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

Should you visit Dallas or Detroit?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dallas and Detroit can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dallas

Dallas is a upscale, chic, and active city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Detroit

Detroit is a hardworking, overlooked , and under-rated city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Dallas and Detroit: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dallas or Detroit?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Detroit than Dallas. While Dallas is larger than Detroit, Detroit has more sights and attractions for tourists. Detroit is better known for its music, while Dallas is more popular for its museums, food, and shopping. Dallas is well known for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. Detroit is well known for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. Also, Detroit is famous for the Henry Ford Experience.

How is Dallas different from Detroit?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dallas or Detroit?

Dallas is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dallas can be an interesting and educational experience. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Detroit. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

Is the Food Better in Dallas or Detroit? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dallas is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Dallas has a huge number of terrific restaurants. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Detroit area. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

Is Dallas or Detroit Better for Nightlife?

Both Dallas and Detroit are excellent when it comes to partying.

Dallas offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.

Detroit has a large number of nightlife venues. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

Is Dallas or Detroit Better for Music?

Detroit is renowned for its live music scene. However, Dallas is not a live music destination.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in Detroit Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Dallas is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dallas or Detroit?

Dallas is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Dallas is well-known for its shopping. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.

Many visitors go to Detroit to go shopping. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is Dallas or Detroit Better for Families?

Dallas is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Dallas is very family-friendly. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Dallas or Detroit Better for Couples?

Dallas is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Dallas makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Is Dallas or Detroit Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Dallas is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Dallas has some public transit options. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.

Public transit is generally limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Is Dallas or Detroit a more walkable city?

Detroit is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Dallas is not a good city for its ease of walking around.

Detroit is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

Dallas is generally not a very walkable city. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.

For even more information, also check out Is Dallas Worth Visiting? and Is Detroit Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Detroit or Dallas?

How long in Dallas or Detroit?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Dallas and Detroit. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Dallas than in Detroit. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dallas, and 1-3 days is enough time in Detroit.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dallas than Detroit 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 Dallas.

One day in Dallas or Detroit?

In Dallas, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Detroit. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dallas or Detroit?

In Dallas, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Dallas has to offer.

Detroit is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Dallas or Detroit?

Dallas is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Detroit. Don't miss the live music, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Dallas or Detroit?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dallas. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Dallas. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the hardworking destination of Detroit. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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

When comparing the travel costs between Dallas and Detroit, we can see that Dallas 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 Dallas Expensive? and Is Detroit Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dallas or Detroit?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Detroit. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and Detroit, 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 Dallas or Detroit?

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 Dallas or Detroit in the Summer?

Both Detroit and Dallas during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dallas this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Detroit for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

Dallas is a little warmer than Detroit in the summer. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 88°F (31°C) in July, and Detroit fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).

In Detroit, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dallas. In the summer, Dallas often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Detroit. Dallas gets 337 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 319 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets less rain in July than Detroit. Dallas gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Detroit in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Dallas and Detroit. Many travelers come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Detroit in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In the autumn, Dallas is much warmer than Detroit. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dallas in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Detroit averages at about 54°F (12°C).

In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dallas usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during autumn. Dallas gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 172 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dallas usually receives more rain than Detroit. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dallas or Detroit in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Dallas as well as Detroit. Many visitors come to Dallas in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Detroit for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Detroit can be very cold during winter. In January, Dallas is generally much warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 46°F (8°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).

In the winter, Dallas often gets more sunshine than Detroit. Dallas gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 120 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets less rain in January than Detroit. Dallas gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Detroit in the Spring?

Both Detroit and Dallas are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Dallas for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Detroit because of the activities around the city.

Dallas is much warmer than Detroit in the spring. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Detroit fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

It's quite sunny in Detroit. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. Dallas usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during spring. Dallas gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 223 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dallas usually receives more rain than Detroit. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Detroit and Dallas