A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America El Paso vs. Hood River for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit El Paso or Hood River?

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 El Paso and Hood River can help you decide which place is right for you.

El Paso

El Paso is a low-key, undiscovered, and laid-back city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Hood River

Hood River is a agricultural, quaint, and scenic town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and skiing.

El Paso and Hood River: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in El Paso or Hood River?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hood River. Although El Paso and Hood River are popular destinations, Hood River has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hood River is very popular for its skiing, food, hiking, and impressive beauty, while El Paso attracts visitors for its museums. Hood River is more touristy than El Paso and is known for its waterfalls, wineries, and impressive mountains. It is also well known for Multnomah Falls. El Paso is famous for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is El Paso different from Hood River?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hood River and El Paso. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Skiing?

Hood River is very good for skiing and snowboarding. However, El Paso is not a skiing destination.

Hood River is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. During the winter months, Hood River makes a nice base for nearby skiing. Timberline and Cooper Spur and both less than an hour away and offer great skiing opportunities.

El Paso is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in El Paso or Hood River?

El Paso is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Hood River is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Hood River offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of interesting museums in town such as the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automoblie Museum, the History Museum, and 301 Gallery.

Is the Food Better in El Paso or Hood River? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hood River is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Hood River. Head to the downtown or waterfront areas for the best selection of restaurants. Most restaurants pride themselves on using local ingredients and supporting local farms. Dishes use fresh and healthy ingredients that make simple but high quality meals.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Nightlife?

The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in El Paso and Hood River.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in El Paso. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Hood River has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are breweries, wineries, and local bars in the area that offer a laid back place where you can enjoy the local atmosphere.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Hiking?

Hood River is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Hood River. There's a diversity of landscapes in the area that include waterfalls, agriculture, vineyards, and high-reaching mountain peaks. The best way to experience these is through the many hiking trails. Drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway and stop off at the trails that lead to the waterfalls, or head south of town to explore the vineyards on foot, and to the north where you'll find mountain peaks.

El Paso is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in El Paso or Hood River?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both El Paso and Hood River.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in El Paso. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Hood River offers some nice shopping areas. Local shops sell local produce, artisan crafts, and wine. There are boutiques and independent vendors that are fun to visit and many visitors enjoy spending an afternoon shopping.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Families?

Hood River is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Hood River is a very family-friendly destination. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family can enjoy. There's swimming, tubing, hiking, and even windsurfing. Make sure you check out the Waterfront Park and Powerdale Substation.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Couples?

Hood River is a very popular place for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Hood River makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will enjoy the scenic natural setting and charming hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area. There are romantic hikes, local wineries, and many great restaurants that you can try.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hood River is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Hood River is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are a couple of hostels and some nice campgrounds in the area as well as many great hikes and a laid back atmosphere that backpackers appreciate.

El Paso is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's little in the area that appeals to backpackers.

Is El Paso or Hood River Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both El Paso and Hood River.

Public transit is mostly limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Public transit is generally limited in Hood River. There are buses in the area but you really need your own transportation to see the region efficiently.

Is El Paso or Hood River a more walkable city?

El Paso and Hood River are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

El Paso is generally not a very walkable city. You really need a car to get around town.

Hood River is generally not very walkable. While there are parts of the town that are walkable, if you don't have a car you'll miss out on the surrounding natural landscapes and most of the hiking opportunities.

For even more information, also check out Is El Paso Worth Visiting? and Is Hood River Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hood River or El Paso?

How long in El Paso or Hood River?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both El Paso and Hood River. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hood River than in El Paso. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for El Paso, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hood River.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hood River than El Paso 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 Hood River.

One day in El Paso or Hood River?

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

In Hood River, you'll find skiing and nightlife. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in El Paso or Hood River?

With nightlife and food around the destination of El Paso, 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.

In Hood River, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hood River has to offer.

Five days in El Paso or Hood River?

El Paso, 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.

Hood River is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in El Paso or Hood River?

El Paso 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Hood River. Many people enjoy the shopping and skiing when visiting Hood River. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between El Paso and Hood River, we can see that El Paso 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 El Paso Expensive? and Is Hood River Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, El Paso or Hood River?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Hood River. When comparing the sizes of El Paso and Hood River, 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.