A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Reno vs. El Paso for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Reno or El Paso?

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

Should I visit Reno or El Paso? 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.

Reno

Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

El Paso

El Paso is a undiscovered, laid-back, and low-key city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Reno and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or El Paso?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Reno than El Paso. While El Paso is larger than Reno, Reno has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Reno is more touristy than El Paso and is known for its casinos and nightlife scene. Also, Reno is famous for the National Automobile Museum. El Paso is well known for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is Reno different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Reno or El Paso?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both El Paso and Reno.

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.

El Paso is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in Reno or El Paso? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at notable restaurants in both Reno and El Paso.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

El Paso offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is Reno or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

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.

El Paso has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or El Paso?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Reno and El Paso.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

El Paso is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is Reno or El Paso Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Reno or El Paso.

Reno is a family-friendly city. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is Reno or El Paso Better for Couples?

Reno is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

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

Visitors will find respectable public transit in both Reno and El Paso.

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

Public transit is generally limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Is Reno or El Paso a more walkable city?

Reno and El Paso are respectable when it comes to walkability.

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

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Reno Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in El Paso or Reno?

How long in Reno or El Paso?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than El Paso 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 Reno or El Paso?

In Reno, 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of El Paso. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Reno or El Paso?

In Reno, 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 Reno has to offer.

El Paso is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

Five days in Reno or El Paso?

Reno 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the undiscovered destination of El Paso. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Reno or El Paso?

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

The low-key city of El Paso offers nightlife and food. 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.

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 comparing the travel costs between Reno and El Paso, we can see that El Paso 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 Reno Expensive? and Is El Paso Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Reno or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Reno. When comparing the sizes of Reno and El Paso, 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.