A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Daytona Beach vs. Saint Petersburg for Nightlife, Beaches, Food, and Families

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg? 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.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a lively, fun, and party-hard beach city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and beaches.

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg is a underrated, relaxed, and fun-filled coastal city. Other popular activities here include beaches, shopping, and museums.

Daytona Beach and Saint Petersburg: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Daytona Beach than Saint Petersburg. While Saint Petersburg is larger than Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Daytona Beach is better known for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Saint Petersburg is more popular for its museums, food, resorts, beaches, and shopping. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Saint Petersburg and is popular for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. Also, Daytona Beach is famous for The Daytona International Speedway. Saint Petersburg is well known for its warm weather, sandy beaches, and outdoor activities.

How is Daytona Beach different from Saint Petersburg?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Saint Petersburg offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are a variety of history, science, and art museums in the area. The Dalí Museum, Dr. Carter G. Woodson African American Museum, The Florida Holocaust Museum, and Imagine Museum of Contemporary Glass Art are some of the favorites.

Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Saint Petersburg is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its restaurants.

Dining out in Saint Petersburg is an experience not to be missed. It's location on the Gulf Coast means that seafood is everywhere. You'll enjoy fresh oysters, fried calamari, grilled fish, and fried shrimp on many menus. Casual restaurants and local eateries are common around town.

Daytona Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. This beach is more about the parties and drinks than it is about the food.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is terrific for nightlife. Also, Saint Petersburg is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for nightlife and partying.

Daytona Beach is a must-see party destination. Spring break is when the parties are at their peak. For the most active nightlife head to A1A from Ormond-by-the-Sea to Ponce Inlet, Main and Beach Streets, and Seabreeze Boulevard, ONE DAYTONA and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, and Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Saint Petersburg. There are beachside bars, rooftop restaurants, and dance clubs around town for those looking for a night out.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is very good for live music. However, Saint Petersburg is not a live music destination.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Daytona Beach. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Saint Petersburg is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Resorts?

Saint Petersburg is a popular place for its resorts. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its luxury resorts.

Saint Petersburg has a few great resort options. You'll find most of the resorts near the beach. Many have pools and they range in style and budget level.

Daytona Beach has a few resort options worth checking out. Many resorts in the area focus more on affordability than luxury. The oceanfront hotels usually have nice beachfront pools and rooms with balconies and oceanfront views. You'll pay a bit more for the waterfront rooms.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Beaches?

Saint Petersburg is a must-visit destination for the beach. Also, Daytona Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach city to visit for its beaches.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Saint Petersburg. You'll find great sandy beaches with calm blue water and a relaxed atmosphere. Some of the best beaches include Egmont Key, Fort DeSoto Beach, Maximo Beach, and St. Pete's Municipal Beach.

Many people head to Daytona Beach to enjoy the beach. The city's beaches are lively and festive, so if you're looking for a beach with music, drinking, and partying, then this is your place. In the surrounding areas you'll find some quieter, more family-friendly beaches. It's also best to avoid the Spring Break crowds if you're hoping for a quieter and more family-friendly vacation.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Saint Petersburg to go shopping. You'll find plenty of shopping malls and shopping centers around town. Along the boardwalk and in John's Pass Village there are also restaurants and souvenir stores.

Daytona Beach is a good destination for shopping. Souvenir shops and t-shirt shops are the main shopping you'll find in this area. The boardwalk is lined with gimmicky shops where you can pick up magnets or beach paraphernalia.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Families?

Saint Petersburg is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its kid-friendly activities.

Saint Petersburg is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The beaches, waterparks, nature reserves, and entertainment centers all offer plenty of activities for families. There are plenty of places to play, laugh, and act silly around town so the whole family can have a good time. There's also the Great Explorations Children’s Museum and other educational opportunities for the young ones.

Daytona Beach is not always a place people visit with their families. Although it's best avoided during spring break, Daytona with kids can be fun when the crowds aren't too bad. There are water parks, surfing lessons, and of course the beach. The restaurants are usually family-friendly as well with many offering kid's menus and early opening hours.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Couples?

Saint Petersburg is a well-known place for couples. Also, Daytona Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach city to visit for romance.

Saint Petersburg is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are sunset cruises, long sandy beaches, nice restaurants, and many other romantic activities around town. You can wander down the boardwalk or enjoy nature at the gardens and nature parks around town.

Daytona Beach is a nice destination for couples. While romance isn't exactly what comes to mind when you first think of Daytona, couples who like to party and be out and about will enjoy a visit to Daytona Beach. There's plenty to do and some very great seafood restaurants in the area, so it's not hard to turn it into a couple's destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is terrific for its student-friendly activities. However, Saint Petersburg is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Daytona Beach. It's one of the original Spring Break destinations, and the trend continues. If you're a student looking to cut loose, you'll find plenty of likeminded vacationers in the area, with many bars and hotels catering specifically to the younger crowd.

Saint Petersburg is not popular with students.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Saint Petersburg is a moderate coastal city for its public transit. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Saint Petersburg. There's a bus system, but most people rely on their own car to get around.

Public transit is quite limited in Daytona Beach. There's limited transportation options around town so you really must have a private vehicle. If you've been out drinking, you can call a taxi or an Uber.

Is Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg a more walkable city?

Saint Petersburg is a moderate coastal city for its ease of walking around. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its walkability.

Saint Petersburg is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is the most walkable part of town, but you really need a car to access most places.

Daytona Beach is not a very walkable beach city. This area requires a car if you want to access restaurants, nightlife, or anything away from your hotel.

For even more information, also check out Is Daytona Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Saint Petersburg Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saint Petersburg or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

It's fun to spend time in either Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Saint Petersburg due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 2-4 days is enough time in Saint Petersburg.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saint Petersburg than Daytona Beach 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 Saint Petersburg.

One day in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

You'll find live music and nightlife around the fun destination of Daytona Beach. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. This beach city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the underrated destination of Saint Petersburg. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

You'll find nightlife and live music around the party-hard beach city of Daytona Beach. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Petersburg. Most people come for the beaches. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Daytona Beach is a popular choice for travelers. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the underrated destination of Saint Petersburg. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Daytona Beach is a great place to explore. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the coastal city of Saint Petersburg. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Daytona Beach and Saint Petersburg, we can see that Daytona Beach 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 Daytona Beach Expensive? and Is Saint Petersburg Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

Saint Petersburg has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Saint Petersburg, 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 Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg?

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 Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Saint Petersburg. The beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Daytona Beach this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Saint Petersburg for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Saint Petersburg. Typically, the summer temperatures in Daytona Beach in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 82°F (28°C).

It's quite rainy in Saint Petersburg. Daytona Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in July than Saint Petersburg. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg in the Autumn?

Both Saint Petersburg and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, many visitors come to Saint Petersburg in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Saint Petersburg. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 74°F (23°C), and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

It's quite rainy in Daytona Beach. In October, Daytona Beach usually receives more rain than Saint Petersburg. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Saint Petersburg.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg in the Winter?

Both Saint Petersburg and Daytona Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Saint Petersburg for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Saint Petersburg in the winter. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 58°F (14°C) in January, and Saint Petersburg fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).

Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in January than Saint Petersburg. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Saint Petersburg in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Saint Petersburg. Most visitors come to Daytona Beach for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Saint Petersburg because of the beaches.

In the spring, Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Saint Petersburg. Typically, the spring temperatures in Daytona Beach in April average around 69°F (21°C), and Saint Petersburg averages at about 73°F (23°C).

In April, Daytona Beach usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint Petersburg. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Saint Petersburg receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Saint Petersburg is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Saint Petersburg and Daytona Beach