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

Should you visit Dallas or Pasadena?

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 Pasadena can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dallas

Dallas is a chic, active, and upscale city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a picturesque, quaint, and charming city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dallas and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dallas or Pasadena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dallas than Pasadena, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Dallas is popular for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also home to the Sixth Floor Museum. Pasadena is popular for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl.

How is Dallas different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Pasadena 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 Pasadena?

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Dallas and Pasadena.

Many visitors head to Dallas specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Pasadena can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at high quality restaurants in both Dallas and Pasadena.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Dallas. 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.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Is Dallas or Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Both Dallas and Pasadena are high quality 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.

Pasadena has a large number of nightlife venues. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

Is the Shopping Better in Dallas or Pasadena?

Both Dallas and Pasadena are high quality shopping destinations.

Dallas is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. 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 explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Is Dallas or Pasadena Better for Families?

Dallas is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Dallas is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Pasadena is a family-friendly city. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Dallas or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Dallas is notable for couples. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Dallas is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

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

Both Dallas and Pasadena offer good public transit options.

Dallas has a few 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.

Pasadena has some public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Is Dallas or Pasadena a more walkable city?

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

Pasadena is a somewhat walkable place. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

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 Pasadena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Dallas?

How long in Dallas or Pasadena?

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

Families should spend more time in Dallas than Pasadena. 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 Pasadena. 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.

One day in Dallas or Pasadena?

The city of Dallas offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Pasadena. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dallas or Pasadena?

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

Pasadena is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. 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 Pasadena?

Dallas 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pasadena. 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 Pasadena?

Dallas 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.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dallas or Pasadena?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Pasadena. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Dallas or Pasadena in the Summer?

Both Pasadena and Dallas are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Dallas in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Pasadena for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Dallas is a little warmer than Pasadena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dallas in July average around 88°F (31°C), and Pasadena averages at about 73°F (23°C).

In July, Dallas usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Dallas gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Dallas or Pasadena in the Autumn?

Both Pasadena and Dallas during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the shopping scene.

In October, Dallas is generally around the same temperature as Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 69°F (21°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

Dallas usually gets more rain in October than Pasadena. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Pasadena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Dallas and Pasadena. The winter months attract visitors to Dallas because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.

Dallas is much colder than Pasadena in the winter. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 46°F (8°C) in January, and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

In January, Dallas usually receives less rain than Pasadena. Dallas gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Dallas or Pasadena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Dallas as well as Pasadena. The activities around the city are the main draw to Dallas this time of year.

In the spring, Dallas is a little warmer than Pasadena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dallas in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Pasadena averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Dallas usually gets more rain in April than Pasadena. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Dallas