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

Should you visit Durham or Lancaster?

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

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Lancaster

Lancaster is a picturesque, scenic, and traditional town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Durham and Lancaster: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Lancaster?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lancaster than Durham. While Durham is larger than Lancaster, Lancaster has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lancaster is very popular for its shopping and impressive beauty, while Durham attracts visitors for its nightlife. Lancaster is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its history and long running Amish community. It is also well known for Bird-in-Hand Village. 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 Lancaster?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Lancaster can be an interesting and educational experience. Filled with history and local culture, there are many educational opportunities in the area where you can learn about Amish traditions. The Amish Village has tours and unique experiences. The town also has James Buchanan's Wheatland, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum, the Ephrata Cloister, and the National Watch & Clock Museum, among many others.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Lancaster 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 Lancaster. You can sample authentic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes at one of the Amish restaurants in the area. Many places serve food family-style and dishes include chicken pot pie, ham balls, and pork and sauerkraut. Whoopie pies also originated in the area.

Is Durham or Lancaster Better for Nightlife?

Durham is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Lancaster is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Durham has a few options to choose from. 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.

Most people don't head to Lancaster specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a small town, but you'll still find local pubs and cozy bars where you can enjoy a drink in a laid back atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Lancaster?

Lancaster 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 Lancaster. Many visitors pick up hand-crafted Amish items while they're in town. Furniture and Amish quilts are particularly popular. Farmers markets and antique shopping are both unique in the area and there are also art galleries and several outlet stores that you can visit.

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 Lancaster Better for Families?

Lancaster 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.

Lancaster is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In you area you'll find farms and petting zoos, amusement parks, and train rides. They can learn about a unique lifestyle at the Amish Experience or soak up the local beauty and farmland in the surrounding countryside.

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 Lancaster Better for Couples?

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

Lancaster is a very popular place to visit for couples. This region is known for it's local beauty and serene farmland, making it a relaxing and peaceful destination for couples. There are walking trails, outdoor activities, buggy rides, and a variety of dining experiences. You can also stay at a bed and breakfast or local inn.

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 Lancaster Better for Students?

Durham is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Lancaster is not popular with students.

Durham is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

Lancaster is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Lancaster offer reasonable 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 Lancaster. The city has buses and several transportation options, but once you're outside of the urban core, your options are limited.

Is Durham or Lancaster a more walkable city?

Durham and Lancaster both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

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

Lancaster is generally not a very walkable city. While the city itself has walkable areas, most visitors want to get out and explore the countryside, which requires a car.

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

Should I spend more time in Lancaster or Durham?

How long in Durham or Lancaster?

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

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Lancaster?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Durham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Durham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

A weekend in Durham or Lancaster?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sports oriented destination of Durham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Lancaster 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 Lancaster?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-filled city of Durham. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

Durham is a popular choice for travelers. One week 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 will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the picturesque destination of Lancaster. This town 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 Lancaster, we can see that Lancaster 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 Lancaster Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Lancaster?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Lancaster. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Lancaster, 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 Lancaster?

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 Lancaster in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Lancaster. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Lancaster for the family-friendly experiences.

Durham is around the same temperature as Lancaster in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Lancaster fluctuates around 77°F (25°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Lancaster. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Lancaster. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lancaster receives 310 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Lancaster. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Lancaster in the Autumn?

Both Lancaster and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Lancaster in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Durham is a little warmer than Lancaster. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Lancaster averages at about 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Lancaster during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Lancaster receives 194 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lancaster. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Lancaster in the Winter?

Both Lancaster and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Lancaster for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Lancaster can be very cold during winter. Durham can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Durham is generally much warmer than Lancaster. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Lancaster fluctuates around 30°F (-1°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Lancaster. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Lancaster receives 153 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets more rain in January than Lancaster. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Lancaster in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Lancaster. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Lancaster because of the natural beauty.

Durham is a little warmer than Lancaster in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Lancaster fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Lancaster 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 Lancaster during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Lancaster receives 237 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Lancaster. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Lancaster receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Lancaster and Durham