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

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Tampa?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Tampa? 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 party-hard, energetic, and lively beach city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and live music.

Tampa

Tampa is a easy-going, low-key, and laid-back city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include food and beaches.

Daytona Beach and Tampa: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Tampa?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Daytona Beach than Tampa. While Tampa is larger than Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Daytona Beach is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, and shopping, while Tampa attracts visitors for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Tampa and is popular for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also well known for The Daytona International Speedway. Tampa is famous for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port.

How is Daytona Beach different from Tampa?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Tampa is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Tampa area. There are a surprising number of great local restaurants around town as well as a good food truck scene. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

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 Tampa Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is an amazing beach city to visit for its evening party scene. However, Tampa is lacking in options for nightlife.

Daytona Beach has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. 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.

Tampa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for its music scene. However, Tampa is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Daytona Beach is active and vibrant. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Tampa is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Resorts?

Daytona Beach is a decent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Tampa is not a resort destination.

You might not think of Daytona Beach as a resort destination, but it has a few places. 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.

Tampa is not a resort destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a moderate city for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Daytona Beach is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Tampa. While the water isn't always the clearest, there are some nice snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Options include Shell Key and Egmont Key, Crystal River, and Fort De Soto.

Daytona Beach is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Beaches?

Tampa is a well-known place for the beach. Also, Daytona Beach is not as famous, but is still a good beach city to visit for its beaches.

Tampa is considered a top beach destination. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks 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 Tampa?

Daytona Beach is a decent place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Daytona Beach has some good spots for those that want to go 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.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Families?

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

Tampa is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

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 Tampa Better for Couples?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for couples. However, Tampa is lacking in options for romance.

Daytona Beach is a good beach city for couples to visit. 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.

Tampa is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore, but the downtown area has room for improvement and much of the city is suburban.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is an amazing beach city to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Tampa is not popular with students.

Many students frequent 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.

Tampa is not popular with students.

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

Neither Daytona Beach or Tampa offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant 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.

Public transit is quite limited in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Is Daytona Beach or Tampa a more walkable city?

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

Tampa is generally not very walkable. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

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 Tampa Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Tampa or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Tampa?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Daytona Beach and Tampa. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Tampa than in Daytona Beach. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 2-3 days is enough time in Tampa.

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

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

One day in Daytona Beach or Tampa?

In Daytona Beach, many people enjoy the nightlife and live music that this party-hard destination offers. Lots of people come for the nightlife. This beach city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the food when visiting the low-key destination of Tampa. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 Tampa?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Daytona Beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tampa. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Tampa?

Daytona Beach is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Daytona Beach. Lots of people come for the nightlife. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food when visiting the low-key destination of Tampa. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. This 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 Tampa?

You'll find live music and nightlife around the lively destination of Daytona Beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the nightlife. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food around the city of Tampa. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Daytona Beach and Tampa, we can see that Daytona Beach is more expensive. And not only is Tampa much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Tampa would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tampa 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 Daytona Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Daytona Beach than you might in Tampa.

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 Tampa Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Tampa?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Tampa, 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 Tampa?

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 Tampa in the Summer?

Both Tampa and Daytona Beach during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the beaches, snorkeling, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Tampa this time of year.

Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Tampa in the summer. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Tampa fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

Tampa gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in July than Tampa. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Tampa in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Tampa. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Daytona Beach this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Tampa for the city's sights and attractions.

In the autumn, Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Tampa. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Daytona Beach in October average around 74°F (23°C), and Tampa averages at about 75°F (24°C).

Daytona Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Daytona Beach usually receives more rain than Tampa. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Tampa in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Tampa. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Tampa in the winter for the cuisine.

In January, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Tampa. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 58°F (14°C), and Tampa fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Tampa in the Spring?

Both Tampa and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city. Also, most visitors come to Tampa for the beaches and the activities around the city during these months.

Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Tampa in the spring. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 69°F (21°C) in April, and Tampa fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

In April, Daytona Beach usually receives around the same amount of rain as Tampa. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Tampa receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Tampa and Daytona Beach