A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lancaster vs. Vernon for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Lancaster or Vernon?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lancaster or Vernon, 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.

Lancaster

Lancaster is a picturesque, scenic, and traditional town. With stunning beauty, Lancaster attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See Lancaster travel costs.

Vernon

Vernon is a quiet, peaceful, and relaxing town. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and hiking. See Vernon travel costs.

Lancaster and Vernon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lancaster or Vernon?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Vernon. Although Lancaster and Vernon are popular destinations, Vernon has more sights and attractions for tourists. Vernon is very popular for its hiking, while Lancaster attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and impressive beauty. Lancaster is famous for its history and long running Amish community. Vernon is famous for its surrounding valley with lakes and hiking trails. It is also well known for Davison Orchards Country Village.

How is Lancaster different from Vernon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lancaster or Vernon?

Lancaster is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Lancaster can be an interesting and educational experience. Filled with history and local culture, there are many educational opportunities in the area where you can learn about Amish traditions. The Amish Village has tours and unique experiences. The town also has James Buchanan's Wheatland, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the National Toy Train Museum, the Ephrata Cloister, and the National Watch & Clock Museum, among many others.

Vernon is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are local galleries and museums that offer information on the region's history and culture. You can visit the Canadian Wildlife Museum, the Caetani Center, the Museum and Archives of Vernon, the Paddlewheel Park Stationhouse Museum, and the Vernon Public Art Gallery.

Is the Food Better in Lancaster or Vernon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lancaster is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Lancaster is an experience not to be missed. You can sample authentic Pennsylvania Dutch dishes at one of the Amish restaurants in the area. Many places serve food family-style and dishes include chicken pot pie, ham balls, and pork and sauerkraut. Whoopie pies also originated in the area.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Vernon. The region is known for its vineyards and wineries and many of the local restaurants have been around for generations. The food is often locally produced and prepared with traditional recipes.

Is Lancaster or Vernon Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find reasonable options in both Lancaster and Vernon.

Lancaster doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town, but you'll still find local pubs and cozy bars where you can enjoy a drink in a laid back atmosphere.

Most people don't head to Vernon specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The town gets very quiet in the evenings, so you won't find much of a nightlife scene.

Is Lancaster or Vernon Better for Hiking?

Vernon is a great town for hiking. However, Lancaster is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Vernon for the hiking trails. The surrounding valley has more than 300 kilometers of hiking trails. They run along pristine lakes, pass by granite rock formations, and take you to impressive viewpoints.

Lancaster is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Lancaster or Vernon?

Lancaster is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Lancaster. Many visitors pick up hand-crafted Amish items while they're in town. Furniture and Amish quilts are particularly popular. Farmers markets and antique shopping are both unique in the area and there are also art galleries and several outlet stores that you can visit.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Vernon. There are a number of boutique shops that are fun to explore in the downtown area.

Is Lancaster or Vernon More Beautiful?

Lancaster is a well-known place for its scenery and beauty. However, Vernon is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Lancaster attracts visitors from all around. The countryside is beautiful, with preserved farmland, covered bridges, and beautiful gardens.

Vernon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Lancaster or Vernon Better for Families?

Lancaster is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Lancaster is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In you area you'll find farms and petting zoos, amusement parks, and train rides. They can learn about a unique lifestyle at the Amish Experience or soak up the local beauty and farmland in the surrounding countryside.

Vernon is a family-friendly town. There are biking and hiking trails as well as other outdoor activities. You can also visit the Allan Brooks Nature Center or the Rock Garden Climbing Center.

Is Lancaster or Vernon Better for Couples?

Lancaster is a well-known place for couples. Also, Vernon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

Lancaster is a very popular place to visit for couples. This region is known for it's local beauty and serene farmland, making it a relaxing and peaceful destination for couples. There are walking trails, outdoor activities, buggy rides, and a variety of dining experiences. You can also stay at a bed and breakfast or local inn.

Vernon is a nice destination for couples. It offers a peaceful getaway for couples. You can visit the Okanagan wineries or enjoy one of the many hiking trails. There are also nice restaurants to try.

Is Lancaster or Vernon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lancaster and Vernon both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Lancaster. The city has buses and several transportation options, but once you're outside of the urban core, your options are limited.

Public transit is generally limited in Vernon. There is a bus system, but it's better not to rely on it.

Is Lancaster or Vernon a more walkable city?

Lancaster and Vernon are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Lancaster is generally not a very walkable town. While the city itself has walkable areas, most visitors want to get out and explore the countryside, which requires a car.

Vernon is generally not very walkable. You'll really want to have a car to make the most of your time here.

For even more information, also check out Is Lancaster Worth Visiting? and Is Vernon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Vernon or Lancaster?

How long in Lancaster or Vernon?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Lancaster and Vernon. In our opinion, Lancaster has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Lancaster than Vernon. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Lancaster, and 1-3 days is enough time in Vernon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lancaster than Vernon 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 Lancaster.

One day in Lancaster or Vernon?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Lancaster. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the town of Vernon. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Vernon has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Lancaster or Vernon?

Lancaster 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.

You'll find museums and food around the quiet destination of Vernon. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Lancaster or Vernon?

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

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the relaxing town of Vernon. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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.

A week in Lancaster or Vernon?

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

Vernon is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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 Coach Bus Tours in Canada, and The Best Adventure Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Lancaster or Vernon?

Lancaster has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Vernon. When comparing the sizes of Lancaster and Vernon, 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 Lancaster or Vernon?

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 Lancaster or Vernon in the Summer?

Both Vernon and Lancaster during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Lancaster because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Vernon this time of year.

Lancaster is around the same temperature as Vernon in the summer. The daily temperature in Lancaster averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Vernon fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Lancaster usually gets more rain in July than Vernon. Lancaster gets 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 28 mm (1.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lancaster or Vernon in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lancaster and Vernon. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Lancaster this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Vernon for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Lancaster is a little warmer than Vernon. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lancaster in October average around 56°F (13°C), and Vernon averages at about 11°C (51°F).

In October, Lancaster usually receives more rain than Vernon. Lancaster gets 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 14 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Lancaster or Vernon in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lancaster as well as Vernon. Many travelers come to Lancaster for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Vernon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Vernon can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Lancaster. In January, Lancaster is generally much warmer than Vernon. Daily temperatures in Lancaster average around 30°F (-1°C), and Vernon fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).

Lancaster usually gets more rain in January than Vernon. Lancaster gets 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lancaster or Vernon in the Spring?

Both Vernon and Lancaster are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Lancaster in the spring for the natural beauty.

Lancaster is around the same temperature as Vernon in the spring. The daily temperature in Lancaster averages around 53°F (12°C) in April, and Vernon fluctuates around 12°C (53°F).

In April, Lancaster usually receives more rain than Vernon. Lancaster gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Vernon receives 15 mm (0.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Vernon and Lancaster