A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Sacramento for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or Sacramento?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Sacramento? 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.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

New Bern and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Small town charm
Things to Consider
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less family-friendly
  • Less popular with backpackers
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with couples
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in New Bern or Sacramento?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Sacramento. Although New Bern and Sacramento are popular destinations, Sacramento has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sacramento is very popular for its museums and nightlife, while New Bern attracts visitors for its small town charm. New Bern is more touristy than Sacramento and is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital. It is also well known for the California State Railroad Museum.

How is New Bern different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern
Sacramento

Sacramento is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Sacramento offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

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.


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

New Bern
Sacramento

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Sacramento 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.

Sacramento has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

Is New Bern or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

New Bern
Sacramento

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

Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

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

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Sacramento?

New Bern
Sacramento

Shopping is a popular activity in both Sacramento 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 Sacramento. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.


Is New Bern or Sacramento Better for Families?

New Bern
Sacramento

Sacramento 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 Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

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 Sacramento Better for Couples?

New Bern
Sacramento

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.

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.

Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

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

New Bern
Sacramento

Sacramento is a city 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 Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

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


Is New Bern or Sacramento a more walkable city?

New Bern
Sacramento

New Bern is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento 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.

Sacramento is generally not very walkable. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in New Bern or Sacramento to fill your time. In our opinion, Sacramento has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Sacramento than New Bern. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than Sacramento. 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 Sacramento 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 Sacramento.


  • How many days in New Bern or Sacramento? Ideal Length of Stay
    New Bern 1-2 
    Sacramento 1-2

One day in New Bern or Sacramento?

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 city of Sacramento offers food and shopping. 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 Sacramento?

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.

Sacramento is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Sacramento, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.


Five days in New Bern or Sacramento?

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.

Sacramento 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 Sacramento?

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.

Sacramento is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city 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.


Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or New Bern?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in New Bern is $140, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $281. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New Bern and Sacramento in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    New Bern $76
    Sacramento $111
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    New Bern $152
    Sacramento $222
Compare Hotels in New Bern and Sacramento

Looking for a hotel in New Bern or Sacramento? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in New Bern


Hotels in Sacramento


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New Bern Hotel Prices and Sacramento Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    New Bern $34
    Sacramento $51

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sacramento

Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Arrival Private Transfer: $111
  • Sacramento Airport (SMF) to Napa, CA - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $222

Is it cheaper to fly into New Bern or Sacramento?

Prices for flights to both Sacramento and New Bern change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    New Bern $41
    Sacramento $53

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sacramento

For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Historic Old Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $95
  • Midtown Sacramento Arts and Food Tour: $98
  • Downtown Sacramento Historical Food Tour: $98
  • Midtown Sacramento Walking Food Tour: $125
  • Midtown Walking Food Tour: $145
  • Italian Cooking and Dance Class Experience: $160

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    New Bern $26
    Sacramento $19

Tours and Activities in Sacramento

For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Gold Rush & Ghosts SmartPhone App Walking Tour: $6.50
  • Gold Rush and Ghosts of Sacramento Smart Phone guided (App/GPS) Walking Tour: $6.75
  • Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Old A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Historic Folsom: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
  • Scavenger Hunt Adventure Self-Guided City Game: $10
  • Driving in Delta’s Wine Country: Private Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Delta's History and Wine: A Self-Guided Driving Tour: $12
  • A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Jackson to Angels Camp: $12
  • A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Placerville to Jackson: $12
  • A Highway 49 Drive: A Self-Guided Audio Tour from Auburn to Placerville: $12
  • Sacramento Scavenger Hunt Adventure: $21

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    New Bern $30
    Sacramento $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Sacramento

Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Sacramento Bar Hunt: Sacramento Sprint Bar Crawl: $12
  • Cider and Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch - near Sacramento: $125


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Bern and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento 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 Sacramento Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, New Bern or Sacramento?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Sacramento, 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 Sacramento?

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 Sacramento in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Sacramento. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, many visitors come to Sacramento in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Bern is around the same temperature as Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Sacramento. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    New Bern 80°F (27°C) 
    Sacramento 76°F (24°C)

Should I visit New Bern or Sacramento in the Autumn?

Both Sacramento and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Sacramento for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Sacramento. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    New Bern 65°F (18°C) 
    Sacramento 64°F (18°C)

Should I visit New Bern or Sacramento in the Winter?

Both Sacramento and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Sacramento. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    New Bern 44°F (7°C) 
    Sacramento 45°F (7°C)

Should I visit New Bern or Sacramento in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Sacramento. The spring months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm.

In the spring, New Bern is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Sacramento. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    New Bern 62°F (16°C) 
    Sacramento 58°F (15°C)

Typical Weather for Sacramento and New Bern

New Bern Sacramento
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 44°F (7°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm) 45°F (7°C) 3.8 inches (97 mm)
Feb 46°F (8°C) 3.8 inches (97 mm) 51°F (10°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 54°F (12°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 54°F (12°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Apr 62°F (16°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 58°F (15°C) 1.3 inches (32 mm)
May 69°F (21°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 65°F (18°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm)
Jun 76°F (25°C) 5 inches (126 mm) 72°F (22°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Jul 80°F (27°C) 6.6 inches (169 mm) 76°F (24°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Aug 79°F (26°C) 7.6 inches (192 mm) 75°F (24°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Sep 75°F (24°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 72°F (22°C) 0.5 inches (12 mm)
Oct 65°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm) 64°F (18°C) 1.1 inches (27 mm)
Nov 56°F (13°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 53°F (12°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Dec 48°F (9°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm) 45°F (7°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)