A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Daytona Beach vs. Winston-Salem for Nightlife, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem? 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 fun, party-hard, and energetic beach city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, nightlife, and live music.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is a friendly, under-rated, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Daytona Beach and Winston-Salem: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Daytona Beach than Winston-Salem. While Winston-Salem is larger than Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Daytona Beach is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, and big city activities, while Winston-Salem attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and shopping. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Winston-Salem and is known for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also well known for The Daytona International Speedway. Winston-Salem is famous for it's southern character and quaint college campuses.

How is Daytona Beach different from Winston-Salem?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Winston-Salem. Old Salem has a nice concentration of museums and gardens. Outside of the old town you'll find several art museums like the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem area. North Carolina barbecue is popular around town. The city is also the birthplace of Krispy Kreme donuts and during the holiday season you should sample the local Moravian Cookies.

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 Winston-Salem Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Daytona Beach is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Winston-Salem. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.

Is Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for its music scene. However, Winston-Salem 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.

Winston-Salem is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem Better for Resorts?

Daytona Beach is a moderate beach city for its resorts. However, Winston-Salem 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.

Winston-Salem is not a resort destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem Better for Beaches?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for the beach. However, Winston-Salem is not a beach destination.

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.

Winston-Salem is not a beach destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem Better for its Old Town?

Winston-Salem is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Daytona Beach does not have a historic old town.

Winston-Salem offers a nice historic old town area. Nearby Old Salem is filled with historic museums, gardens, and restaurants. A ticket is required for most of the venues, but the atmosphere and architecture are charming.

Daytona Beach does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Winston-Salem to go shopping. You'll find a mix of larger shopping malls, retail outlets, and shopping centers around town.

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 Winston-Salem Better for Families?

Winston-Salem is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its kid-friendly activities.

Winston-Salem is a family-friendly place to visit. There are interactive museums like the Kaleideum science museums. There are also outdoor parks and playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and a children's theater.

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 Winston-Salem Better for Couples?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for couples. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city 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.

Winston-Salem is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are restaurants and movie theaters that make for a nice date night. There are also parks and walks that will get you outdoors.

Is Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem Better for Students?

Daytona Beach is renowned for students. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its student-friendly activities.

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.

Plenty of students visit Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University as well as colleges such as Salem College give parts of the city a collegiate vibe.

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

Winston-Salem is a moderate 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 Winston-Salem. There are bus routes, but they are limited in their frequency and convenience, making a car essential for most visitors.

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 Winston-Salem a more walkable city?

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

Winston-Salem is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is the most pedestrian-friendly part of town, but most of the city requires a car.

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 Winston-Salem Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Winston-Salem or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Winston-Salem than Daytona Beach because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 1-2 days is enough time in Winston-Salem.

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

Couples should spend more time in Daytona Beach than Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem.

One day in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the fun destination of Daytona Beach. Don't miss the nightlife, 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under-rated destination of Winston-Salem. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Daytona Beach. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. A weekend 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the lively destination of Daytona Beach. This beach 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the under-rated destination of Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem?

You'll find live music and nightlife around the beach city of Daytona 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Winston-Salem. 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 Winston-Salem, we can see that Daytona Beach is more expensive. And not only is Winston-Salem much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Winston-Salem would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem.

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 Winston-Salem Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem?

Winston-Salem has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Daytona Beach. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem in the Summer?

Both Winston-Salem and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Winston-Salem this time of year.

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

It rains a lot this time of the year in Winston-Salem. It's quite rainy in Daytona Beach. In July, Daytona Beach usually receives more rain than Winston-Salem. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem in the Autumn?

Both Winston-Salem and Daytona Beach during the autumn are popular places to visit. 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 Winston-Salem for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Winston-Salem. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Daytona Beach in October average around 74°F (23°C), and Winston-Salem averages at about 62°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in October than Winston-Salem. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Winston-Salem. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Winston-Salem in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Winston-Salem can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Daytona Beach is generally much warmer than Winston-Salem. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 58°F (14°C), and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

In January, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Winston-Salem. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Winston-Salem in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Winston-Salem. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Winston-Salem in the spring. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 69°F (21°C) in April, and Winston-Salem fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in April than Winston-Salem. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Winston-Salem receives 3.1 inches (80 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Winston-Salem and Daytona Beach