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

Should you visit Phoenix or Sacramento?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Phoenix and Sacramento 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.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a desert, laid back, and sprawling city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a undiscovered, laid back, and relaxed city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Phoenix and Sacramento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Phoenix or Sacramento?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Phoenix than Sacramento, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Phoenix is more popular for its hiking, while Sacramento is known for its museums. Phoenix is popular for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather. It is also home to Desert Botanical Garden. Sacramento is popular for its history and state capital.

How is Phoenix different from Sacramento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Phoenix or Sacramento?

Sacramento is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sacramento. 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.

Phoenix is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both Phoenix and Sacramento can be an enjoyable experience.

Phoenix is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Sacramento offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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 Phoenix or Sacramento Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find good options in both Phoenix and Sacramento.

If you're looking for night time activities Phoenix has a few options to choose from. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Sacramento. 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.

Is Phoenix or Sacramento Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a nice place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix has hiking trails worth exploring. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Phoenix or Sacramento?

If you're looking to go shopping, Phoenix and Sacramento both offer plenty of good spots.

Phoenix has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Sacramento is a great destination for shopping. 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 Phoenix or Sacramento Better for Families?

Both Phoenix and Sacramento are good to visit with kids.

Phoenix offers lots of family activities. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Sacramento is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Phoenix or Sacramento Better for Couples?

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

Phoenix makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

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

Phoenix and Sacramento both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Public transit is generally limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Is Phoenix or Sacramento a more walkable city?

Phoenix and Sacramento are decent when it comes to walkability.

Phoenix is generally not a very walkable city. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

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 Phoenix Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sacramento or Phoenix?

How long in Phoenix or Sacramento?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Phoenix or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Phoenix than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Phoenix, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.

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

One day in Phoenix or Sacramento?

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

In Sacramento, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

A weekend in Phoenix or Sacramento?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Phoenix, 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.

In Sacramento, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Sacramento has to offer.

Five days in Phoenix or Sacramento?

Phoenix, 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.

Sacramento is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Phoenix or Sacramento?

Phoenix 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sacramento. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Sacramento. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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 Phoenix and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Phoenix much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Phoenix would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phoenix 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 Phoenix.

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

Which is Bigger, Phoenix or Sacramento?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Sacramento. When comparing the sizes of Phoenix 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 Phoenix or Sacramento?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Phoenix or Sacramento in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Phoenix and Sacramento. Most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the family-friendly experiences.

Phoenix can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Phoenix is generally much warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Phoenix average around 98°F (36°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 76°F (24°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sacramento this time of the year. In Phoenix, it's very sunny this time of the year. Phoenix usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during summer. Phoenix gets 380 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Phoenix usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Phoenix gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Phoenix or Sacramento in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Phoenix as well as Sacramento. The autumn months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.

Phoenix is a little warmer than Sacramento in the autumn. The daily temperature in Phoenix averages around 79°F (26°C) in October, and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Phoenix this time of the year. In the autumn, Phoenix often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Sacramento. Phoenix gets 305 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun.

Phoenix usually gets less rain in October than Sacramento. Phoenix gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Phoenix or Sacramento in the Winter?

Both Sacramento and Phoenix are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sacramento for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Phoenix is much warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the winter temperatures in Phoenix in January average around 58°F (14°C), and Sacramento averages at about 45°F (7°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Phoenix. Phoenix usually receives more sunshine than Sacramento during winter. Phoenix gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Phoenix usually receives less rain than Sacramento. Phoenix gets 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Phoenix or Sacramento in the Spring?

Both Sacramento and Phoenix during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Phoenix is generally much warmer than Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Phoenix average around 74°F (23°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 58°F (15°C).

In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Phoenix. In the spring, Phoenix often gets more sunshine than Sacramento. Phoenix gets 355 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun.

Phoenix usually gets less rain in April than Sacramento. Phoenix gets 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Sacramento and Phoenix