A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbia vs. North Conway for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Columbia or North Conway?

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

Should I visit Columbia or North Conway? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Columbia or North Conway?

Columbia

Both the largest and capital city of South Carolina, Columbia is literally the center of everything. Geographically it is located in the middle of the state, and it is the home to the University of South Carolina, the Army's Fort Jackson, as well as a variety of museums that celebrate the city's art, history, and culture.

North Conway

North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Columbia or North Conway?

Columbia has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of Columbia and North Conway, 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 or North Conway?

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 or North Conway in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Columbia as well as North Conway. The summer months attract visitors to Columbia because of the family-friendly experiences.

Columbia is a little warmer than North Conway in the summer. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and North Conway fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in North Conway. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia this time of the year. In the summer, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Columbia gets 293 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 282 hours of full sun.

Columbia receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbia usually gets more rain in July than North Conway. Columbia gets 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or North Conway in the Autumn?

Both North Conway and Columbia are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Columbia this time of year.

In the autumn, Columbia is much warmer than North Conway. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Columbia in October average around 64°F (18°C), and North Conway averages at about 49°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during autumn. Columbia gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Columbia usually receives less rain than North Conway. Columbia gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbia or North Conway in the Winter?

Both North Conway and Columbia during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Columbia for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

North Conway can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Columbia is generally much warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in Columbia average around 45°F (7°C), and North Conway fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Columbia often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Columbia gets 171 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 163 hours of full sun.

Columbia usually gets more rain in January than North Conway. Columbia gets 3.7 inches (93 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbia or North Conway in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbia and North Conway.

Columbia is much warmer than North Conway in the spring. The daily temperature in Columbia averages around 64°F (18°C) in April, and North Conway fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in North Conway this time of the year. In Columbia, it's very sunny this time of the year. Columbia usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during spring. Columbia gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Columbia usually receives less rain than North Conway. Columbia gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for North Conway and Columbia