A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Martha's Vineyard for Couples, Food, Attractions, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard? 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. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping.

Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard is a peaceful, affluent, and coastal island. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and food.

New Bern and Martha's Vineyard: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Martha's Vineyard than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Martha's Vineyard is better known for its food, resorts, beaches, hiking, shopping, and impressive beauty, while New Bern is more popular for its museums. Martha's Vineyard is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its natural beauty, charming New England towns, and upscale local shopping. Also, Martha's Vineyard is famous for the Aquinnah Cliffs. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Martha's Vineyard?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard?

New Bern is a good destination for its historical sights. However, Martha's Vineyard is not known for its sights and museums.

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.

Martha's Vineyard offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of local museums in the area as well as the Martha's Vineyard Museum.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Martha's Vineyard 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, Martha's Vineyard makes for a great culinary experience. The region prioritizes sustainable agriculture and there are many local eateries that range from upscale to more casual. You'll find the greatest number of options during the peak summer months, but regardless of when you visit, you're sure to eat well.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in New Bern and Martha's Vineyard.

New Bern is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Martha's Vineyard doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There's more of a laid back vibe, but the best towns in the evening are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.

Is New Bern or Martha's Vineyard Better for Resorts?

Martha's Vineyard is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Martha's Vineyard is a great choice. There are beautiful and luxurious resorts that attract celebrities and socialites. Many have pools and serene outdoor spaces that you can enjoy.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Martha's Vineyard Better for Beaches?

Martha's Vineyard is well known for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Martha's Vineyard is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are scenic and peaceful. Head to northern side of the island for shallow water, or south for more surf. While there are some public beaches that are open to everyone, there are also beaches that require a parking or town beach permit to visit.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is New Bern or Martha's Vineyard Better for Hiking?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Martha's Vineyard is a good destination for hiking. There are miles of trails around the island that pass through fields or along the coastline. The island is mostly flat, so the hikes are relatively easy for all skill levels.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

Martha's Vineyard is well known for shopping. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its shopping opportunities.

Martha's Vineyard is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are no malls, so you'll enjoy shopping at local stores that sell a mix of locally made items and name brand. There are many art galleries as well as craft festivals during the summer months.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Is New Bern or Martha's Vineyard Better for Families?

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Martha's Vineyard. You can visit local farms or go to a local baseball game. There's also cafes, ice cream shops, and donut shops that kids will enjoy.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Couples?

Martha's Vineyard is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Martha's Vineyard makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. It's filled with charming bed and breakfasts and plenty of New England charm. Couples will enjoy the quaint restaurants and mix of history, small town charm, and outdoor adventure.

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 Martha's Vineyard Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Martha's Vineyard is a island 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 Martha's Vineyard. Access to the island is limited to boat and air. There's a bus service that connects the towns.

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

Is New Bern or Martha's Vineyard a more walkable city?

New Bern and Martha's Vineyard both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

Martha's Vineyard is a somewhat walkable place. Many of the towns have walkable downtown areas, but traveling between towns and into the countryside requires a vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Martha's Vineyard Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Martha's Vineyard or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

The beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard offers shopping and food. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and museums. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Martha's Vineyard is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this island makes for a great vacation. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Martha's Vineyard, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard?

New Bern is a popular choice for travelers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Martha's Vineyard is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This island 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 Martha's Vineyard, we can see that Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Martha's Vineyard 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 Martha's Vineyard Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard?

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 Martha's Vineyard in the Summer?

Both Martha's Vineyard and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Martha's Vineyard because of the beaches, the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Martha's Vineyard. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Martha's Vineyard. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Martha's Vineyard this time of year.

New Bern is much warmer than Martha's Vineyard in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Martha's Vineyard. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Martha's Vineyard. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Martha's Vineyard for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Martha's Vineyard. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Martha's Vineyard averages at about 28°F (-2°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Martha's Vineyard. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Martha's Vineyard in the Spring?

Both Martha's Vineyard and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to Martha's Vineyard in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Martha's Vineyard. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Martha's Vineyard fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Martha's Vineyard. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Martha's Vineyard receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Martha's Vineyard and New Bern