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

Should you visit Gainesville or Providence?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Providence, 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 museums, nightlife, and food.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Gainesville and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Providence?

Both Providence and Gainesville have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Gainesville is better known for its museums & sights and nightlife, while Providence is more popular for its food. Providence is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida

How is Gainesville different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Gainesville is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Gainesville. 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.

Providence is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's museum.

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

Providence is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Gainesville is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Providence makes for a great culinary experience. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

Gainesville has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Is Gainesville or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Gainesville has something for everybody. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Providence?

Both Gainesville and Providence 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 Providence. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

Is Gainesville or Providence Better for Families?

Gainesville and Providence 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.

Providence is a family-friendly city. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Gainesville or Providence Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Providence 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.

Providence makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Gainesville or Providence Better for Students?

Gainesville and Providence are both great 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 Providence. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

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

Both Gainesville and Providence offer notable 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.

Providence has some public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Is Gainesville or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is notable for its walkability. Also, Gainesville is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

Providence is very walkable. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Providence or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Providence?

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

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

One day in Gainesville or Providence?

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the fascinating city of Providence. 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 Providence?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Gainesville, 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the active destination of Providence. 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 Providence?

Gainesville, 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.

The friendly city of Providence 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 Providence?

Gainesville 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Providence. 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 Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Providence, 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 Providence Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 41% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Gainesville as well as Providence. Many travelers come to Gainesville for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Providence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Gainesville is generally a little warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 81°F (27°C), and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Gainesville receives a lot of rain in the summer. Gainesville usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Gainesville gets 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence and Gainesville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Gainesville in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Providence for the shopping scene during these months.

Gainesville is much warmer than Providence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gainesville averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Providence fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In October, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Providence. Gainesville gets 2 inches (51 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Gainesville is June to November.

Should I visit Gainesville or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Gainesville during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Gainesville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Providence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Providence can be very cold. In the winter, Gainesville is much warmer than Providence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gainesville in January average around 54°F (12°C), and Providence averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

Gainesville usually gets less rain in January than Providence. Gainesville gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Gainesville or Providence in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gainesville and Providence.

In April, Gainesville is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Gainesville average around 69°F (20°C), and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, Gainesville usually receives less rain than Providence. Gainesville gets 2 inches (50 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.

Typical Weather for Providence and Gainesville