A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Portland, Maine vs. Avon for Food, Nightlife, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Avon?

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

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Avon? 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.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine is a laid-back, scenic, and picturesque coastal town. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food, beaches, and hiking.

Avon

Avon is a active, outdoorsy, and scenic town. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and skiing.

Portland, Maine and Avon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Portland, Maine or Avon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Avon than Portland, Maine, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Avon is better known for its skiing, museums, and resorts, while Portland, Maine is more popular for its beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty. Avon is more touristy than Portland, Maine and is known for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Also, Avon is famous for Avon Recreation Center. Portland, Maine is well known for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks.

How is Portland, Maine different from Avon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Skiing?

Avon is well known for winter skiing. However, Portland, Maine is not a skiing destination.

Avon is a well-known ski destination which attracts visitors from far and wide. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Portland, Maine is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Portland, Maine or Avon?

Avon is a town with a few options for its museums and landmarks. However, Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Avon offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Portland, Maine or Avon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Portland, Maine and Avon can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Portland, Maine area. The town has grown into a foodie destination that takes advantage of its waterfront setting. Many restaurants make use of the fresh seafood with lobster rolls and oysters on the half shell being popular. You'll also find a lot of dishes that use haddock and whole lobsters.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Avon. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Portland, Maine and Avon.

Portland, Maine has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The city has many microbreweries, wine bars, taverns, and pubs. You'll find many places concentrated in the Old Port, which has a charming and fun atmosphere.

If you're looking for night time activities Avon has a few options to choose from. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Resorts?

Avon is a popular place for its resorts. However, Portland, Maine is not a resort destination.

Avon has a few great resort options. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Portland, Maine is not a resort destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is notable for its beaches. However, Avon is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Portland, Maine for it's beautiful beaches. It has many sandy and calm beaches. The water may be too cold to swim, but the beaches are perfect for flying a kite or hanging out with family.

Avon is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Portland, Maine and Avon both have notable trails.

Portland, Maine is a good destination for hiking. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Many people include a hike when visiting Avon. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Avon?

Portland, Maine is a good destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Portland, Maine is a great destination for shopping. The town has many nice local boutiques to explore. Head downtown for the best local venues and the most interesting shopping opportunities.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Christmas?

Portland, Maine is a moderate coastal town for its Christmas activities. However, Avon does not offer Christmas activities.

Portland, Maine has some seasonal activities during Christmas. Watch the Christmas tree lighting or listen to the symphony at Christmas time.

Avon does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Portland, Maine or Avon.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Portland, Maine. It is a charming town with a number of kid-friendly museums, walks, and waterfront activities. You can visit the Portland Observatory, Bug Light Park, or grab ice cream in the Old Port. There are also children's museums such as the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Avon offers lots of family activities. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Portland, Maine and Avon make for a notable place to visit.

Portland, Maine is a good coastal town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the beautiful waterfront setting, the fine dining restaurants, and everything that the city has to offer. Head to the Old Port for romantic restaurants and a great atmosphere or catch a show at Portland Stage.

Avon is a nice destination for couples. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Avon is a popular place for its public transit. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Avon, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

Public transit is quite limited in Portland, Maine. There is a very basic bus system but you really must have a car to explore the city.

Is Portland, Maine or Avon a more walkable city?

Avon is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for its walkability.

Avon is a somewhat walkable town. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

Portland, Maine is generally not a very walkable coastal town. Downtown is very walkable but if you want to travel to other areas you'll need a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Portland, Maine Worth Visiting? and Is Avon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avon or Portland, Maine?

How long in Portland, Maine or Avon?

It's fun to spend time in either Portland, Maine or Avon. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Avon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Portland, Maine, and 2-4 days is enough time in Avon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Avon than Portland, Maine 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 Avon.

One day in Portland, Maine or Avon?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Portland, Maine. 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.

The active destination of Avon offers nightlife and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Portland, Maine or Avon?

Portland, Maine is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The town of Avon offers food and skiing. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Portland, Maine or Avon?

You'll find food and shopping around the scenic destination of Portland, Maine. This coastal town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Avon is a great place to explore. This town offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Portland, Maine or Avon?

The picturesque coastal town of Portland, Maine offers shopping and nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting Avon. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Avon?

Portland, Maine has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Portland, Maine and Avon, 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.