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

Should you visit Gainesville or Minneapolis?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Minneapolis, 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 vibrant, high energy, and active city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a dynamic, innovative, and diverse city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Gainesville and Minneapolis: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Minneapolis?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Minneapolis than Gainesville. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Minneapolis is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its professional sports teams, countless outdoor activities, and friendly people. It is also well known for Mall of America. Gainesville is famous for being the home of the University of Florida

How is Gainesville different from Minneapolis?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Both Gainesville and Minneapolis have superb 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 Minneapolis. There's a wide variety of museums that include art, history, science, and local culture. Some of the favorite museums in the city are the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Walker Art Center, the American Swedish Institute, and the Weisman Art Museum.

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

Both Gainesville and Minneapolis offer nice 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.

Minneapolis has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Dishes in the Midwest are known for being hearty comfort foods, and the food in Minneapolis is no exception. You'll find cheese-stuffed burgers that are known as Juicy Lucys, Tator Tot casseroles, and deep-fried cheese curds. For international food, there's a variety of Scandinavian options around town.

Is Gainesville or Minneapolis Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are superb in both Gainesville and Minneapolis.

Gainesville has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Minneapolis has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There are diverse neighborhoods that each have their own personality. You'll find rooftop lounges in Uptown, international venues in Whittier, and trendy bars in the North Loop. But at the heart of the city's nightlife scene is Downtown Minneapolis.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis is very popular for shopping. Also, Gainesville is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Minneapolis is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Known for the megamall, Mall of America, this is a shopper's paradise. Mall of America is the largest shopping mall in the country and it even has an aquarium and a theme park within it. In addition to this iconic shopping mall, Minneapolis also has many shopping districts including the Minnehaha Mile.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Gainesville. 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.

Is Gainesville or Minneapolis Better for Families?

Minneapolis is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Gainesville is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Minneapolis is a very family-friendly place to visit. Mall of America is at the top of the list for most families, but there's also plenty of kid-friendly museums around town as well as nature centers, parks, and playgrounds. There's the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Minnesota Zoo, and Afton Apple Orchard. For museums, kids will love the Minnesota Children's Museum or the Science Museum of Minnesota.

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.

Is Gainesville or Minneapolis Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Minneapolis are both nice 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.

Minneapolis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are beautiful parks and outdoor spaces to explore as well as museums and fine dining. Couples will appreciate stopping by the Stone Arch Bridge or wandering through the Lyndale Park Rose Garden.

Is Gainesville or Minneapolis Better for Students?

Gainesville and Minneapolis are both superb 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 Minneapolis. There are a number of colleges and universities in the area including the University of Minnesota. The city is known for its academic and intellectual focus, and students will enjoy being challenged educationally while enjoying a dynamic city.

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

Both Gainesville and Minneapolis offer nice public transit options.

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

Minneapolis has some public transit options. There are buses, light rail, and commuter trains that stop at many of the major entertainment centers around town.

Is Gainesville or Minneapolis a more walkable city?

Gainesville and Minneapolis both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

Minneapolis is a somewhat walkable place. There are neighborhoods that are dense enough to be walkable, but the city is still very car-focused.

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

Should I spend more time in Minneapolis or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Minneapolis?

It's fun to spend time in either Gainesville or Minneapolis. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Minneapolis due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Gainesville, and 2-4 days is enough time in Minneapolis.

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

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

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

One day in Gainesville or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the vibrant city of Gainesville. 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.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the innovative city of Minneapolis. Most people visit for the shopping. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Gainesville or Minneapolis?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the vibrant destination of Gainesville. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the innovative destination of Minneapolis. 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 Minneapolis?

The active city of Gainesville 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.

The diverse city of Minneapolis 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 Minneapolis?

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

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Minneapolis. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the shopping. 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 in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Minneapolis, we can see that Gainesville 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 Gainesville Expensive? and Is Minneapolis Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Minneapolis?

Minneapolis has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Minneapolis, 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 Minneapolis?

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 Gainesville or Minneapolis in the Summer?

Both Minneapolis and Gainesville during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Gainesville because of the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, the city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Minneapolis this time of year.

In the summer, Gainesville is a little warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the summer temperatures in Gainesville in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 76°F (25°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Gainesville. Gainesville usually gets more rain in July than Minneapolis. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Minneapolis in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Minneapolis. The shopping scene are the main draw to Gainesville this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Minneapolis for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

In October, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Minneapolis. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 71°F (22°C), and Minneapolis fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

In October, Gainesville usually receives more rain than Minneapolis. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.

Should I visit Gainesville or Minneapolis in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Minneapolis. Many travelers come to Gainesville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, many visitors come to Minneapolis in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Minneapolis can get quite cold in the winter. Gainesville is much warmer than Minneapolis in the winter. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 54°F (12°C) in January, and Minneapolis fluctuates around 15°F (-10°C).

Gainesville usually gets more rain in January than Minneapolis. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Minneapolis in the Spring?

Both Minneapolis and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Minneapolis for the activities around the city during these months.

In the spring, Gainesville is much warmer than Minneapolis. Typically, the spring temperatures in Gainesville in April average around 69°F (20°C), and Minneapolis averages at about 49°F (10°C).

In April, Gainesville usually receives around the same amount of rain as Minneapolis. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Minneapolis receives 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Minneapolis and Gainesville