A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Hood River for Food, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit New Bern or Hood River?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Hood River? 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 quaint, charming, and laid back town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food.

Hood River

Hood River is a quaint, scenic, and charming town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, hiking, and shopping.

New Bern and Hood River: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Hood River?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Hood River. Although New Bern and Hood River are popular destinations, Hood River has more sights and attractions for tourists. Hood River is very popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, and impressive beauty, while New Bern attracts visitors for its museums and small town charm. Hood River is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its waterfalls, wineries, and impressive mountains. It is also well known for Multnomah Falls. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Hood River?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is New Bern or Hood River Better for Skiing?

Hood River is a popular place for winter skiing. However, New Bern is not a skiing destination.

Hood River is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. During the winter months, Hood River makes a nice base for nearby skiing. Timberline and Cooper Spur and both less than an hour away and offer great skiing opportunities.

New Bern is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Hood River?

New Bern is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Hood River is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Hood River offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of interesting museums in town such as the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automoblie Museum, the History Museum, and 301 Gallery.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Hood River? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Hood River is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Hood River makes for a great culinary experience. Head to the downtown or waterfront areas for the best selection of restaurants. Most restaurants pride themselves on using local ingredients and supporting local farms. Dishes use fresh and healthy ingredients that make simple but high quality meals.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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.

Is New Bern or Hood River Better for Nightlife?

Hood River is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Hood River has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are breweries, wineries, and local bars in the area that offer a laid back place where you can enjoy the local atmosphere.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is New Bern or Hood River Better for Hiking?

Hood River 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 Hood River. There's a diversity of landscapes in the area that include waterfalls, agriculture, vineyards, and high-reaching mountain peaks. The best way to experience these is through the many hiking trails. Drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway and stop off at the trails that lead to the waterfalls, or head south of town to explore the vineyards on foot, and to the north where you'll find mountain peaks.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Hood River?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Hood River 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 Hood River. Local shops sell local produce, artisan crafts, and wine. There are boutiques and independent vendors that are fun to visit and many visitors enjoy spending an afternoon shopping.

Is New Bern or Hood River Better for Families?

Hood River is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Hood River is a very family-friendly place to visit. The area is filled with outdoor adventures that the whole family can enjoy. There's swimming, tubing, hiking, and even windsurfing. Make sure you check out the Waterfront Park and Powerdale Substation.

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 Hood River Better for Couples?

Hood River is well known for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Hood River frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples will enjoy the scenic natural setting and charming hotels and bed and breakfasts in the area. There are romantic hikes, local wineries, and many great restaurants that you can try.

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 Hood River Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hood River is well known for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Hood River. There are a couple of hostels and some nice campgrounds in the area as well as many great hikes and a laid back atmosphere that backpackers appreciate.

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 Hood River Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Hood River is a town with a few options for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Hood River. There are buses in the area but you really need your own transportation to see the region efficiently.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Hood River a more walkable city?

New Bern is a popular place for its high level of walkability. However, Hood River is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.

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

Hood River is generally not very walkable. While there are parts of the town that are walkable, if you don't have a car you'll miss out on the surrounding natural landscapes and most of the hiking opportunities.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Hood River Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hood River or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Hood River?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Hood River. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hood River than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hood River.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hood River than New Bern 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 Hood River.

One day in New Bern or Hood River?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in New Bern, one day is sufficent for most.

The beautiful town of Hood River offers nightlife and food. 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 Hood River?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Hood River is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town 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 Hood River, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Hood River?

New Bern, a popular town, 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.

Hood River 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 Hood River?

New Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. 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.

Hood River 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 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 comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Hood River, we can see that Hood River is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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 Hood River Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Hood River?

New Bern has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Hood River. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Hood River, 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 Hood River?

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 Hood River in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Hood River. The summer months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hood River this time of year.

In the summer, New Bern is a little warmer than Hood River. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Hood River averages at about 68°F (20°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Hood River. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hood River in the Autumn?

Both Hood River and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hood River for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Hood River. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Hood River fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Hood River. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Hood River in the Winter?

Both Hood River and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Hood River in the winter for the skiing, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hood River can get quite cold in the winter. New Bern is much warmer than Hood River in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Hood River fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Hood River gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets less rain in January than Hood River. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hood River in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Hood River. Many visitors come to New Bern in the spring for the small town charm. Also, most visitors come to Hood River for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, New Bern is much warmer than Hood River. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Hood River averages at about 51°F (11°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Hood River. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Hood River receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hood River and New Bern