A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Duck vs. North Conway for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Duck or North Conway?

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

Should I visit Duck or North Conway? 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.

Where Should I go: Duck or North Conway?

Duck

Duck is a resort town in Dare County, North Carolina. The town is quite small, with a year around population of just 369, but during the peak summer months the tourist crowds can climb to over 20,000. Duck is also the northernmost incorporated town in the county, and also the newest town in the Outer Banks, having been incorporated on May 1st, 2002.

North Conway

North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.


Which place is cheaper, North Conway or Duck?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Duck is $188, while the average daily cost in North Conway is $224. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Duck and North Conway in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Duck $107
    North Conway $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Duck $214
    North Conway $250
Compare Hotels in Duck and North Conway

Looking for a hotel in Duck or North Conway? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Duck


Hotels in North Conway


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: North Conway Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Duck $66
    North Conway $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Duck or North Conway?

Prices for flights to both North Conway and Duck change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Duck $45
    North Conway $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Duck $13
    North Conway $38

Tours and Activities in North Conway

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.

  • Kancamagus Highway: Audio Driving Tour: $12
  • Kancamagus Scenic Byway Audio Driving Tour Guide: $17
  • 3-Hour Private Sightseeing Outdoor Escape Game in Littleton, NH: $39
  • Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Duck $45
    North Conway $33


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

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


Which is Bigger, Duck or North Conway?

North Conway has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Duck. When comparing the sizes of Duck and North Conway, 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 or North Conway?

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 or North Conway in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Duck as well as North Conway. The summer months attract visitors to Duck because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Duck is a little warmer than North Conway. Typically, the summer temperatures in Duck in July average around 78°F (26°C), and North Conway averages at about 69°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in North Conway. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Duck this time of the year. In the summer, Duck often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Duck gets 279 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 282 hours of full sun.

Duck receives a lot of rain in the summer. Duck usually gets more rain in July than North Conway. Duck gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Duck 78°F (26°C) 
    North Conway 69°F (20°C)

Should I visit Duck or North Conway in the Autumn?

Both North Conway and Duck are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Duck this time of year.

In October, Duck is generally much warmer than North Conway. Daily temperatures in Duck average around 62°F (16°C), and North Conway fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Duck. Duck usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway during autumn. Duck gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Duck usually receives around the same amount of rain as North Conway. Duck gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Duck 62°F (16°C) 
    North Conway 49°F (9°C)

Should I visit Duck or North Conway in the Winter?

Both North Conway and Duck during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Duck for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

North Conway can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Duck. Duck is much warmer than North Conway in the winter. The daily temperature in Duck averages around 41°F (5°C) in January, and North Conway fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Duck often gets around the same amount of sunshine as North Conway. Duck gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while North Conway receives 163 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Duck. Duck usually gets more rain in January than North Conway. Duck gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Duck 41°F (5°C) 
    North Conway 21°F (-6°C)

Should I visit Duck or North Conway in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Duck and North Conway. Many visitors come to Duck in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Duck is much warmer than North Conway. Typically, the spring temperatures in Duck in April average around 59°F (15°C), and North Conway averages at about 43°F (6°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in North Conway this time of the year. In Duck, it's very sunny this time of the year. Duck usually receives more sunshine than North Conway during spring. Duck gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while North Conway receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Duck usually receives less rain than North Conway. Duck gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while North Conway receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Duck 59°F (15°C) 
    North Conway 43°F (6°C)

Typical Weather for North Conway and Duck

Duck North Conway
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 41°F (5°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 21°F (-6°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm)
Feb 42°F (6°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm) 24°F (-5°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Mar 50°F (10°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 33°F (1°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Apr 59°F (15°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
May 67°F (19°C) 4.6 inches (117 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 63°F (17°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm) 69°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Aug 78°F (25°C) 5 inches (127 mm) 67°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (66 mm)
Sep 72°F (22°C) 4.7 inches (119 mm) 59°F (15°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
Oct 62°F (16°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 49°F (9°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Nov 53°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 39°F (4°C) 4.8 inches (123 mm)
Dec 45°F (7°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 27°F (-3°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm)