A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Death Valley National Park for Backpackers, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Death Valley National Park? 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.

New Bern

New Bern is a charming, laid back, and quaint town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is a vast, dramatic, and striking national park. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for hiking.

New Bern and Death Valley National Park: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

Both Death Valley National Park and New Bern have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. New Bern is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and small town charm, while Death Valley National Park is more popular for its resorts, hiking, and impressive beauty. Death Valley National Park is more touristy than New Bern and is known for being the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the U.S. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Death Valley National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Death Valley National Park and New Bern. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

New Bern is very good for its sights and museums. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for its museums and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around New Bern. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

While most people don't head to Death Valley National Park specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are ghost towns and visitor centers with informational exhibits, but visitors spend most of their time exploring the outdoor environment.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Death Valley National Park? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Bern is very good for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for its restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the New Bern area. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Death Valley National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are restaurants at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs, but most visitors prefer to bring their own food so that they can enjoy picnicking in a beautiful setting.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Nightlife?

New Bern is a moderate town for its evening party scene. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for nightlife.

Most people don't head to New Bern specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Death Valley National Park doesn't offer many options. Beyond stargazing and relaxing around a campfire, there is no real nightlife in the area.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Resorts?

Death Valley National Park is a national park with a few options for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

Death Valley National Park has a few resort options worth checking out. There are historical inns and lodges in and around the park. The privately owned Inn at Death Valley is a popular option in Furnace Creek. If you stay outside the park, you can expect long drives to get most places.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Hiking?

Death Valley National Park is well known for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Death Valley National Park. Hikes will take you past desert landscapes, through canyons, and along sand dunes. The views are spectacular and the setting is other-worldly. Hiking is best between the months of November and March, as temperatures can be high other times of the year, particularly during the summer months.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

New Bern is very good for its shopping areas. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for shopping.

Many visitors go to New Bern to go shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping in Death Valley National Park can be found for those interested. There are a couple of general stores where you can pick up items that you may need.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Families?

Death Valley National Park is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Death Valley National Park is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love hiking and exploring the vast desert. There are also ghost towns and abandoned mines that will fascinate kids and adults alike. Junior programs, operated by the National Park Service, also offer interesting and educational programming for kids.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Couples?

Death Valley National Park is well known for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Death Valley National Park frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. The stunning desert landscape will take your breathe away, particularly during sunrise and sunset, when the colors are dramatic and striking. In the evening, the sky fills with stars and couples can enjoy a bit of stargazing.

New Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Death Valley National Park is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Death Valley National Park is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and camping in a unique desert environment. There are several campgrounds in the area that range from primitive to developed.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither New Bern or Death Valley National Park offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Public transit is quite limited in Death Valley National Park. There is no public transportation within the park.

Is New Bern or Death Valley National Park a more walkable city?

New Bern is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for its walkability.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable town. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

Death Valley National Park is not a very walkable town. This is a huge national park that requires a car to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Death Valley National Park Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Death Valley National Park or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

It's fun to spend time in either New Bern or Death Valley National Park. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Death Valley National Park due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-4 days is enough time in Death Valley National Park.

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

Couples should spend more time in Death Valley National Park than New Bern. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Death Valley National Park that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The beautiful national park of Death Valley National Park offers . Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many people spend a weekend here. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Death Valley National Park is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this national park makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Death Valley National Park, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This town offers something for everyone.

Death Valley National Park is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Death Valley National Park?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Death Valley National Park is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This national park offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Bern Expensive? and Is Death Valley National Park Expensive?.