A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Orleans vs. Asheville for Food, Nightlife, Music, and Old Town

Should you visit New Orleans or Asheville?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between New Orleans and Asheville can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a fun-filled, festive, and vibrant city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. And you can't forget about the live music, food, and nightlife.

Asheville

Asheville is a outdoorsy, progressive, and open-minded mountain town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and food.

New Orleans and Asheville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Orleans or Asheville?

Tourists will generally find more to do in New Orleans than Asheville. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. New Orleans is very popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, and big city activities, while Asheville attracts visitors for its resorts, hiking, shopping, christmas markets, and impressive beauty. New Orleans is more touristy than Asheville and is popular for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also well known for The French Quarter. Asheville is famous for its fall foliage, artsy downtown, local North Carolina barbecue, and being home to the Biltmore Estate.

The French Quarter

How is New Orleans different from Asheville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is the Food Better in New Orleans or Asheville? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Asheville is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Downtown Asheville is filled with local restaurants that serve everything from brunch to late night snacks. There are many vegan and vegetarian options as well as a number of international restaurants. Popular local dishes include North Carolina barbeque and country ham biscuits.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is an unbeatable place for nightlife and partying. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its evening party scene.

The nightlife in New Orleans is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

Many people head to Asheville for the nightlife scene. The city has a fun and eclectic nightlife scene that centers around the city's breweries and live music venues.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Music?

New Orleans is an unbeatable place for its live music scene. Also, Asheville is still popular, but not quite as popular for its music scene.

Live music, and music in many other forms, is everyone in New Orleans The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

The music scene in Asheville draws a good crowd. The city has grown into a world famous music destination that holds true to its mountain roots and independent artists.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Resorts?

Asheville is a mountain town with good options for its luxury resorts. However, New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Asheville has a handful of resorts to choose from. The most famous resorts in the area are the Biltmore Estate and the Grove Park Inn. Both offer luxury restaurants and beautiful grounds that are particularly nice during the holidays.

New Orleans is not a resort destination.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is well known for its old town. However, Asheville is not particularly known for its historic old town charm.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

The old town area in Asheville is worth visiting. Downtown Asheville maintains much of its historic vibe, but it's smaller than some of the more notable old cities around the country.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Hiking?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Asheville. Just outside of town are many great hikes to waterfalls or through the mountains. The hikes range in skill level and length but many pass through local forests or along the beautiful skyline.

New Orleans is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Orleans or Asheville?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Asheville. The city has many local shops that sell local crafts and independent art. The downtown area is filled with art vendors and you'll find the greatest concentration of shopping along the pedestrian-friendly Lexington Avenue.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Christmas?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, New Orleans does not offer Christmas activities.

Since it has plenty to do, Asheville is a very popular place to visit during Christmas. Head to the Biltmore Estate to see it fully decorated for the Christmas season. It's also worth going to see the winning Gingerbread Houses on display at the Grove Park Inn.

New Orleans does not offer Christmas activities.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Christmas Markets?

Asheville is a decent place to visit for visiting Christmas markets. However, New Orleans does not offer Christmas markets.

Asheville is a good spot to see some Christmas markets. There are a handful of local Christmas shops around town where you can buy personalized gifts.

New Orleans does not offer Christmas markets.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Families?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Asheville is a very family-friendly destination. With its beautiful hiking, interesting nature centers, and outdoor adventure activities, this mountain town makes a great kid-friendly destination. There are outdoor adventure parks where kids can zipline or climb. There are also hands on farms and orchards for fruit-picking.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Couples?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Asheville makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples enjoy exploring the beautiful Biltmore Estates or visiting the spa at the Grove Park Inn. The quaint town makes a great honeymoon destination or a nice romantic getaway. There are luxury hotels or intimate bed and breakfasts that offer different options for couples on a romantic trip.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Asheville is very popular with the backpacker crowd. The town has an eclectic vibe that backpackers appreciate. There are a few good hostels around town as well as nearby campgrounds that are perfect for budget travelers or hikers.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is New Orleans or Asheville Better for Students?

Asheville is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, New Orleans is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Students come from all over to stay in Asheville. With its progressive personality and charming downtown, students enjoy spending time in this great town.

New Orleans is popular with students. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

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

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both New Orleans and Asheville.

Public transit is mostly limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Public transit is generally limited in Asheville. There are buses around town, but almost everyone gets around town with their own vehicle.

Is New Orleans or Asheville a more walkable city?

New Orleans and Asheville are nice when it comes to walkability.

New Orleans is somewhat walkable. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

Asheville is a somewhat walkable place. If you stay downtown and don't plan to explore the outlying areas, then it's possible to walk around town. Otherwise, you'll need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is New Orleans Worth Visiting? and Is Asheville Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Asheville or New Orleans?

How long in New Orleans or Asheville?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Orleans and Asheville. In our opinion, Asheville has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Asheville than New Orleans. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Asheville than New Orleans 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 Asheville.

One day in New Orleans or Asheville?

You'll find live music and food around the city of New Orleans. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the open-minded mountain town of Asheville. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in New Orleans or Asheville?

You'll find food and nightlife around the energetic destination of New Orleans. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Visitors enjoy the live music and food when visiting the eclectic destination of Asheville. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This mountain town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in New Orleans or Asheville?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the fun-filled city of New Orleans. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The eclectic mountain town of Asheville offers food and shopping. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in New Orleans or Asheville?

New Orleans is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Asheville. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, and The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New Orleans and Asheville, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Asheville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Asheville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Asheville 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Asheville.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New Orleans Expensive? and Is Asheville Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Orleans or Asheville?

New Orleans has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Asheville. When comparing the sizes of New Orleans and Asheville, 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 Orleans or Asheville?

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 Orleans or Asheville in the Summer?

Both Asheville and New Orleans during the summer are popular places to visit. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Orleans this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Asheville for the hiking, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Orleans is around the same temperature as Asheville. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Orleans in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Asheville averages at about 82°F (28°C).

In Asheville, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in New Orleans. In the summer, New Orleans often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Asheville. New Orleans gets 264 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 268 hours of full sun.

Asheville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually gets more rain in July than Asheville. New Orleans gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Asheville in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Orleans and Asheville. Many travelers come to New Orleans for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene. Furthermore, many visitors come to Asheville in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, New Orleans is generally a little warmer than Asheville. Daily temperatures in New Orleans average around 69°F (21°C), and Asheville fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Asheville this time of the year. In New Orleans, it's very sunny this time of the year. New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Asheville during autumn. New Orleans gets 240 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, New Orleans usually receives less rain than Asheville. New Orleans gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Orleans or Asheville in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Orleans as well as Asheville. Many visitors come to New Orleans in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Asheville for the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

New Orleans is much warmer than Asheville in the winter. The daily temperature in New Orleans averages around 51°F (11°C) in January, and Asheville fluctuates around 44°F (7°C).

In the winter, New Orleans often gets less sunshine than Asheville. New Orleans gets 158 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Asheville receives 176 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Asheville. New Orleans receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Orleans usually gets more rain in January than Asheville. New Orleans gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 3.9 inches (100 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Orleans or Asheville in the Spring?

Both Asheville and New Orleans are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Orleans for the activities around the city during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Asheville because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, New Orleans is a little warmer than Asheville. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Orleans in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Asheville averages at about 64°F (18°C).

It's quite sunny in Asheville. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in New Orleans. New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Asheville during spring. New Orleans gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Asheville receives 266 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Asheville. It's quite rainy in New Orleans. In April, New Orleans usually receives around the same amount of rain as Asheville. New Orleans gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Asheville receives 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Asheville and New Orleans