A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Ocean City vs. Reno for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Ocean City or Reno?

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

Should I visit Ocean City or Reno? 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.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a laid back, active, and energetic city. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and food.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Ocean City and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Reno?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ocean City. Although Ocean City and Reno are popular destinations, Ocean City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ocean City is very popular for its resorts and beaches, while Reno attracts visitors for its museums and shopping. Ocean City is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its miles of sandy beach, fun-filled activities, and thrilling water sports. It is also well known for the Ocean City boardwalk. Reno is famous for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Ocean City different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ocean City or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its museums and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Reno. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

While most people don't head to Ocean City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time on the beach, but for the rainy days you can check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the Art League of Ocean City.

Is the Food Better in Ocean City or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Ocean City and Reno both to be nice destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ocean City area. Themed restaurants are popular in the area. You'll also find all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and casual diners with pancakes and waffles. Pizza, burgers, and other fast food options are also abundant.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Reno. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Both Ocean City and Reno are high quality when it comes to partying.

Ocean City offers plenty to do in the evening. Happy hours are popular at the bars in the area. You'll also find live music and DJ led parties. Head to the boardwalk, which will overwhelm your senses. There are neon lights, colorful rides, and arcades filled with people and activities.

Reno has a large number of nightlife venues. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Resorts?

Ocean City is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

Ocean City is known as a popular and fun resort destination. There are many oceanfront resorts with pools and rooms with ocean views. The hotels along the beach tend to be the most expensive, but if you find a place across from the Coastal Highway, it's very challenging to walk to the beach.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Beaches?

Ocean City is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Ocean City is considered a top beach destination. There are ten miles of sandy beach that are lined with hotels and resorts. A festive boardwalk runs along the coastline and has many rides, arcades, restaurants, and more. The beach offers waves and warm water during the summer months.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Ocean City is not a good city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Reno to go shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Ocean City is a good destination for shopping. You'll find surf stores and souvenir shops along the three mile boardwalk. There are also many vendors and shopping centers along the Coastal Highway. For something a little more interesting you can head to the Inlet Village.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Families?

Ocean City is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Ocean City is a very family-friendly destination. Beyond the family-friendly beach, there's also minigolf, dolphin tours, and themed-restaurants that are perfect for kids. Head to the Jolly Roger amusement park for a thrilling afternoon or spend some time visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not. The boardwalk is lined with activities for both kids and adults. There are also candy shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza joints where you can grab a bite to eat.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Couples?

Ocean City is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Ocean City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Hotels line the beach, many with beautiful views and nice pools. You can take long romantic walks along the coastline or head to one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Is Ocean City or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Ocean City and Reno offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Ocean City. There are boardwalk trams as well as shuttle buses, but most people have their own vehicle, and its recommended you have a private car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Ocean City or Reno a more walkable city?

Ocean City and Reno both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Ocean City is generally not very walkable. If you stay at an oceanfront hotel or on the ocean block, it's possible to walk to the beach. If you stay further back, you'll have to cross the Coastal Highway, which is eight lanes of busy traffic.

Reno is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Ocean City Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ocean City and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ocean City than in Reno. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

Couples should spend more time in Ocean City than Reno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Ocean City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Ocean City 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 Reno.

One day in Ocean City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Ocean City. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant city of Reno, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Ocean City or Reno?

Ocean City is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Reno, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Ocean City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the energetic destination of Ocean City. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Reno, a popular city, 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.

A week in Ocean City or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the energetic city of Ocean City. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

Reno 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Ocean City and Reno, we can see that Ocean City 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 Ocean City Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Reno, 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.