A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Duck Key vs. Columbia River Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge?

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 Duck Key and Columbia River Gorge can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge?

Duck Key

If you are thirsty for the taste of tropical splendor, Duck Key, Florida will surely quench your desires. Located in Monroe County, Florida, right beside its neighbor Conch Key, Duck Key stands. The community is chock full of everyone's favorite seaside activities, including fishing, jetskiing, scuba diving, canoeing, and kayaking. Though a quaint town, Duck Key attracts tourists from all over due to its quiet beaches and friendly locals. Whether you are looking to meet and greet with the dolphins or simply lie upon the sandy white beaches as the fire orange sun sets before you, Duck Key is truly a sweet and small subtropical diversion.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.

The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Duck Key and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that Columbia River Gorge is more expensive. And not only is Duck Key much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Duck Key would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Duck Key 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 Columbia River Gorge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbia River Gorge than you might in Duck Key.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Duck Key Expensive? and Is Columbia River Gorge Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge?

Columbia River Gorge has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Duck Key. When comparing the sizes of Duck Key and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge?

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 Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Duck Key as well as Columbia River Gorge. Also, many travelers come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Duck Key is generally a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 84°F (29°C), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck Key this time of the year. In the summer, Duck Key often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 338 hours of full sun.

Duck Key usually gets more rain in July than Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Duck Key are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Duck Key is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the autumn. The daily temperature in Duck Key averages around 80°F (27°C) in October, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck Key. Duck Key usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during autumn. Duck Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Duck Key. In October, Duck Key usually receives more rain than Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Duck Key during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Columbia River Gorge can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Duck Key is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the winter temperatures in Duck Key in January average around 70°F (21°C), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 40°F (4°C).

It's quite sunny in Duck Key. In the winter, Duck Key often gets more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 86 hours of full sun.

Columbia River Gorge gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Duck Key usually gets less rain in January than Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Duck Key or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck Key and Columbia River Gorge. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the natural beauty.

In April, Duck Key is generally much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Duck Key average around 77°F (25°C), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia River Gorge this time of the year. In Duck Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Duck Key usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during spring. Duck Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Duck Key usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Duck Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and Duck Key