A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Reno vs. Portland for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Reno or Portland?

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

Should I visit Reno or Portland? 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.

Portland

Portland is a laid-back, progressive, and quirky city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the live music, hiking, and shopping.

Reno and Portland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Portland?

You'll generally find more things to do in Portland than Reno. Portland is bigger than Reno, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Portland is better known for its music, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Reno is more popular for its museums, food, and nightlife. Portland is more touristy than Reno and is known for its independent and vintage shops, thriving art scene, lush parks and gardens, progressive and quirky personality, and easy access to amazing natural beauty. Also, Portland is famous for Washington Park. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Reno different from Portland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Portland 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 Portland?

Reno is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Portland offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Visitors usually come for the city's outdoor recreation and eclectic personality more than the landmarks and museums. There are a few places to visit on a rainy day though including Pittock Mansion, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

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

Reno is a city with good options for its restaurants. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Portland. The town is more famous for it's craft beer than it's food, but there are still a number of local restaurants that offer unique Oregon dishes. You'll find no shortage of vegetarian and vegan options on most menus. There is also a big farm-to-table scene with many farmers markets around town as well.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Nightlife?

Reno is a very popular place for nightlife. Also, Portland 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.

Portland has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Famously, this town's nightlife is all about the craft beer and local breweries. Make sure you check out Bailey's Taproom, The Big Legrowlski, and The Commons Brewery.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Music?

Portland is a popular place for its music scene. However, Reno is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Portland is active and vibrant. The town has a thriving live music and international folk dancing scene.

Reno is not a live music destination.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Hiking?

Portland is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Portland. Just outside of town you'll find amazing hikes and stunning natural beauty. In town there are many urban hikes through parks and gardens, but in just a short drive you also have access to Mount Hood and many of the region's most beautiful hikes around the Columbia River Gorge.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Portland?

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

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.

Portland is a great destination for shopping. To fully experience shopping in town, head to the local vendors and thrift shops. There are many vintage clothing shops, book stores, and independent sellers around town. The city is also full of farmers markets. For some of the most interesting shopping, check out the Pearl District, Pioneer Place, Union Way, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Reno or Portland.

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 Portland. This is an outdoor city by nature, so families will appreciate the many parks and outdoor recreational activities around town. It's easy to fill a couple of days exploring and having fun with the kids. Kid-friendly activities include the zoo, the aerial tram, and several great museums.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Couples?

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

Reno is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Portland is a nice destination for couples. The laid-back, alternative vibe is fun to explore as a couple. There are independent bookstores, nice parks, and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Couples who enjoy an eclectic city, breweries, and nature, will find a lot to do in town.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Portland is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Portland. The town has drawn young explorers for years, and backpackers who like to step away from the mainstream will feel right at home here.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

Is Reno or Portland Better for Students?

Portland is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Reno is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Portland. It's a young and relaxed city that attracts independent thinkers. There are many bookstores and breweries around town. The cost of living can be a bit high though.

Reno is not popular with students.

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

Portland is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.

Portland has some public transit options. The town has a bus and light rail system as well the Aerial tram.

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

Is Reno or Portland a more walkable city?

Portland is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Portland is a very walkable destination. It is quite walkable, particularly in the tourist areas such as Downtown, Pearl, and Old Town Chinatown.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Portland or Reno?

How long in Reno or Portland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Reno and Portland. In our opinion, Portland has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Portland than Reno. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Reno, and 2-3 days is enough time in Portland.

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

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

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

One day in Reno or Portland?

The city of Reno offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Portland. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Reno or Portland?

Reno is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Portland is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Portland?

Reno is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find live music and shopping around the scenic destination of Portland. This city offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Reno or Portland?

Reno is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The scenic city of Portland offers shopping and nightlife. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Reno or Portland?

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