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

Should you visit Durham or Mystic?

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 Mystic 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 food, shopping, and museums.

Mystic

Mystic is a laid back, charming, and quaint town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Mystic: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Mystic?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Mystic than Durham, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Mystic is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its New England charm and local character. Also, Mystic is famous for the Mystic Seaport Museum. 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 Mystic?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Mystic can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Mystic can be difficult as they are each notable 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 Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Is Durham or Mystic Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Mystic 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 Mystic. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Is Durham or Mystic Better for Beaches?

Mystic is a well-known place for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Mystic is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Mystic?

Mystic 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 Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

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 Mystic Better for Families?

Mystic 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.

Mystic is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

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 Mystic Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Mystic are notable 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.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Is Durham or Mystic Better for Students?

Durham is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Mystic 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.

Mystic is not popular with students.

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

Durham is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Durham or Mystic a more walkable city?

Durham and Mystic both are respectable when exploring on foot.

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

Mystic is generally not a very walkable city. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

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

Should I spend more time in Mystic or Durham?

How long in Durham or Mystic?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durham and Mystic. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-3 days is enough time in Mystic.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Mystic 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 Mystic?

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 Mystic. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Mystic?

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.

Mystic 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 Mystic?

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 Mystic. 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 Mystic?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the diverse 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 quaint destination of Mystic. This town 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 Mystic, we can see that Mystic 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 Mystic would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mystic 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 Mystic Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Mystic?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Mystic, 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 Mystic?

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 Mystic in the Summer?

Both Mystic and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mystic for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Durham is a little warmer than Mystic. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Mystic averages at about 73°F (23°C).

In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Mystic. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 293 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Mystic. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Mystic in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Mystic. Most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Mystic because of the shopping scene.

In October, Durham is generally a little warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Mystic fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic 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 Mystic during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

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

Should I visit Durham or Mystic in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Mystic. The winter months attract visitors to Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

It's quite cold in Mystic in the winter. The weather in Durham can be very cold. Durham is much warmer than Mystic in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

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

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

Should I visit Durham or Mystic in the Spring?

Both Mystic and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Mystic for the beaches.

In the spring, Durham is much warmer than Mystic. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Mystic averages at about 48°F (9°C).

It's quite sunny in Mystic. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives more sunshine than Mystic during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

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

Typical Weather for Mystic and Durham