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

Should you visit Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Flagstaff and Sacramento can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a active, adventurous , and picturesque city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Sacramento

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

Flagstaff and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Flagstaff than Sacramento. While Sacramento is larger than Flagstaff, Flagstaff has more sights and attractions for tourists. Flagstaff is more popular for its food, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Sacramento is known for its museums. Flagstaff is more touristy than Sacramento and is popular for its nearby craters and volcanic caves as well as its location along the historic Route 66. It is also home to Walnut Canyon National Monument. Sacramento is popular for its history and state capital.

How is Flagstaff different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Sacramento is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, Flagstaff is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sacramento. 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.

Flagstaff is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Lowell Observatory is a highlight for many visitors, especially those who are fascinated by space. There's also the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Pioneer Museum, and Fort Tuthill Military History Museum.

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

Flagstaff is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Flagstaff has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene is diverse and growing. There's a focus on local recipes and ingredients. You'll also find many casual and family-friendly restaurants. American cuisine is common, but you'll also find burritos, Indian curries, and frittatas.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. 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 Flagstaff or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Flagstaff and Sacramento.

Flagstaff has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a range of bars and cocktail lounges around town that come to life in the evening hours.

If you're looking for night time activities Sacramento has a few options to choose from. 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 Flagstaff or Sacramento Better for Hiking?

Flagstaff is very popular for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Flagstaff draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Nearby you'll find world class hikes through surreal landscapes and diverse environments. The area is filled with desert landscapes and varied rock formations that are best explored on foot. Trails range in length and skill level, but whatever your ability, the hiking in the area is among the best.

Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento and Flagstaff.

Many visitors go to Flagstaff to go shopping. Located along historic Route 66, you'll find many shops that capture the city's history, particularly in the Southside Historic District. The town also has farmer's markets as well as shopping centers and large malls.

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 Flagstaff or Sacramento Better for Families?

Flagstaff is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Flagstaff is very family-friendly. The city is filled with outdoor activities for kids like ropes courses and adventure parks. Kids will also enjoy climbing around the Lava River Cave, visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, or hiking through the many diverse landscapes in the area. There are also museums that educate visitors on the city's history as well as Lowell Observatory, which will intrigue all the space enthusiasts among us.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. 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 Flagstaff or Sacramento Better for Couples?

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

Flagstaff makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Hiking and outdoor adventure sports make this city a good destination for couples who enjoy active living. There are many parks that you can visit as well as hiking trails and unique natural settings.

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 Flagstaff or Sacramento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Flagstaff is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Flagstaff. There are campgrounds nearby as well as tons of nature parks and countless hiking trails in the area.

Sacramento is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although most backpackers skip this town for more popular destinations, there are a couple of hostels in town.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Flagstaff and Sacramento.

Public transit is generally limited in Flagstaff. The Mountain Line offers eight routes through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Flagstaff or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Flagstaff is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

Flagstaff is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and walkable, but you'll really want to have a car to explore the nearby hiking trails and natural areas.

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. 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 Flagstaff Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Flagstaff?

How long in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Flagstaff or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Flagstaff than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Flagstaff, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

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

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

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

One day in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

With museums and nightlife around the adventurous city of Flagstaff, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Sacramento. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Sacramento has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Flagstaff, there's plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the undiscovered destination of Sacramento. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Flagstaff, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the relaxed city of Sacramento. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Flagstaff is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the hiking. 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.

Sacramento is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Flagstaff and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Flagstaff much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Flagstaff would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Flagstaff Expensive? and Is Sacramento Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Flagstaff or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Flagstaff. When comparing the sizes of Flagstaff 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.