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

Should you visit Gainesville or Boise?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Boise, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a high energy, active, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Boise

Boise is a friendly, welcoming, and authentic city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.

Gainesville and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Boise?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Gainesville than Boise, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Boise is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida Also, Gainesville is famous for the Florida Museum of Natural History.

How is Gainesville different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Gainesville or Boise?

Gainesville is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Gainesville offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Gainesville or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Gainesville is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Gainesville is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Gainesville or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Gainesville has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Boise?

Both Gainesville and Boise are notable shopping destinations.

Gainesville is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Boise. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Gainesville or Boise Better for Families?

Gainesville is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Gainesville is a family-friendly city. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Gainesville or Boise Better for Couples?

Gainesville is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Gainesville is a good city for couples to visit. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Gainesville or Boise Better for Students?

Gainesville is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. However, Boise is not popular with students.

Gainesville is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Boise is not popular with students.

Is Gainesville or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Gainesville is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Boise is lacking in options for its public transit.

Gainesville has some public transit options. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Gainesville or Boise a more walkable city?

Gainesville is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Boise is lacking in options for its walkability.

Gainesville is a somewhat walkable city. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Gainesville Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Gainesville or Boise to fill your time. In our opinion, Gainesville has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Gainesville than Boise. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gainesville than Boise 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 Gainesville.

One day in Gainesville or Boise?

In Gainesville, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vibrant destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting the welcoming city of Boise. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Gainesville or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gainesville. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Boise. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Gainesville or Boise?

Gainesville is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Gainesville. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

The welcoming city of Boise offers museums and nightlife. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Gainesville or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the active destination of Gainesville. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and shopping when visiting Boise. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Boise, we can see that Gainesville is more expensive. And not only is Boise much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Boise would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boise 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 Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville than you might in Boise.

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

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Boise?

Boise has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Boise, 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.