A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Columbia River Gorge vs. Halifax for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Columbia River Gorge or Halifax?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Columbia River Gorge or Halifax, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Columbia River Gorge or Halifax?

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.

The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.

Halifax

The quaint and charming coastal town of Halifax, Nova Scotia has an interesting personality. While it caters to travelers from all over the world, it maintains the pace and lifestyle of a small town.

Steeped in maritime history, Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia, and one of the world's greatest natural harbors. This busy seaport serves as the economic and cultural hub of Eastern Canada.

When planning your trip keep in mind that this city has a climate like other coastal cities. Summers are nice with the occasional humidity. Winters are mild, but still full of snow and wind. The best time of year to visit is most certainly the fall.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to Canada, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Vancouver.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Columbia River Gorge or Halifax?

Halifax has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Columbia River Gorge and Halifax, 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 Columbia River Gorge or Halifax?

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 Columbia River Gorge or Halifax in the Summer?

Both Halifax and Columbia River Gorge during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Columbia River Gorge is a little warmer than Halifax in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia River Gorge averages around 68°F (20°C) in July, and Halifax fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

In Halifax, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Columbia River Gorge. In the summer, Columbia River Gorge often gets more sunshine than Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 338 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 230 hours of full sun.

Columbia River Gorge usually gets less rain in July than Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 99 mm (3.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Halifax in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia River Gorge and Halifax. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.

In the autumn, Columbia River Gorge is a little warmer than Halifax. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia River Gorge in October average around 55°F (13°C), and Halifax averages at about 10°C (49°F).

Columbia River Gorge usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Halifax during autumn. Columbia River Gorge gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Halifax receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Columbia River Gorge usually receives less rain than Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 121 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Halifax in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Columbia River Gorge as well as Halifax. Many travelers come to Columbia River Gorge for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Halifax can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Columbia River Gorge. In January, Columbia River Gorge is generally much warmer than Halifax. Daily temperatures in Columbia River Gorge average around 40°F (4°C), and Halifax fluctuates around -4°C (24°F).

In the winter, Columbia River Gorge often gets less sunshine than Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 86 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Halifax receives 111 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Halifax. Columbia River Gorge receives a lot of rain in the winter. Columbia River Gorge usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 129 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia River Gorge or Halifax in the Spring?

Both Halifax and Columbia River Gorge are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the spring for the natural beauty.

Halifax can be very cold during spring. Columbia River Gorge is much warmer than Halifax in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia River Gorge averages around 51°F (11°C) in April, and Halifax fluctuates around 4°C (39°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. Columbia River Gorge usually receives more sunshine than Halifax during spring. Columbia River Gorge gets 231 hours of sunny skies, while Halifax receives 148 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Halifax. In April, Columbia River Gorge usually receives less rain than Halifax. Columbia River Gorge gets 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain, while Halifax receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Halifax and Columbia River Gorge