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

Should you visit Dallas or Sacramento?

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 Sacramento 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.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a relaxed, undiscovered, and laid back city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dallas and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dallas or Sacramento?

You'll generally find more things to do in Dallas than Sacramento. Dallas is bigger than Sacramento, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Dallas is well known for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. Also, Dallas is famous for the Sixth Floor Museum. Sacramento is well known for its history and state capital.

How is Dallas different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Dallas and Sacramento.

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 Sacramento can be an interesting and educational experience. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

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

Dallas is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento 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 Sacramento area. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Dallas or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Dallas is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Dallas has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is the Shopping Better in Dallas or Sacramento?

Dallas is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sacramento 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 Sacramento to go shopping. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Dallas or Sacramento Better for Families?

Dallas is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento 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 Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Dallas or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Dallas is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento 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.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Dallas or Sacramento 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, Sacramento 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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Dallas or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Dallas and Sacramento both are respectable 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.

Sacramento is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Dallas?

How long in Dallas or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Dallas or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Dallas than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Dallas, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

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

With museums and nightlife around the chic city of Dallas, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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

A weekend in Dallas or Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Dallas, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

Dallas, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Dallas is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid back destination of Sacramento. 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 Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento 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 Sacramento Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dallas or Sacramento?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Dallas and Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?

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 Sacramento in the Summer?

Both Sacramento 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 Sacramento for the family-friendly experiences.

Dallas is a little warmer than Sacramento in the summer. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 88°F (31°C) in July, and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Dallas. In the summer, Dallas often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Dallas gets 337 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Dallas gets 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Sacramento in the Autumn?

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

In the autumn, Dallas is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Dallas in October average around 69°F (21°C), and Sacramento averages at about 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. Dallas usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Dallas gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Dallas usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Dallas or Sacramento in the Winter?

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

In January, Dallas is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Dallas average around 46°F (8°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Dallas often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Dallas gets 183 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.

Dallas usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Dallas gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Dallas or Sacramento in the Spring?

Both Sacramento 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.

Dallas is a little warmer than Sacramento in the spring. The daily temperature in Dallas averages around 68°F (20°C) in April, and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. Dallas usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Dallas gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Dallas usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Dallas gets 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Dallas