A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Durham vs. Nags Head for Families, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Durham or Nags Head?

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 Nags Head 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.

Nags Head

Other popular activities here include food.

Durham and Nags Head: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Nags Head?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Durham than Nags Head, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Durham is more touristy than Nags Head and is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Also, Durham is famous for the Duke University Chapel. Nags Head is well known for

How is Durham different from Nags Head?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is great for its historical sights. However, Nags Head does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Nags Head does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Nags Head 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 Nags Head. There are a wide variety of seafood restaurants that serve locally caught fish, shrimp, and crabs. Cajon flavors are popular and you'll also find cheese grits at many places.

Is Durham or Nags Head Better for Nightlife?

Durham is a popular place for nightlife. However, Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy 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.

Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Nags Head?

Durham is a popular place for shopping. However, Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Durham or Nags Head Better for Families?

Nags Head 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.

Nags Head is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. It makes a wonderful base for the many family-friendly activities in the area. Jockey's Ridge is a fun place to visit with kids. There are also wonderful beaches and many kids enjoying flying kites.

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 Nags Head Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Nags Head 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.

Nags Head is a nice destination for couples. There are great seafood restaurants and a number of activities in the area that are fun for couples.

Is Durham or Nags Head Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nags Head is very good for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Nags Head is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. This is one of the more affordable places to stay in the Outer Banks, so it appeals to more budget-oriented travelers.

Durham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The student population means there are a number of parties and bars around town, but most backpackers overlook this city.

Is Durham or Nags Head Better for Students?

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

Nags Head is not popular with students.

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

Durham is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Nags Head does not have public transit.

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

Nags Head does not have public transit.

Is Durham or Nags Head a more walkable city?

Durham is adequate for its walkability. However, Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

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

Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Nags Head or Durham?

How long in Durham or Nags Head?

Both Durham and Nags Head have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nags Head than in Durham. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 4-7 days is enough time in Nags Head.

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

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

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

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 food when visiting the destination of Nags Head. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Nags Head?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the student-filled 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.

Nags Head is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Durham or Nags Head?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse 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 Nags Head. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Durham or Nags Head?

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.

Many travelers enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Nags Head. This offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

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 Nags Head, 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 Nags Head Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Nags Head?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Nags Head, 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 Nags Head?

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 Nags Head in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Nags Head. Most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Nags Head because of the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Nags Head. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Nags Head averages at about 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nags Head. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 274 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nags Head. Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Nags Head. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Nags Head in the Autumn?

Both Nags Head 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.

In October, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Nags Head. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Nags Head fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Nags Head. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Nags Head during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives less rain than Nags Head. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Nags Head in the Winter?

Both Nags Head 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 Nags Head for the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Nags Head. It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. Durham is around the same temperature as Nags Head in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Nags Head fluctuates around 41°F (5°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Nags Head. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 147 hours of full sun.

Nags Head gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Durham usually gets less rain in January than Nags Head. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Nags Head in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Nags Head.

In the spring, Durham is around the same temperature as Nags Head. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Nags Head averages at about 59°F (15°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head 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 Nags Head during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nags Head. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nags Head and Durham