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

Should you visit Durham or Kennebunkport?

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

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Kennebunkport

Kennebunkport is a character-filled, charming, and quaint town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Kennebunkport: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Kennebunkport?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Kennebunkport than Durham, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Kennebunkport is better known for its food, resorts, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Durham is more popular for its museums. Kennebunkport is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its historic and charming atmosphere, its wonderful local seafood, and its stunning coastline. Also, Kennebunkport is famous for Dock Square. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Durham different from Kennebunkport?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is great for its historical sights. Also, Kennebunkport is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

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.

Kennebunkport offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a handful of local museums around town like the Brick Store Museum, the First Families Kennebunkport Museum, and the Seashore Trolley Museum.

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

Kennebunkport 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 Kennebunkport is an experience not to be missed. Fine dining, seafood restaurants, and local cafes all make this a wonderful town for foodies. The town's famous for its lobster, but you can also try the scallops, crab, or oysters.

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 Kennebunkport Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Kennebunkport are notable 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 Kennebunkport. You can check out the happy hours that many of the bars in the waterfront area host regularly.

Is Durham or Kennebunkport Better for Resorts?

Kennebunkport is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Kennebunkport. Luxury resorts and classic inns provide traditional and local accommodation options for visitors.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Durham or Kennebunkport Better for Hiking?

Kennebunkport is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Kennebunkport. There are waterfront walks and coastal trails. There are also trails that wander through forests or past marshland.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Kennebunkport?

Kennebunkport 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 Kennebunkport. Head to Dock's Square for the best local shops with a charming atmosphere.

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 Kennebunkport Better for Families?

Kennebunkport 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.

Kennebunkport is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. You can explore the rocks around Mother's Beach or take the kids out on a lobster boat. There's also a lot of history around Dock's Square and plenty of kid-friendly restaurants in town.

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 Kennebunkport Better for Couples?

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

Kennebunkport is a very popular place to visit for couples. Beaches, romantic hotels, and charming local restaurants make this a perfect couple's destination.

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 Kennebunkport Better for Students?

Durham is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Kennebunkport 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.

Kennebunkport is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Kennebunkport offer respectable public transit options.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Kennebunkport. During the summer months there's a Shoreline Trolley that connects towns.

Is Durham or Kennebunkport a more walkable city?

Kennebunkport is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Kennebunkport is a somewhat walkable town. It's downtown is compact and particularly walkable.

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 Kennebunkport Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kennebunkport or Durham?

How long in Durham or Kennebunkport?

It's fun to spend time in either Durham or Kennebunkport. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Kennebunkport 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 Kennebunkport.

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Kennebunkport?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the diverse destination of Durham. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Kennebunkport might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Kennebunkport?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durham. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Kennebunkport 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 Kennebunkport?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse destination of Durham. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kennebunkport. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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 Kennebunkport?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Durham. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Kennebunkport is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Kennebunkport, we can see that Kennebunkport is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Kennebunkport would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kennebunkport than you might in Durham.

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

Which is Bigger, Durham or Kennebunkport?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Kennebunkport. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Kennebunkport, 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 Kennebunkport?

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 Durham or Kennebunkport in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Kennebunkport. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Kennebunkport because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is a little warmer than Kennebunkport. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Kennebunkport averages at about 69°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kennebunkport. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Kennebunkport. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kennebunkport receives 282 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Kennebunkport. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Kennebunkport receives 2.6 inches (66 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Kennebunkport in the Autumn?

Both Kennebunkport and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Kennebunkport this time of year.

In October, Durham is generally much warmer than Kennebunkport. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Kennebunkport fluctuates around 49°F (9°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Kennebunkport during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Kennebunkport receives 196 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives less rain than Kennebunkport. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Kennebunkport receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Kennebunkport in the Winter?

Both Kennebunkport and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Kennebunkport for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Kennebunkport. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. Durham is much warmer than Kennebunkport in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Kennebunkport fluctuates around 21°F (-6°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Kennebunkport. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kennebunkport receives 163 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Kennebunkport. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Kennebunkport receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Kennebunkport in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Kennebunkport. Furthermore, many visitors come to Kennebunkport in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Durham is much warmer than Kennebunkport. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Kennebunkport averages at about 43°F (6°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kennebunkport this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Kennebunkport during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Kennebunkport receives 212 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives less rain than Kennebunkport. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Kennebunkport receives 3.3 inches (85 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Kennebunkport and Durham