A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Jekyll Island vs. Reno for Families, Attractions, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Jekyll Island or Reno?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Jekyll Island and Reno 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.

Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is a secluded, natural, and relaxing island. It's also popular because of the museums, beaches, and hiking.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Jekyll Island and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jekyll Island or Reno?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Jekyll Island. Although Jekyll Island and Reno are popular destinations, Jekyll Island has more sights and attractions for tourists. Jekyll Island is very popular for its resorts, beaches, and hiking, while Reno attracts visitors for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Jekyll Island is famous for its quiet beaches and its Historic District. It is also well known for Driftwood Beach. Reno is famous for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Jekyll Island different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Jekyll Island or Reno?

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Reno and Jekyll Island.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Jekyll Island. Mosaic is the history museum on the island. The museum also offers historic tours of the area's sites. The Historic District is a popular place to visit with its well-maintained historic cottages and other structures.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Is the Food Better in Jekyll Island or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Reno is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Jekyll Island offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Many restaurants are casual with low country dishes or fried seafood. You'll find some brunch places as well as cafes and quick dining eateries around town.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Reno has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Jekyll Island. There are sunset cruises, but otherwise the nightlife scene is quiet.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Resorts?

Jekyll Island is a decent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

You might not think of Jekyll Island as a resort destination, but it has a few places. You'll mostly find mid-range hotels on the island.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Beaches?

Jekyll Island is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Jekyll Island is considered a top beach destination. Unspoiled beaches are the biggest draw. Some areas are rocky, but the beaches are peaceful and perfect for walks if you want to get away from the crowds. Much of the island is a state park, so it's undeveloped and pristine.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Hiking?

Jekyll Island is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Jekyll Island. The state park has some trails that are nice. There are also beach walks, bike trails, and routes that take you through historic sites.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Jekyll Island or Reno?

Reno is a city with good options for its shopping areas. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for shopping.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Jekyll Island is a good destination for shopping. You'll find a few gift shops and boutiques, but in general, shopping options are limited.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Families?

Jekyll Island is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Jekyll Island. Kids will love climbing and playing at Driftwood Beach, which is like a natural playground. Animal lovers will enjoy dolphin cruises or a visit to a turtle hospital. There's also the standard beach activities like minigolf, bike rental, and tram tours.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Couples?

Both Jekyll Island and Reno are nice destinations for a couple's getaway.

Jekyll Island is a good island for couples to visit. There are several basic hotels as well as a few campgrounds. Couples will enjoy the beaches, but the island is small with limited activities and restaurant options. If you love natural scenery then this is a great destination, but there are fewer amenities than there are in many beach areas.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Reno is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Jekyll Island. There are bus and trolley tours, but public transportation is mostly non-existent.

Is Jekyll Island or Reno a more walkable city?

Reno is a decent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Jekyll Island is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Reno is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

Jekyll Island is not a walkable island. Resources are spread out, so you really need a car to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Jekyll Island Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Jekyll Island?

How long in Jekyll Island or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Jekyll Island and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Jekyll Island than in Reno. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Jekyll Island, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Jekyll Island 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 Reno.

One day in Jekyll Island or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Jekyll Island. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the energetic destination of Reno. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Jekyll Island or Reno?

Jekyll Island is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Jekyll Island or Reno?

You'll find museums around the relaxing destination of Jekyll Island. This island offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the growing destination of Reno. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

A week in Jekyll Island or Reno?

The secluded island of Jekyll Island offers museums. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Reno. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Jekyll Island and Reno, we can see that Jekyll Island 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 Jekyll Island Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.