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

Should you visit Durham or Providence?

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 Providence 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.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Providence?

Both Providence and Durham have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Durham is very popular for its museums, while Providence attracts visitors for its food. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Durham different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Durham is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

Providence 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 Providence is an experience not to be missed. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

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 Providence Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Providence are nice 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 Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Providence?

Both Durham and Providence are nice shopping destinations.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Providence. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Durham or Providence Better for Families?

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Providence.

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.

Providence is a family-friendly city. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Durham or Providence Better for Couples?

Both Durham and Providence are nice 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.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Durham or Providence Better for Students?

Durham and Providence are both high quality destinations for students and younger travelers.

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.

Providence is a great city to visit as a student. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

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

Providence is very good for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Providence has a few public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

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

Is Durham or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

Providence is a very walkable destination. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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 Providence Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Providence or Durham?

How long in Durham or Providence?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Providence 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 Providence.

One day in Durham or Providence?

With museums and nightlife around the diverse city of Durham, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Durham, one day is sufficent for most.

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

A weekend in Durham or Providence?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Durham, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Providence 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 Providence?

Durham, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Durham is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the active destination of Providence. This city 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Providence, we can see that Providence 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 Providence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Providence 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 Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Providence?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 15% larger than the population of Providence. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Providence. Many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Providence for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

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

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

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

Should I visit Durham or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence 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 Providence because of the shopping scene.

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

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

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

Should I visit Durham or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence 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 Providence this time of year.

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

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

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

Should I visit Durham or Providence in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Providence.

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

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

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

Typical Weather for Providence and Durham