A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Daytona Beach vs. Virginia Beach for Nightlife, Families, Resorts, and Beaches

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach? 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. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the live music, beaches, and nightlife.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a fun-filled, relaxing, and bustling coastal city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include nightlife and beaches.

Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Daytona Beach than Virginia Beach. While Virginia Beach is larger than Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Daytona Beach is more popular for its nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Virginia Beach is known for its resorts and impressive beauty. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Virginia Beach and is popular for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also home to The Daytona International Speedway. Virginia Beach is popular for its fun boardwalk, many seafood restaurants, and classic beach town vibe.

How is Daytona Beach different from Virginia Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach offer a number of decent restaurants to choose from.

Daytona Beach may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. This beach is more about the parties and drinks than it is about the food.

Virginia Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Seafood is plentiful around town and there are all-you-can-eat buffets as well as high end, waterfront seafood restaurants. Make sure you try the She Crab Soup, soft shell crabs, and oysters.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is terrific for nightlife and partying. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its evening party scene.

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 Virginia Beach. While it's a family-friendly beach, there's still a great nightlife scene with many bars and clubs in the area. Popular places to hang out at night include Omega Bar, Peabody's Nightclub, and Sky Bar.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is a nice place to visit for its live music scene. However, Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Daytona Beach active and fun. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Virginia Beach is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach Better for Resorts?

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

Virginia Beach has a few great resort options. Some of the best resorts in the area include the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and The Founders Inn and Spa.

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 Virginia Beach Better for Beaches?

For a relaxing beach holiday, both Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach are good choices.

Daytona Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. 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.

Many people head to Virginia Beach to enjoy the beach. The beaches are long and sandy, but they can get crowded during the summer months. The waves are just the right size for playing in the surf and the water temperature is usually warm enough to swim well into the fall months.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

Daytona Beach is adequate for its shopping opportunities. However, Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

If you're looking to go shopping, Daytona Beach has some nice offerings. 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.

Virginia Beach is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach Better for Families?

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

Virginia Beach is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. This is a popular family-friendly beach with a nice boardwalk, a fun waterpark, aquarium, and nice beaches. It attracts families in the area for its long beaches and fun atmosphere. Most restaurants have kid's menus and there are ice cream shops and minigolf around.

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 Virginia Beach Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach make for a good place to visit.

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.

Virginia Beach is a nice destination for couples. Couples will enjoy a nice escape to the beaches and boardwalk. There are many great seafood restaurants, some with waterfront settings. There's also a variety of activities ranging from many golf to dance clubs.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is terrific for its student-friendly activities. Also, Virginia Beach is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for students.

Daytona Beach is a great destination for students. 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.

Virginia Beach is a good beach city to visit for students. It's not as popular as more southern beach towns, but you'll still find students heading here for the spring break holidays.

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

Neither Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach. There is very limited public transit in the area so you'll need to have a car to get around.

Is Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach a more walkable city?

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

Virginia Beach is generally not very walkable. Most people prefer to have a car but do note that parking can be a nightmare, particularly during the summer season.

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 Virginia Beach Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Virginia Beach or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

Both Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Virginia Beach than in Daytona Beach. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 5-7 days is enough time in Virginia Beach.

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

Couples should spend more time in Daytona Beach than Virginia Beach. 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.

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

One day in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

In Daytona Beach, you'll find live music and nightlife. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the relaxing destination of Virginia 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 Virginia Beach?

Daytona Beach is a great place to explore. Anyone can find something fun to do here. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Virginia Beach. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Five days in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Daytona Beach. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. With so much to do, five days is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the relaxing destination of Virginia Beach. This coastal city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have five days, this is a great place to go. Five days is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A week in Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the beach city of Daytona Beach. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the nightlife. One week 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.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife when visiting the coastal city of Virginia Beach. Plenty of people spend one week in the area when traveling.So, one week is just the right amount of time to spend here. 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 Virginia Beach, we can see that Daytona Beach is more expensive. And not only is Virginia Beach much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Virginia Beach would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach.

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 Virginia Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach, 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 Virginia Beach?

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 Virginia Beach in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Virginia Beach. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Virginia Beach in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Daytona Beach is generally around the same temperature as Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 81°F (27°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It's quite rainy in Virginia Beach. Daytona Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Daytona Beach usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Virginia Beach. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 5.7 inches (145 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach in the Autumn?

Both Virginia Beach and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Also, most visitors come to Virginia Beach for the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Virginia Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 74°F (23°C) in October, and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

It's quite rainy in Daytona Beach. In October, Daytona Beach usually receives more rain than Virginia Beach. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach in the Winter?

Both Virginia Beach and Daytona Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Virginia Beach because of the cuisine.

The weather in Virginia Beach can be very cold. In the winter, Daytona Beach is much warmer than Virginia Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in Daytona Beach in January average around 58°F (14°C), and Virginia Beach averages at about 39°F (4°C).

Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in January than Virginia Beach. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Virginia Beach in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Virginia Beach. The spring months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches and the activities around the city. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Virginia Beach this time of year.

In April, Daytona Beach is generally a little warmer than Virginia Beach. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 69°F (21°C), and Virginia Beach fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

In April, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Virginia Beach. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Virginia Beach receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Virginia Beach and Daytona Beach