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

Should you visit Durham or Palm Springs?

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 Palm Springs can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a chic, outdoorsy, and ritzy city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Palm Springs: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Palm Springs?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Palm Springs than Durham, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Palm Springs is better known for its food, nightlife, resorts, hiking, and shopping, while Durham is more popular for its museums. Palm Springs is more touristy than Durham and is known for its golfing, shopping, and mid-century modern architecture. Also, Palm Springs is famous for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. 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 Palm Springs?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Palm Springs is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

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.

Palm Springs offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. The Palm Springs Air Museum has an impressive collection of military planes. It's also worth visiting the Palm Springs Art Museum, which has a mix of fine art, natural history, and performing arts. You'll also find botanical gardens and even a zoo around town.

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

Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs is an experience not to be missed. Fresh ingredients and typical California cuisine is common around town. Brunch is a popular option for visitors and you'll find countless brunch cafes in the area. You'll also find Mexican food, pizza, and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options.

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 Palm Springs Better for Nightlife?

Palm Springs is an amazing city to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Palm Springs has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. The area is filled with nightlife options that range from cocktail bars to nightclubs or breweries. You can party into the early morning at the dance clubs or enjoy a bottle of wine with friends at one of the lounges.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is Durham or Palm Springs Better for Resorts?

Palm Springs is an amazing city to visit for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

If you're looking for a fantastic resort destination, Palm Springs is a perfect choice. Resorts range from luxurious to more laid back. Most have impressive pools and many have their own spas, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Durham or Palm Springs Better for Hiking?

Palm Springs is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Palm Springs is a popular spot for hiking. There are more than 100 trails in the Greater Palm Springs area that take you through scenic desert landscapes and unique ecosystems. Some of the most popular trails include Andreas Canyon Trail and Araby Trail.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Palm Springs?

Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs. Shopping ranges from outlets to boutique vendors. For the most local options head to Palm Canyon Drive and for an upscale shopping experience, visit the El Paseo shopping district.

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 Palm Springs Better for Families?

Palm Springs 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.

Palm Springs is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The year round sunny weather and diversity of outdoor activities make this a great family-friendly destination. There are desert hikes, zoos, and even a dinosaur museum. Kids can also pass their time playing at the pool or enjoying the waterslides.

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 Palm Springs Better for Couples?

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

Palm Springs is a very popular place to visit for couples. Whether you're on a honeymoon or simply looking to escape the city, there are many romantic options in the area. From cozy inns to resort spa hotels, there are a range of accommodation options. Outdoor dining, hiking, and shopping are also popular.

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 Palm Springs Better for Students?

Durham is notable for students. However, Palm Springs is not popular with students.

Durham is very popular with students. 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.

Palm Springs is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs. There are nine bus routes operated by SunLine Transit Agency, but most visitors prefer to have a car to get around.

Is Durham or Palm Springs a more walkable city?

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

Palm Springs is a somewhat walkable city. Parts of the city are very walkable, particularly the touristy areas along Palm Canyon Drive.

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 Palm Springs Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Palm Springs or Durham?

How long in Durham or Palm Springs?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs.

One day in Durham or Palm Springs?

In Durham, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this student-filled city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Palm Springs. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Durham or Palm Springs?

Durham is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Palm Springs is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. 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 Palm Springs?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the sports oriented destination of Durham. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. 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 Palm Springs. Don't miss the nightlife, as that's what most people do. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Palm Springs?

Durham is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the chic destination of Palm Springs. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in 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 Palm Springs, we can see that Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Palm Springs?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Palm Springs. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Palm Springs, 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 Palm Springs?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Durham or Palm Springs in the Summer?

Both Palm Springs and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Palm Springs this time of year.

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

It's quite rainy in Durham. In July, Durham usually receives more rain than Palm Springs. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Durham or Palm Springs in the Autumn?

Both Palm Springs and Durham during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Palm Springs for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Durham is generally cooler than Palm Springs. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Palm Springs fluctuates around 69°F (20°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in October than Palm Springs. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Palm Springs in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Palm Springs. Many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Palm Springs in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. Durham is much colder than Palm Springs in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Palm Springs fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In January, Durham usually receives more rain than Palm Springs. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 2 inches (52 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Durham or Palm Springs in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Durham as well as Palm Springs.

In the spring, Durham is around the same temperature as Palm Springs. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Palm Springs averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Durham usually gets more rain in April than Palm Springs. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Palm Springs receives 0.9 inches (24 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Palm Springs and Durham