A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Panama City vs. Nags Head for Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Panama City or Nags Head?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Panama City or Nags Head, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Panama City

Panama City is a fun-filled, active, and cosmopolitan beach town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping.

Nags Head

And you can't forget about the food.

Panama City and Nags Head: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Panama City or Nags Head?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Panama City. Although Panama City and Nags Head are popular destinations, Panama City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Panama City is more touristy than Nags Head and is popular for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather. It is also well known for Pier Park. Nags Head is famous for

How is Panama City different from Nags Head?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is the Food Better in Panama City or Nags Head? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Panama City and Nags Head can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Panama City. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Nags Head is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are a wide variety of seafood restaurants that serve locally caught fish, shrimp, and crabs. Cajon flavors are popular and you'll also find cheese grits at many places.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Nightlife?

Panama City is great for nightlife. However, Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Many people head to Panama City for the nightlife scene. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

Nags Head is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Music?

Panama City is a popular place for live music. However, Nags Head is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Panama City is active and vibrant. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

Nags Head is not a live music destination.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Resorts?

Panama City is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Nags Head is not a resort destination.

Panama City has a handful of resorts to choose from. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Nags Head is not a resort destination.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Beaches?

Panama City is great for its beaches. However, Nags Head is not a beach destination.

Panama City is considered a top beach destination. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Nags Head is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Panama City or Nags Head?

Panama City is a popular place for shopping. However, Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Panama City. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Nags Head is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Families?

Panama City is an amazing beach town to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Nags Head is not as popular, but is still a nice for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Panama City is a very family-friendly destination. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

Nags Head is a very kid-friendly beach town. It makes a wonderful base for the many family-friendly activities in the area. Jockey's Ridge is a fun place to visit with kids. There are also wonderful beaches and many kids enjoying flying kites.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Couples?

Panama City is great for romance. Also, Nags Head is not as popular, but is still a nice for its romantic activities.

Panama City is a great beach town if you're traveling as a couple. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

Nags Head makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are great seafood restaurants and a number of activities in the area that are fun for couples.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Nags Head is a nice place to visit for backpackers. However, Panama City is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

It's common for backpackers to visit Nags Head. This is one of the more affordable places to stay in the Outer Banks, so it appeals to more budget-oriented travelers.

Panama City is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Students?

Panama City is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Nags Head is not popular with students.

Panama City is a very popular beach town for students and younger travelers. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

Nags Head is not popular with students.

Is Panama City or Nags Head Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Panama City is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Nags Head does not have public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Nags Head does not have public transit.

Is Panama City or Nags Head a more walkable city?

Panama City is mediocre for its walkability. However, Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

Panama City is not a very walkable beach town. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

Nags Head is not a walkable destination.

Should I spend more time in Nags Head or Panama City?

How long in Panama City or Nags Head?

Both Panama City and Nags Head have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Panama City has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Panama City than Nags Head. In general, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Panama City, and 4-7 days is enough time in Nags Head.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Panama City than Nags Head 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 Panama City.

One day in Panama City or Nags Head?

You'll find food and shopping around the beach town of Panama City. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 food when visiting the of Nags Head. 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 Panama City or Nags Head?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the fun-filled destination of Panama City. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Nags Head. This offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Five days in Panama City or Nags Head?

You'll find nightlife and live music around the active beach town of Panama City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this beach town makes for a great vacation. It's also a great beach destination, too. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this beach town has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the of Nags Head. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Panama City or Nags Head?

Panama City is a popular choice for travelers. One week here is typical. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Panama City, one week is sufficent for most. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Nags Head. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this .

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Panama City Expensive? and Is Nags Head Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Panama City or Nags Head?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Panama City and Nags Head, 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 Panama City or Nags Head?

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 Panama City or Nags Head in the Summer?

Both Nags Head and Panama City during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Panama City in the summer for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Nags Head for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Panama City is generally around the same temperature as Nags Head. Daily temperatures in Panama City average around 82°F (28°C), and Nags Head fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

In Nags Head, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Panama City. In the summer, Panama City often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Nags Head. Panama City gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 274 hours of full sun.

Nags Head gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Panama City. Panama City usually gets more rain in July than Nags Head. Panama City gets 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Panama City or Nags Head in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Panama City and Nags Head. Most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Panama City is a little warmer than Nags Head in the autumn. The daily temperature in Panama City averages around 71°F (22°C) in October, and Nags Head fluctuates around 62°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head this time of the year. In Panama City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Panama City usually receives more sunshine than Nags Head during autumn. Panama City gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 205 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Panama City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Nags Head. Panama City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Panama City or Nags Head in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Panama City as well as Nags Head. The winter months attract visitors to Panama City because of the shopping scene and the cuisine. Additionally, the cuisine are the main draw to Nags Head this time of year.

It's quite cold in Nags Head in the winter. In the winter, Panama City is much warmer than Nags Head. Typically, the winter temperatures in Panama City in January average around 52°F (11°C), and Nags Head averages at about 41°F (5°C).

In the winter, Panama City often gets more sunshine than Nags Head. Panama City gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Nags Head receives 147 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Nags Head. Panama City usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Nags Head. Panama City gets 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Panama City or Nags Head in the Spring?

Both Nags Head and Panama City are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Panama City this time of year.

In April, Panama City is generally a little warmer than Nags Head. Daily temperatures in Panama City average around 68°F (20°C), and Nags Head fluctuates around 59°F (15°C).

It's quite sunny in Nags Head. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Panama City. Panama City usually receives more sunshine than Nags Head during spring. Panama City gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Nags Head receives 262 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Panama City usually receives less rain than Nags Head. Panama City gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Nags Head receives 3 inches (75 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Nags Head and Panama City