A Travel Price Comparison for North Carolina Durham vs. Wilmington for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Durham or Wilmington?

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 Wilmington 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.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a welcoming, charming, and historic city. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Durham and Wilmington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durham or Wilmington?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Wilmington than Durham. While Durham is larger than Wilmington, Wilmington has more sights and attractions for tourists. Wilmington is better known for its beaches and historical sights, while Durham is more popular for its museums. Wilmington is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its laid back beaches, historical waterfront area, and university setting. Also, Wilmington is famous for the Battleship North Carolina. 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 Wilmington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Durham can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Wilmington offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are art, history, and science museums around town. The Battleship North Carolina is a popular destination. Science enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For art, head to the Cameron Art Museum or Art in Bloom Gallery.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Durham and Wilmington 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 Wilmington. Head to the waterfront for local seafood restaurants that offer outdoor seating and fresh caught fish. There are also farm-to-table restaurants and local diners with casual food.

Is Durham or Wilmington Better for Nightlife?

Both Durham and Wilmington 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 Wilmington. Live music is popular around town. There are also bars, lounges and dance clubs. When the weather is warm, many places make use of the outdoor setting, which makes for a relaxed and fun evening.

Is Durham or Wilmington Better for Beaches?

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

Wilmington is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Nearby you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They have long stretches of sand and great waves. The water is usually warm enough for swimming between the months of April and October. During these peak months parking can be challenging, but during the quieter times, you shouldn't have trouble.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is Durham or Wilmington Better for its Old Town?

Wilmington is very good for its historic old town charm. However, Durham does not have a historic old town.

Wilmington offers a nice historic old town area. The Historic District is along the waterfront and has 18th and 19th century architecture. There are also great restaurants and interesting shops.

Durham does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Durham or Wilmington?

Both Durham and Wilmington are notable 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 Wilmington. Head downtown for the most interesting local shops. You'll find boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up art, accessories, or antiques.

Is Durham or Wilmington Better for Families?

Wilmington 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.

Wilmington is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Near town you'll find several beaches - Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They're all family-friendly and perfect for a day's activity. The city also has the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. For a rainy day there are also indoor play areas and entertainment centers.

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 Wilmington Better for Couples?

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

Wilmington is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beaches are great for a relaxing day of swimming and sunbathing. In the evening head into town and enjoy one of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront. You'll also find great shopping and historical sights in the area.

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 Wilmington Better for Students?

Durham is great for its student-friendly activities. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for 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.

Wilmington is a good city to visit for students. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a popular school that brings many students to town.

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

Both Durham and Wilmington 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 Wilmington. There are public buses around town, but for practical reasons, you'll want to have your own vehicle.

Is Durham or Wilmington a more walkable city?

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

Wilmington is a somewhat walkable city. The Historic District is best explored on foot. You can also get around Wrightsville Beach on foot, but traveling between these places requires a car.

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 Wilmington Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Wilmington or Durham?

How long in Durham or Wilmington?

In either Durham or Wilmington, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Wilmington than Durham because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Durham, and 2-5 days is enough time in Wilmington.

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

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

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

One day in Durham or Wilmington?

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 Wilmington. 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 Wilmington?

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.

Wilmington 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 Wilmington?

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 Wilmington. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Wilmington?

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 historic destination of Wilmington. This city 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 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 Wilmington, we can see that Wilmington 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 Wilmington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wilmington 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 Wilmington Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Durham or Wilmington?

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

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 Wilmington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Durham as well as Wilmington. The family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Wilmington for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Durham is around the same temperature as Wilmington. Typically, the summer temperatures in Durham in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Wilmington averages at about 81°F (27°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wilmington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In the summer, Durham often gets less sunshine than Wilmington. Durham gets 259 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 283 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Wilmington. Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. Durham usually gets less rain in July than Wilmington. Durham gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Wilmington in the Autumn?

Both Wilmington and Durham are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene. Also, many visitors come to Wilmington in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Durham is generally cooler than Wilmington. Daily temperatures in Durham average around 61°F (16°C), and Wilmington fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Wilmington. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. Durham usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Wilmington during autumn. Durham gets 211 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 227 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Wilmington. Durham gets 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Durham or Wilmington in the Winter?

Both Wilmington and Durham during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Wilmington for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Durham can get quite cold in the winter. Durham is much colder than Wilmington in the winter. The daily temperature in Durham averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Wilmington fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

In the winter, Durham often gets less sunshine than Wilmington. Durham gets 162 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wilmington receives 180 hours of full sun.

Durham usually gets less rain in January than Wilmington. Durham gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Durham or Wilmington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Durham and Wilmington. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Wilmington because of the beaches.

In the spring, Durham is around the same temperature as Wilmington. Typically, the spring temperatures in Durham in April average around 60°F (16°C), and Wilmington averages at about 63°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Wilmington this time of the year. In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. Durham usually receives less sunshine than Wilmington during spring. Durham gets 251 hours of sunny skies, while Wilmington receives 278 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Durham usually receives around the same amount of rain as Wilmington. Durham gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Wilmington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Wilmington and Durham