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

Should you visit Dallas or Phoenix?

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 Phoenix 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. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Dallas and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dallas or Phoenix?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Dallas. Although Dallas and Phoenix are both popular with visitors, Dallas has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Dallas is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Phoenix is known for its hiking. Dallas is popular for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also home to the Sixth Floor Museum. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Dallas different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Dallas is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Dallas. 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.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

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

Dallas is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Dallas has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Phoenix offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Is Dallas or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Dallas is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Dallas has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Dallas or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Dallas is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Phoenix. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Dallas is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Dallas or Phoenix?

Dallas is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Dallas. 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.

Phoenix is a great destination for shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Is Dallas or Phoenix Better for Families?

Dallas is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Dallas. 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.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Dallas or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Dallas is a great city for couples. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Dallas is a great city if you're traveling as 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.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

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

Dallas is a city with good options for times when you don't have a car. However, Phoenix is not known for its public transit.

While Dallas offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. 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 Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Dallas or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Dallas and Phoenix both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Phoenix is generally not a very walkable city. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Dallas?

How long in Dallas or Phoenix?

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

Families should spend more time in Dallas than Phoenix. 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 Phoenix. 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 Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

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 museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Phoenix. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Dallas or Phoenix?

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.

Phoenix 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 Phoenix?

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 Phoenix. 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 Phoenix?

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

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

Which is Bigger, Dallas or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 9% larger than the population of Dallas. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and Phoenix, 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 Phoenix?

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 Phoenix in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dallas as well as Phoenix. Many travelers come to Dallas for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Phoenix in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In the summer, Dallas is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the summer temperatures in Dallas in July average around 88°F (31°C), and Phoenix averages at about 98°F (36°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Dallas this time of the year. In the summer, Dallas often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Dallas gets 337 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 380 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Dallas gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Phoenix in the Autumn?

Both Phoenix and Dallas are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Dallas in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Dallas is generally cooler than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 69°F (21°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite sunny in Phoenix. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. Dallas usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during autumn. Dallas gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 305 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dallas usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dallas or Phoenix in the Winter?

Both Phoenix and Dallas during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Dallas for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Dallas is much colder than Phoenix in the winter. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 46°F (8°C) in January, and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the winter, Dallas often gets less sunshine than Phoenix. Dallas gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Phoenix receives 254 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Dallas gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Phoenix in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dallas and Phoenix. The spring months attract visitors to Dallas because of the activities around the city.

In the spring, Dallas is cooler than Phoenix. Typically, the spring temperatures in Dallas in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Phoenix averages at about 74°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dallas usually receives less sunshine than Phoenix during spring. Dallas gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Phoenix receives 355 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dallas usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Dallas