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

Should you visit Gainesville or Durham?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Durham, 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Gainesville and Durham: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Gainesville or Durham?

Both Durham and Gainesville have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Durham is more touristy than Gainesville and is known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida

How is Gainesville different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Gainesville
Durham

Both Gainesville and Durham have excellent landmarks and museums for visitors.

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

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


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

Gainesville
Durham

Both Gainesville and Durham offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

Gainesville offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Durham has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

Is Gainesville or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville
Durham

Gainesville is a well-known place for its evening party scene. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife.

Gainesville offers plenty to do in the evening. 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.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Durham?

Gainesville
Durham

Both Gainesville and Durham 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 Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.


Is Gainesville or Durham Better for Families?

Gainesville
Durham

Gainesville and Durham are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

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 Gainesville or Durham Better for Couples?

Gainesville
Durham

Gainesville and Durham are both notable to visit as a couple.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. 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.

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.

Is Gainesville or Durham Better for Students?

Gainesville
Durham

Gainesville and Durham are both excellent destinations for students and younger travelers.

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

Students come from all over to stay in Durham. 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.


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

Gainesville
Durham

Gainesville is very good for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Gainesville or Durham a more walkable city?

Gainesville
Durham

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

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 Gainesville Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Durham?

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

Families should spend more time in Gainesville than Durham. 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 Durham. 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 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 Gainesville.


  • How many days in Gainesville or Durham? Ideal Length of Stay
    Gainesville 1-2 
    Durham 1-3

One day in Gainesville or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Gainesville. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse city of Durham. 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 Durham?

Gainesville 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the sports oriented destination of Durham. 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 Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gainesville. 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.

The diverse city of Durham offers shopping and museums. 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 Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the vibrant destination of Gainesville. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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


Which place is cheaper, Durham or Gainesville?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Gainesville is $221, while the average daily cost in Durham is $162. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Gainesville and Durham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gainesville $119
    Durham $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gainesville $238
    Durham $184
Compare Hotels in Gainesville and Durham

Looking for a hotel in Gainesville or Durham? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Gainesville


Hotels in Durham


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Gainesville Hotel Prices and Durham Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gainesville $40
    Durham $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Gainesville or Durham?

Prices for flights to both Durham and Gainesville change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Gainesville $70
    Durham $44
Typical Food Prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of dining costs in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Diner Breakfast for Two
    $17
  • Lunch at Chop Stix (for 2)
    $24

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gainesville $44
    Durham $26
Typical Entertainment Prices in Gainesville

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Gainesville are as follows:


  • Manatee Tour for Two
    $98
  • Tour Guide Tip
    $5.00

Tours and Activities in Gainesville

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Gainesville are as follows:

  • Unique Scavenger Hunt Experience in Gainesville by Operation City Quest: $10
  • Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History Ticket: $15
  • Private Snorkeling Tour in Florida Springs: $250

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • True Crime Tour: $13
  • Downtown Durham Historic Walking Tour: $16
  • Durham African American History Tour: $16
  • Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gainesville $49
    Durham $34


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gainesville and Durham, we can see that Gainesville 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 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 Durham.

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


Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 63% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Durham, 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 Gainesville or Durham?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Gainesville or Durham in the Summer?

Both Durham and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Gainesville for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Gainesville is generally around the same temperature as Durham. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 81°F (27°C), and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. It's quite rainy in Gainesville. In July, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Durham. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gainesville 81°F (27°C) 
    Durham 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Durham in the Autumn?

Both Durham and Gainesville during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

Gainesville is a little warmer than Durham in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in October than Durham. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year. Keep in mind that June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gainesville 71°F (22°C) 
    Durham 61°F (16°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Durham in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Durham. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Gainesville this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In the winter, Gainesville is much warmer than Durham. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gainesville in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Durham averages at about 40°F (5°C).

In January, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Durham. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gainesville 54°F (12°C) 
    Durham 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Gainesville or Durham in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Durham.

In April, Gainesville is generally a little warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 69°F (20°C), and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in April than Durham. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gainesville 69°F (20°C) 
    Durham 60°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Durham and Gainesville

Gainesville Durham
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 54°F (12°C) 2.9 inches (75 mm) 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 57°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 63°F (17°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 69°F (20°C) 2 inches (50 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 75°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Jun 80°F (26°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 81°F (27°C) 6.8 inches (174 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm)
Aug 81°F (27°C) 8.3 inches (211 mm) 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm)
Sep 78°F (26°C) 5.5 inches (139 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Oct 71°F (22°C) 2 inches (51 mm) 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 63°F (17°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Dec 56°F (14°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)