern U.S. If you're on a tight budget, then it's not hard to find affordable places to stay, cook your own meals, and avoid the more expensive activities while still having fun. If you do wish to splurge and spend more money, it's quite easy and tempting with all of the activities around.

Durham

Durham is a city in central North Carolina with about 230,000 residents. Together with Raleigh and Chapel Hill, it forms the Research Triangle area. Durham is often referred to as the "City of Medicine" and is home to the famous Duke University.

Durham's history is rooted in tobacco. The Duke family established American Tobacco, which controlled 90% of all cigarette production in the US during the second half of the 19th century. The family donated money to Trinity College, which changed its name to Duke University in 1924.

Today much of Durham's economy is centered around the university and Research Triangle Park. The area has many technology and pharmaceutical jobs and the economy continues to grow.

Which place is cheaper, Durham or Chimney Rock and Lake Lure?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure is $196, while the average daily cost in Durham is $162. 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 Chimney Rock and Lake Lure and Durham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $117
    Durham $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $234
    Durham $184
Compare Hotels in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure and Durham

Looking for a hotel in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Durham? 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 Chimney Rock and Lake Lure


Hotels in Durham


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: Durham Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $35
    Durham $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Durham?

Prices for flights to both Durham and Chimney Rock and Lake Lure 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
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $52
    Durham $44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $34
    Durham $26

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Chimney Rock and Lake Lure $21
    Durham $34


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

Which is Bigger, Chimney Rock and Lake Lure or Durham?

Durham is bigger, and its population is about 1233.3 times larger than the population of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. When comparing the population of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure vs. Durham, 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 and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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Chimney Rock and Lake Lure vs. Durham Travel Comparison

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