A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Chattanooga for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Durham or Chattanooga?

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 Durham and Chattanooga can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Chattanooga

Chattanooga is a bustling, outdoorsy, and thriving city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Chattanooga: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Chattanooga?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Chattanooga than Durham. While Durham is larger than Chattanooga, Chattanooga has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Chattanooga is very popular for its hiking, while Durham attracts visitors for its museums. Chattanooga is more touristy than Durham and is known for it's hikes, railways, and nearby natural areas. It is also well known for Rock City. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Chattanooga?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Chattanooga and Durham. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durham or Chattanooga?

Durham is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. Also, Chattanooga is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Durham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

Chattanooga is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It's a thriving city and there are a number of museums to explore. The Hunter Museum of American Art is great for art enthusiasts. There's also the Creative Discovery Museum, the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, and the 6th Cavalry Museum, as well as several smaller museums that you can visit.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Chattanooga? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Chattanooga can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Durham area. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Chattanooga. There are a growing number of restaurants that range from local dives to fine dining. Fried food is common, but you'll also find Mexican and classic hamburgers. Popular dishes that are local to the area include catfish, southern barbecue, and hush puppies.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Chattanooga are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Chattanooga. You'll find plenty of bars and clubs around town. There are also a number of comedy and improv clubs that are fun to check out.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Hiking?

Chattanooga is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Chattanooga is a popular spot for hiking. It's proximity to the mountains means that you don't have to go far to find good hiking. Within a half hour of town there are more than 50 trailheads. Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain are both hiking destinations. Several trails have swimming spots and many pass through nice forests or head to impressive viewpoints.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Chattanooga?

Both Durham and Chattanooga are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Chattanooga. Head downtown for local shops or to the larger malls if you want mainstream stores. Many visitors enjoy antiquing while they're in town, but there are also farmer's markets and thrift stores.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Chattanooga.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Chattanooga is a family-friendly city. Many people enjoy a visit to the Tennessee Aquarium, which has a touch tank and a butterfly exhibit, among other things. Near downtown, Coolidge Park is a great place for kids to get their energy out. There's also the popular Lookout Mountain Incline Railway as well as many hiking trails in the area.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Chattanooga are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Chattanooga is a nice destination for couples. Many couples enjoy staying at a local inn and then dining in a nice restaurant or visiting a winery. There's an eclectic art district to explore as well as horse drawn carriages and plenty of nearby hiking trails.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Students?

Durham is a great destination for students. However, Chattanooga is not popular with students.

Durham is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Chattanooga is not popular with students.

Is Durham or Chattanooga Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Chattanooga is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Chattanooga can get you to most places easily. The city has a convenient and free electric shuttle service. It travels through the downtown and has stops at many points of interest such as the Chattanooga Choo Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium.

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Durham or Chattanooga a more walkable city?

Chattanooga is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Chattanooga is a very walkable destination. The city has put a lot of effort into improving its walkability. In particular, the downtown is nice to explore on foot.

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Durham Worth Visiting? and Is Chattanooga Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chattanooga or Durham?

How long in Durham or Chattanooga?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Chattanooga. In our opinion, Chattanooga has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Chattanooga than Durham. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-3 days is enough time in Chattanooga.

Couples should spend more time in Chattanooga than Durham. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Chattanooga that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chattanooga than Durham 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 Chattanooga.

One day in Durham or Chattanooga?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sports oriented city of Durham. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Chattanooga. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Chattanooga?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Chattanooga is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Chattanooga?

The student-filled city of Durham offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chattanooga. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Durham or Chattanooga?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Durham. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the thriving destination of Chattanooga. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, and The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Durham and Chattanooga, we can see that Chattanooga is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Chattanooga?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 32% larger than the population of Chattanooga. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Chattanooga, 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 Durham or Chattanooga?

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 Durham or Chattanooga in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Chattanooga. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Chattanooga because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Durham is around the same temperature as Chattanooga in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chattanooga this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 265 hours of full sun in the summer.

Chattanooga receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chattanooga. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Chattanooga in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Durham as well as Chattanooga. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Additionally, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Chattanooga this time of year.

In the autumn, Durham is around the same temperature as Chattanooga. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Chattanooga averages at about 63°F (17°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the autumn, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 211 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Chattanooga. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Chattanooga in the Winter?

Both Chattanooga and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chattanooga for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chattanooga. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In January, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Chattanooga. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Chattanooga fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Durham usually receives more sunshine than Chattanooga during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Chattanooga receives 145 hours of full sun in the winter.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Chattanooga. In January, Durham usually receives less rain than Chattanooga. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Chattanooga in the Spring?

Both Chattanooga and Durham during the spring are popular places to visit.

Durham is around the same temperature as Chattanooga in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Chattanooga fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In Chattanooga, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the spring, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Chattanooga. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chattanooga receives 243 hours of full sun.

Chattanooga gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Durham usually gets less rain in April than Chattanooga. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Chattanooga receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chattanooga and Durham