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

Should you visit Durham or Sacramento?

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 Sacramento can help you decide which place is right for you.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a undiscovered, laid back, and relaxed city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Sacramento?

Both Sacramento and Durham have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Sacramento is popular for its history and state capital.

How is Durham different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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 Sacramento can be an interesting and educational experience. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Sacramento can be difficult as they are each good 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 Sacramento. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Durham or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Sacramento are good 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 Sacramento. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Sacramento?

Both Durham and Sacramento are good 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 Sacramento. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Durham or Sacramento Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Durham or Sacramento.

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.

Sacramento is a family-friendly city. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Durham or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Durham is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

Durham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Durham or Sacramento Better for Students?

Durham is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Sacramento is not popular with students.

Durham is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

Sacramento is not popular with students.

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

Both Durham and Sacramento offer decent 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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Durham or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Durham and Sacramento both are decent when exploring on foot.

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

Sacramento is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Durham?

How long in Durham or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Durham or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Durham than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

Couples should spend more time in Durham than Sacramento. 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

With museums and nightlife around the student-filled 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 Sacramento. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Durham or Sacramento?

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.

Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

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 Sacramento. 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 Sacramento?

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 laid back destination of Sacramento. 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 New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Durham and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento 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 Sacramento Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Durham and Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?

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 Sacramento in the Summer?

Both Sacramento and Durham during the summer are popular places to visit. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sacramento for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 79°F (26°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Durham. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Sacramento. Many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Sacramento in the autumn for the shopping scene.

Durham is around the same temperature as Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 61°F (16°C) in October, and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Durham as well as Sacramento. Many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Sacramento for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Durham can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Durham is much colder than Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Durham in January average around 40°F (5°C), and Sacramento averages at about 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in January than Sacramento. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Sacramento in the Spring?

Both Sacramento and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

In April, Durham is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 60°F (16°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Durham