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

Should you visit Columbus or Reno?

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

Should I visit Columbus or Reno? 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.

Columbus

Columbus is a friendly, welcoming, and down-to-earth city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Reno

Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Columbus and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Reno?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Reno than Columbus. While Columbus is larger than Reno, Reno has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Reno is more touristy than Columbus and is known for its casinos and nightlife scene. Also, Reno is famous for the National Automobile Museum. Columbus is well known for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene.

How is Columbus different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Columbus or Reno.

Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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 Columbus or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Reno is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Reno. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is Columbus or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Columbus is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Reno has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Columbus has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Reno?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Columbus and Reno.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Reno offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Columbus or Reno Better for Families?

Columbus 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 Columbus. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

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 Columbus or Reno Better for Couples?

Reno is a popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

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

Visitors will find respectable public transit in both Columbus and Reno.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

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

Is Columbus or Reno a more walkable city?

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

Columbus is a somewhat walkable city. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

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 Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbus and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Reno than in Columbus. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbus, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

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

One day in Columbus or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Columbus. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The city of Reno 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.

A weekend in Columbus or Reno?

Columbus is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Reno 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 Reno, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Columbus or Reno?

You'll find shopping and museums around the authentic destination of Columbus. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Reno 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.

A week in Columbus or Reno?

The friendly city of Columbus offers museums and nightlife. 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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

When comparing the travel costs between Columbus and Reno, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Reno?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Reno. When comparing the sizes of Columbus 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.