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

Should you visit Minneapolis or Sacramento?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Minneapolis or Sacramento, 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.

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is a innovative, diverse, and dynamic city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a relaxed, undiscovered, and laid back city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Minneapolis and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Minneapolis than Sacramento. While Sacramento is larger than Minneapolis, Minneapolis has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Minneapolis is more touristy than Sacramento and is known for its professional sports teams, countless outdoor activities, and friendly people. Also, Minneapolis is famous for Mall of America. Sacramento is well known for its history and state capital.

How is Minneapolis different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Minneapolis and Sacramento.

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sacramento. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

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

Foodies will find both Minneapolis and Sacramento both to be notable destinations.

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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is Minneapolis or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

Minneapolis is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its evening party scene.

Minneapolis has a large number of nightlife venues. 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.

Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Is the Shopping Better in Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Minneapolis is very popular for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Minneapolis draws large crowds to its 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.

Many visitors go to Sacramento to go shopping. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

Is Minneapolis or Sacramento Better for Families?

Minneapolis is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Minneapolis is very family-friendly. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Minneapolis or Sacramento Better for Couples?

Minneapolis is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

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.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Is Minneapolis or Sacramento Better for Students?

Minneapolis is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Sacramento is not popular with students.

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

Sacramento is not popular with students.

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

Minneapolis is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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.

Public transit is generally limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Minneapolis or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Minneapolis is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

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

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Minneapolis?

How long in Minneapolis or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Minneapolis or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Minneapolis than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Minneapolis, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Minneapolis than Sacramento 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 Minneapolis or Sacramento?

With museums and nightlife around the dynamic city of Minneapolis, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the undiscovered city of Sacramento. 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 Minneapolis or Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Minneapolis, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the undiscovered destination of Sacramento. 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 Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Minneapolis, 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 laid back city of Sacramento 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 Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Minneapolis is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One of the main draws to the area is the shopping. 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 Sacramento. 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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Minneapolis or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 27% larger than the population of Minneapolis. When comparing the sizes of Minneapolis and Sacramento, 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 Minneapolis or Sacramento?

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 Minneapolis or Sacramento in the Summer?

Both Sacramento and Minneapolis are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Minneapolis because of the city activities and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.

Minneapolis is around the same temperature as Sacramento in the summer. The daily temperature in Minneapolis averages around 76°F (25°C) in July, and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Minneapolis. Minneapolis usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during summer. Minneapolis gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Minneapolis usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Minneapolis or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento and Minneapolis during the autumn are popular places to visit. The city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene are the main draw to Minneapolis this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sacramento for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Minneapolis is much colder than Sacramento. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Minneapolis in October average around 52°F (11°C), and Sacramento averages at about 64°F (18°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the autumn, Minneapolis often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun.

Minneapolis usually gets more rain in October than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 1.8 inches (45 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Minneapolis or Sacramento in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Minneapolis and Sacramento. Many travelers come to Minneapolis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Sacramento in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Minneapolis. In January, Minneapolis is generally much colder than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Minneapolis average around 15°F (-10°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

Minneapolis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sacramento during winter. Minneapolis gets 157 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Minneapolis usually receives less rain than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 0.9 inches (22 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Minneapolis or Sacramento in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Minneapolis as well as Sacramento. Many visitors come to Minneapolis in the spring for the activities around the city.

Minneapolis is much colder than Sacramento in the spring. The daily temperature in Minneapolis averages around 49°F (10°C) in April, and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Minneapolis this time of the year. In the spring, Minneapolis often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 244 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun.

Minneapolis usually gets more rain in April than Sacramento. Minneapolis gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Minneapolis