A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Durham vs. Martha's Vineyard for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

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 Martha's Vineyard 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.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a coastal, peaceful, and affluent island. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and hiking.

Durham and Martha's Vineyard: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Martha's Vineyard. Although Durham and Martha's Vineyard are popular destinations, Martha's Vineyard has more sights and attractions for tourists. Martha's Vineyard is very popular for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Durham attracts visitors for its museums and nightlife. Martha's Vineyard is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping. It is also well known for the Aquinnah Cliffs. 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 Martha's Vineyard?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is a great city for its historical sights. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Durham. 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.

Martha's Vineyard offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Is the Food Better in Durham or Martha's Vineyard? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard is an experience not to be missed. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Nightlife?

Durham is a good destination for its evening party scene. However, Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is an amazing island to visit for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Martha's Vineyard is a perfect choice. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard Better for Beaches?

Martha's Vineyard is a well-known place for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Martha's Vineyard is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard Better for Hiking?

Martha's Vineyard is very good for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Many people include a hike when visiting Martha's Vineyard. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Martha's Vineyard.

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.

Martha's Vineyard is a family-friendly city. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard is an amazing island to visit for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Martha's Vineyard has plenty to offer. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Students?

Durham is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

Many students visit Durham. 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.

Martha's Vineyard is not popular with students.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Durham and Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

Is Durham or Martha's Vineyard a more walkable city?

Martha's Vineyard is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Martha's Vineyard is a somewhat walkable island. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

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 Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Martha's Vineyard or Durham?

How long in Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Martha's Vineyard. In our opinion, Martha's Vineyard has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Martha's Vineyard than Durham. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Durham, there's plenty to do. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

Martha's Vineyard might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

With museums and nightlife around the sports oriented city of Durham, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Martha's Vineyard. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Martha's Vineyard?

Durham is a popular choice for travelers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Martha's Vineyard is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Martha's Vineyard, we can see that Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Durham or Martha's Vineyard?

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 Martha's Vineyard in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Martha's Vineyard. Many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Martha's Vineyard for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Durham is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the summer. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Martha's Vineyard. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Martha's Vineyard receives 293 hours of full sun.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Martha's Vineyard in the Autumn?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Durham is a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Durham in October average around 61°F (16°C), and Martha's Vineyard averages at about 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Martha's Vineyard. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Martha's Vineyard during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Martha's Vineyard receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Martha's Vineyard in the Winter?

Both Martha's Vineyard and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year.

It's quite cold in Martha's Vineyard in the winter. The weather in Durham can be very cold. In January, Durham is generally much warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 40°F (5°C), and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Martha's Vineyard receives 170 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in January than Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Martha's Vineyard in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Martha's Vineyard. Also, many travelers come to Martha's Vineyard for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Durham is much warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the spring. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 60°F (16°C) in April, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Martha's Vineyard this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Martha's Vineyard during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Martha's Vineyard receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Martha's Vineyard and Durham