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

Should you visit Durham or Dallas?

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 Dallas can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Dallas

Dallas is a chic, active, and upscale city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham and Dallas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Dallas?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Dallas than Durham, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Dallas is popular for its Tex Mex cuisine, upscale shopping venues, and cowboy culture. It is also home to the Sixth Floor Museum.

How is Durham different from Dallas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Dallas 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 Dallas?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Durham or Dallas.

Many visitors head to Durham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Dallas can be an interesting and educational experience. Museums range from historical to art and science with some of the favorites being the Dallas Contemporary Museum, the African American Museum, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum. The city is also home to the George W. Bush Presidential Library and the Nasher Sculpture Center. A must-see is the Sixth Floor Museum, which is in historic Dealey Plaza and is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed JFK. Today there's a museum that goes over the events of that day.

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

Dallas is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Dallas is an experience not to be missed. There's a perfect combination of Texas cuisine and international flavors. You'll find Texas barbecue, Tex Mex, and steakhouses intermixed with Thai, Japanese, and Caribbean cuisine. There's also a great food truck scene and many local eateries.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Durham. 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.

Is Durham or Dallas Better for Nightlife?

Dallas is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Dallas offers plenty to do in the evening. Head to East Dallas for the most active clubs with large dance floors and great music. The city also has rooftop lounges and plenty of live music as well as comedy clubs.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Dallas?

Dallas is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Dallas. You'll find a very diverse shopping scene around town, with everything from quirky local vendors to upscale fashion boutiques. There are cowboy outfitters where you can get a feel for the Texas style, but there are also posh shopping centers and local flea markets.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Durham or Dallas Better for Families?

Dallas is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Dallas is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city is filled with families, and you'll find many kid-friendly activities around town. For some outdoor time you can visit the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden or the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The Dallas Zoo is a favorite for many kids and there are also a number of kid-friendly museums around town such as the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and the Dallas World Aquarium.

Durham is a family-friendly city. 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.

Is Durham or Dallas Better for Couples?

Dallas is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Dallas is a very popular place to visit for couples. Head to the observation deck at Reunion Tower for spectacular views of the night skyline. The city also has many great comedy clubs and performing arts venues as well as fine dining restaurants that make for a great date night.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Durham or Dallas Better for Students?

Durham is a well-known place for students. However, Dallas is not a good city for its student-friendly activities.

Durham is very popular with students. 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.

Dallas is a decent spot for students. There are a couple of universities and colleges in the area that keep things interesting for students.

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

Dallas is very good for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Dallas has a few public transit options. While it's still very much a car-centered city, the public transportation system, DART, is one of the fastest growing in the country. It includes both light rail and bus service.

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 Dallas a more walkable city?

Durham and Dallas both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Dallas is generally not a very walkable city. The city is not particularly walkable, but there are several more walkable areas such as Ellum and Uptown.

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

Should I spend more time in Dallas or Durham?

How long in Durham or Dallas?

It's fun to spend time in either Durham or Dallas. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Dallas due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-4 days is enough time in Dallas.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Dallas 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 Dallas.

One day in Durham or Dallas?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Durham. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

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

A weekend in Durham or Dallas?

Durham 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.

Dallas 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 Dallas?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durham. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dallas. 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 Dallas?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the active destination of Dallas. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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 Dallas, we can see that Durham 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 Dallas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Dallas?

Dallas has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Dallas, 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 Dallas?

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 Dallas in the Summer?

Both Dallas and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Dallas this time of year.

In July, Durham is generally cooler than Dallas. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Dallas fluctuates around 88°F (31°C).

It's quite sunny in Dallas. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during summer. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 337 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Dallas. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 2.4 inches (60 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Dallas in the Autumn?

Both Dallas and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Dallas for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

Durham is cooler than Dallas in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Dallas fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

In Dallas, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the autumn, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dallas. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 222 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in October than Dallas. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Dallas in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Dallas. Many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Dallas in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Dallas. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Dallas averages at about 46°F (8°C).

Durham usually receives less sunshine than Dallas during winter. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies, while Dallas receives 183 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Dallas. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Dallas in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Dallas. Also, most visitors come to Dallas for the activities around the city during these months.

In April, Durham is generally cooler than Dallas. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Dallas fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Dallas. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the spring, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Dallas. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Dallas receives 251 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in April than Dallas. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Dallas receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Dallas and Durham