A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Nags Head vs. Bar Harbor for Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

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

Should I visit Nags Head or Bar Harbor? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Nags Head

It's also known for food.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor is a picturesque, relaxed, and quaint coastal town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It also has that perfectly quaint feel that is like no other place. Other reasons to visit include shopping, food, and beaches.

Nags Head and Bar Harbor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bar Harbor. Although Nags Head and Bar Harbor are both popular with visitors, Bar Harbor has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bar Harbor is more touristy than Nags Head and is popular for its small town vibe, picturesque setting, whale watching tours, and convenient location near Acadia National Park. It is also home to Acadia National Park. Nags Head is popular for

How is Nags Head different from Bar Harbor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is the Food Better in Nags Head or Bar Harbor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bar Harbor is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Nags Head is not as popular, but is still a nice for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Bar Harbor. The town is famous for its Maine lobster, but there are also countless other types of fresh seafood available. You'll find waterfront restaurants with beautiful views and fresh ingredients.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Nags Head. There are a wide variety of seafood restaurants that serve locally caught fish, shrimp, and crabs. Cajon flavors are popular and you'll also find cheese grits at many places.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Nightlife?

Bar Harbor is mediocre for nightlife. However, Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

The nightlife scene is quiet in Bar Harbor It's a peaceful and sleepy town, so you wont find much in the way of nightlife.

Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Resorts?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Nags Head is not a resort destination.

Bar Harbor has a handful of resorts to choose from. The town is all about the cute hotel. Several favorites include Sand Bar Cottage Inn, Bluenose Inn, and Bar Harbor Inn and Spa.

Nags Head is not a resort destination.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Beaches?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for its beaches. However, Nags Head is not a beach destination.

Bar Harbor is a good option for a beach vacation. A nice beach is close by but do note that the sand is very shelly and there is a big difference between high and low tides.

Nags Head is not a beach destination.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Hiking?

Bar Harbor is a popular place for hiking. However, Nags Head is not a hiking destination.

Bar Harbor is a good destination for hiking. Nearby Acadia National Park has plenty of hiking options. There's also the Bar Harbor Shore Path that wanders along the coastline and offers beautiful views.

Nags Head is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor is great for shopping. However, Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Bar Harbor. Filled with plenty of local boutique shops, its fun to enjoy some shopping around town.

Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Families?

Nags Head is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bar Harbor is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Nags Head is a very family-friendly place to visit. It makes a wonderful base for the many family-friendly activities in the area. Jockey's Ridge is a fun place to visit with kids. There are also wonderful beaches and many kids enjoying flying kites.

Bar Harbor is a family-friendly . It is a small town with a lot of outdoor activities that kids will enjoy. Whale watching, kayaking, and wildlife spotting are all fun activities for all ages.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Couples?

Bar Harbor is great for romance. Also, Nags Head is not as popular, but is still a nice for its romantic activities.

Bar Harbor is a great coastal town if you're traveling as a couple. It is a quaint coastal town that is perfect for a couple's getaway or a short honeymoon. There are romantic restaurants, scenic walks, and beautiful views that make this a wonderful retreat.

Nags Head makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are great seafood restaurants and a number of activities in the area that are fun for couples.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nags Head is a with good options for backpackers. However, Bar Harbor is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Nags Head is a good to visit for backpackers. This is one of the more affordable places to stay in the Outer Banks, so it appeals to more budget-oriented travelers.

Bar Harbor is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's a small town with mostly high end accommodation so budget travelers and backpackers will struggle to find a place to stay.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bar Harbor is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Nags Head does not have public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Bar Harbor. There is a free shuttle bus that will help you get around town if needed.

Nags Head does not have public transit.

Is Nags Head or Bar Harbor a more walkable city?

Bar Harbor is great for its walkability. However, Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

Bar Harbor is very walkable. The town is small enough that it's easily explored on foot.

Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Bar Harbor or Nags Head?

How long in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Nags Head and Bar Harbor. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Nags Head than in Bar Harbor. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Nags Head, and 2-3 days is enough time in Bar Harbor.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bar Harbor than Nags Head 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 Bar Harbor.

One day in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

With food around the of Nags Head, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Even though Bar Harbor is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

With food around the destination of Nags Head, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Bar Harbor is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and food. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal town has to offer. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Nags Head, a popular , is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this . Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Bar Harbor is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Nags Head is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Bar Harbor is a popular choice for travelers. 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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

Bar Harbor has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Nags Head and Bar Harbor, 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 Nags Head or Bar Harbor?

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 Nags Head or Bar Harbor in the Summer?

Both Bar Harbor and Nags Head during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Nags Head in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Nags Head is a little warmer than Bar Harbor in the summer. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually gets more rain in July than Bar Harbor. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Bar Harbor in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Bar Harbor. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Bar Harbor because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Nags Head is much warmer than Bar Harbor. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nags Head in October average around 62°F (16°C), and Bar Harbor averages at about 48°F (9°C).

In October, Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bar Harbor. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nags Head or Bar Harbor in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Bar Harbor. The winter months attract visitors to Nags Head because of the cuisine. Additionally, the shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Bar Harbor this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bar Harbor in the winter. The weather in Nags Head can be very cold. In January, Nags Head is generally much warmer than Bar Harbor. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 41°F (5°C), and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 18°F (-8°C).

Nags Head receives a lot of rain in the winter. Nags Head usually gets more rain in January than Bar Harbor. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Bar Harbor in the Spring?

Both Bar Harbor and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, many travelers come to Bar Harbor for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

Nags Head is much warmer than Bar Harbor in the spring. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 59°F (15°C) in April, and Bar Harbor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

In April, Nags Head usually receives less rain than Bar Harbor. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Bar Harbor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bar Harbor and Nags Head