A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Hilton Head Island for Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Hilton Head Island? 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. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Hilton Head Island

Hilton Head Island is a relaxing, peaceful, and beautiful coastal town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for food, beaches, and shopping.

New Bern and Hilton Head Island: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Hilton Head Island than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Hilton Head Island is better known for its resorts, beaches, and impressive beauty, while New Bern is more popular for its museums, nightlife, and small town charm. Hilton Head Island is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its long sandy beaches, many golf courses, popular tennis camps, and accessible bike trails. Also, Hilton Head Island is famous for The Harbour Town Lighthouse. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Hilton Head Island?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island?

New Bern is very good for its museums and history. However, Hilton Head Island does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Hilton Head Island does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Hilton Head Island? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Hilton Head Island can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Hilton Head Island has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The island has many famous restaurants but reservations during the summer are a must. Restaurants can get very crowded during peak times. For some of the best restaurants head to Shelter Cove or Harbour Town. Popular local dishes include fried seafood and oysters.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island Better for Nightlife?

New Bern is a decent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Hilton Head Island is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in New Bern. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Hilton Head Island. There are a few sports bars and comedy clubs, but nightlife isn't really a thing in Hilton Head. This is very much a family destination that shuts down with the sunset.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island Better for Resorts?

Hilton Head Island is well known for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

Hilton Head Island is known as a popular and fun resort destination. Most of the accommodation in the area is in the form of weekly condo rentals, which usually include a pool and outdoor space. Tennis and golf are also popular on the island so many resorts have facilities for each.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island Better for Beaches?

Hilton Head Island is well known for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Hilton Head Island is considered a top beach destination. The island has nice beaches that are popular with families. They are great for swimming during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. While some beaches may get a bit crowded during peak holidays, they're usually pretty relaxed and less crowded than many nearby beaches.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Hilton Head Island and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Hilton Head Island. The area has upscale shopping with designer names and local venues. Popular shopping areas include Shelter Cove Town Center and Harbor Town.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island Better for Families?

Hilton Head Island is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Hilton Head Island is a very family-friendly destination. This area is a popular family-friendly beach destination with a number of summer events for the whole family, peaceful beaches, and family-friendly restaurants throughout. Older kids will enjoy cycling around the island's many bike trails or attending a popular tennis camp.

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 Hilton Head Island Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Hilton Head Island make for a notable place to visit.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Hilton Head Island makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While the area is most popular with families, it is a fun place to explore as a couple because of the many high end restaurants and the beautiful setting. Couples can rent bikes to explore or play a friendly game of tennis.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither New Bern or Hilton Head Island 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 Hilton Head Island. You must have a car to get most places on the island, unless you bike. Rush hour during summer months can have intense traffic.

Is New Bern or Hilton Head Island a more walkable city?

New Bern is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Hilton Head Island is lacking in good options for its walkability.

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

Hilton Head Island is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around, but for those who are motivated, there is a great network of bike trails. It's mostly used for recreational purposes though.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Hilton Head Island Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hilton Head Island or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

Both New Bern and Hilton Head Island have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hilton Head Island than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 5-7 days is enough time in Hilton Head Island.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New Bern than Hilton Head 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 New Bern.

One day in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

The coastal town of Hilton Head Island offers shopping and food. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Hilton Head Island?

New Bern is a popular place to visit. Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer.

Hilton Head Island is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

Since New Bern is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Anyone can find something fun to do here. 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.

Hilton Head Island is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hilton Head Island, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

New Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Hilton Head Island is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hilton Head Island has to offer. This coastal town 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 Hilton Head Island, we can see that Hilton Head Island is more expensive. And not only is New Bern much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to New Bern would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in New Bern 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 Hilton Head Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hilton Head Island than you might in New Bern.

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 Hilton Head Island Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

Hilton Head Island has a larger population, and is about 46% larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Hilton Head Island, 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 New Bern or Hilton Head Island?

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 New Bern or Hilton Head Island in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Hilton Head Island. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Hilton Head Island for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 82°F (28°C).

It's quite rainy in Hilton Head Island. New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets less rain in July than Hilton Head Island. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 7.9 inches (200 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hilton Head Island in the Autumn?

Both Hilton Head Island and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, many visitors come to Hilton Head Island in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Hilton Head Island in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Hilton Head Island. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Hilton Head Island in the Winter?

Both Hilton Head Island and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to New Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Hilton Head Island for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, New Bern is cooler than Hilton Head Island. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Hilton Head Island averages at about 48°F (9°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Hilton Head Island. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hilton Head Island in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Hilton Head Island. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Hilton Head Island because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In April, New Bern is generally cooler than Hilton Head Island. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Hilton Head Island fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Hilton Head Island. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Hilton Head Island receives 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hilton Head Island and New Bern