Should you visit Durango or Hood River?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Durango and Hood River. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Durango
Located in the State of Colorado, in the Rocky Mountains, Durango is on the tourist maps because of its historic narrow gauge railroad that connects the city to the town of Silverton. Durango has a population of just over 16,000 and it is only a short distance from the "four corners" area where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado all meet. The landscape surrounding Durango is quite impressive and includes the Animas River Valley, the San Juan Mountains, and some beautiful red sandstone bluffs.
Hood River
The city of Hood River is the seat of Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is a port on the Columbia River, and is named for the nearby Hood River. The dynamic town of Hood River is one of the best windsurfing and kiteboarding destinations in the world. Strong river currents, prevailing westerly winds and a vast body of water provide the perfect conditions for these wind sports, attracting sometimes hundreds of photogenic enthusiasts who zip back and forth across the wide Columbia River.
Which city is cheaper, Hood River or Durango?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Durango is $49, while the average daily cost in Hood River is $116. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Durango and Hood River in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Durango, $42 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Durango, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $21, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $124 in Hood River For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $13 per day in Durango for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Hood River travelers spend around $32 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Durango $13
Hood River $32
Local Transportation
To get around in Durango, the average visitor spends $20 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Hood River than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $37 on transportation in Hood River on average per day.
Entertainment
In Durango, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $23 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Hood River, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $14 per day, per person.
Typical Entertainment prices in Durango
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Durango's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Hot Springs (for 2)
$50
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Tubing (for 2)
$40
Tours and Activities in Durango
For Durango, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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12-Zipline Adventure in the San Juan Mountains near Durango:
$141
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Fun Tour by Tuk Tuk around Durango Old Town, Garai and Goiuria:
$93
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Private Full-Day Fishing Experience in San Juan River:
$400
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Private Guided Tour by Tuk Tuk of Durango and Elorrio:
$93
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Private Guided Tour by tuk tuk of Durango and Atxondo:
$93
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Private Tour in Durango and Mendiola by Tuk Tuk:
$93
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Province of Vizcaya Half-Day Private Guided Tuk Tuk Tour:
$218
Tours and Activities in Hood River
For Hood River, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Hood River Scavenger Hunt Walking Tour:
$29
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Oregon Wine Country Experience - All-Inclusive Tour by Bike or Shuttle:
$184
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Hood River spend on average $15 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durango and Hood River, we can see that Hood River is more expensive. And not only is Durango much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durango would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durango 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 Hood River would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hood River than you might in Durango.
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