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

Should you visit New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

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

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

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a fascinating, adventurous, and unique national park. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for hiking.

New Bern and Joshua Tree National Park: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

Both Joshua Tree National Park and New Bern have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. New Bern is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, shopping, and small town charm, while Joshua Tree National Park is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Joshua Tree National Park is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its unique vegetation and large boulders. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Joshua Tree National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park?

New Bern is a town with good options for its museums and history. However, Joshua Tree National Park is lacking in good options for its 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.

Joshua Tree National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that display local art or cultural and historical items.

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

New Bern is a town with good options for its restaurants. However, Joshua Tree National Park is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

New Bern is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

While Joshua Tree National Park is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. There aren't any restaurants inside the park, so you'll want to pack your own food and eat at one of the picnic areas.

Is New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park Better for Nightlife?

New Bern is a decent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Joshua Tree National Park 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 Joshua Tree National Park. Stargazing and gathering around campfires are the most popular activities during the evening.

Is New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park Better for Hiking?

Joshua Tree National Park is an unbeatable place for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

People visit Joshua Tree National Park specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. There are a wide range of hikes that include easy, moderate, and strenuous options. Some of the best hikes include Discovery Trail, Boy Scout Trail, and Black Rock Canyon Panorama Loop.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

New Bern is a town with good options for its shopping areas. However, Joshua Tree National Park is lacking in good options for shopping.

New Bern has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Joshua Tree National Park has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There is a park store where you can pick up gifts or other items.

Is New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park Better for Families?

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

Joshua Tree National Park is a very family-friendly place to visit. With its giant boulders that kids can scramble on and its Dr. Seuss-like Joshua Trees, this really is nature's best playground. There are also kid-friendly hikes and Junior Ranger Programs that will both educate and entertain the 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 Joshua Tree National Park Better for Couples?

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

Couples visit Joshua Tree National Park frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy the outdoors, adventure sports like rock climbing, and hiking through spectacular landscapes will find this to be the ultimate romantic destination.

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 Joshua Tree National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Joshua Tree National Park is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. There are campgrounds and hiking trails that are popular with backpackers and nature enthusiasts.

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 Joshua Tree National Park Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither New Bern or Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park. There's no reliable public transportation in the park.

Is New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park a more walkable city?

New Bern is a town with good options for its ease of walking around. However, Joshua Tree National Park 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.

Joshua Tree National Park is not a walkable town. You need a car to truly explore the park.

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

Should I spend more time in Joshua Tree National Park or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

It's fun to spend time in either New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park.

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

One day in New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

The beautiful national park of Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Joshua Tree National Park?

New Bern is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. It offers something for everyone.

Joshua Tree National Park is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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 Joshua Tree National Park?

New Bern is a popular choice for travelers. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Joshua Tree National Park is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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 comparing the travel costs between New Bern and Joshua Tree National Park, we can see that Joshua Tree National Park 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 Joshua Tree National Park Expensive?.