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

Should you visit Clearwater or Reno?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Clearwater and Reno. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Clearwater

Clearwater is a beautiful, outdoorsy, and adventure-filled coastal city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Reno

Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Clearwater and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Clearwater or Reno?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Clearwater than Reno. While Reno is larger than Clearwater, Clearwater has more sights and attractions for tourists. Clearwater is better known for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches, while Reno is more popular for its nightlife. Clearwater is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its beautiful white sand beaches, laid back atmosphere, and watersports. Also, Clearwater is famous for Clearwater Beach. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Clearwater different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Clearwater or Reno?

Clearwater is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Clearwater offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Perhaps most well known is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, but there are also a surprising number of museums nearby such as the Dalí Museum, the impressive Chihuly Glass Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Is the Food Better in Clearwater or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Clearwater is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Clearwater has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Head to the waterfront for some of the best seafood. Unfortunately this is also where you'll find the highest prices. Shrimp, crab, and a fresh catch of the day are common on many menus.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is notable for nightlife. Also, Clearwater is not as famous, but is still a good coastal city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Reno has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Clearwater. You'll find laid back beach clubs, glitzy wine bars, and relaxed bars where you can spend a nice night out.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Resorts?

Clearwater is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

Clearwater is known as a popular and fun resort destination. You'll find a number of nice resorts along the coastline. Some of the most popular are the Sandpearl Resort, the Opal Sands Resort, and the Clearwater Beach Marriott.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Clearwater is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Clearwater has a few good snorkeling spots. There's both snorkeling and diving nearby. Some of the best dive spots are within and hour of the shore and you'll find diving shops that offer trips.

Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Beaches?

Clearwater is renowned for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Clearwater. Clearwater Beach is on many lists as one of the best beaches in America. It's the most popular beach in the area and it spreads out over 2.5 miles. Sand Key Beach is another popular destination as is the pristine Caladesi Island State Park.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Clearwater or Reno?

Both Clearwater and Reno are notable shopping destinations.

Clearwater is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options in the area such as malls, shopping centers, and outlets. Westfield Countryside Mall is a popular destination as is the Cleveland Street District.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Reno. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Families?

Clearwater is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Clearwater. Check out the playground and activities around Pier 60. Less crowded and family-friendly Sand Key Park is another favorite spot and the playgrounds at New Coachman Park and Crest Lake Park are also fun. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is another popular attraction for visitors with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Couples?

Clearwater is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Clearwater makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are beautiful parks and beaches as well as romantic activities like sunset cruises and dolphin spotting tours. Couples will also enjoy dining on local seafood and shopping at the local venues.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Clearwater or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Clearwater and Reno offer respectable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Clearwater. The Clearwater Jolley Trolley connects some of the area's highlights. There are also public buses that run several routes through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Clearwater or Reno a more walkable city?

Clearwater is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Clearwater is a somewhat walkable coastal city. The waterfront and downtown areas are surprisingly walkable.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Clearwater Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Clearwater?

How long in Clearwater or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Clearwater and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Clearwater than in Reno. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Clearwater, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Clearwater than Reno 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 Clearwater.

One day in Clearwater or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Clearwater. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the growing city of Reno, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Clearwater or Reno?

Clearwater is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Reno, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Clearwater or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the relaxing destination of Clearwater. This coastal city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Reno, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Clearwater or Reno?

The beautiful coastal city of Clearwater offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Reno is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Clearwater or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Clearwater. When comparing the sizes of Clearwater and Reno, 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.