A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Roanoke vs. Fairfield for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Roanoke or Fairfield?

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

Should I visit Roanoke or Fairfield? 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.

Where Should I go: Roanoke or Fairfield?

Roanoke

Roanoke is a charming city located in the western region of the U.S. state of Virginia. Sometimes called the "Star City of the South" or the "Magic City," Roanoke lies in the scenic Roanoke Valley with Mill Mountain as a local icon, topped with a lighted 100-foot star. The city itself is home to many museums and opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Fairfield

The city of Fairfield is in Solano County, California, in the Sacramento Valley area. It's a medium sized city that is home to the Travis Air Force Base. It's also halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento along Interstate 80. There are a handful of interesting activities in the area. Consider visiting either the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area or the Hill Slough Wildlife Area both of which have hiking, fishing, birdwatching, and boating opportunities. You can also take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory which is in town, or tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which includes two complimentary beers and a limitless supply of pretzels. On Thursdays you can take a guided tour of the Travis Air Force Base. If you're interested in visited a working ranch, Rush Ranch is open to the public and can be a fun experience with an opportunity to visit with the animals.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Fairfield or Roanoke?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Roanoke is $164, while the average daily cost in Fairfield is $131. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Roanoke and Fairfield in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Roanoke $96
    Fairfield $97
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Roanoke $192
    Fairfield $194
Compare Hotels in Roanoke and Fairfield

Looking for a hotel in Roanoke or Fairfield? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Roanoke


Hotels in Fairfield


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Roanoke Hotel Prices and Fairfield Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Roanoke $23
    Fairfield -

Is it cheaper to fly into Roanoke or Fairfield?

Prices for flights to both Fairfield and Roanoke change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Roanoke $48
    Fairfield $30

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roanoke

For Roanoke, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Roanoke Ebike Food Tour: $150

Typical Food Prices in Fairfield

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Fairfield:


  • El Pollo Loco Lunch (for 3)
    $17
  • Hometown Buffet Dinner (for 3)
    $44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Roanoke $35
    Fairfield $13

Tours and Activities in Roanoke

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Roanoke.

  • 3-Hour E-Bike Sightseeing and Breweries Tour in Roanoke: $109
  • Blue Ridge Parkway – Driving Audio Tour (Roanoke ↔ Afton): $12
  • Blue Ridge Parkway (Roanoke to Afton) Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia) Driving Tour with Audio Guide: $9.99
  • Blue Ridge Parkway Virginia Audio Driving Tour: $9.99
  • Mountain Bike Tour from The Roanoke Star: $139
  • Roanoke Downtown Food and Cultural Tour: $78
  • Roanoke Holiday Season E-Bike Tour: $92

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Roanoke $30
    Fairfield -

Sample the Local Flavors in Fairfield

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Fairfield:

  • Olive Oil, Cheese, and Wine Tasting with Local Expert: $133


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

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


Which is Bigger, Roanoke or Fairfield?

Fairfield has a larger population, and is about 16% larger than the population of Roanoke. When comparing the sizes of Roanoke and Fairfield, 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 Roanoke or Fairfield?

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 Roanoke or Fairfield in the Summer?

Both Fairfield and Roanoke are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Roanoke in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Roanoke is a little warmer than Fairfield. Typically, the summer temperatures in Roanoke in July average around 79°F (26°C), and Fairfield averages at about 73°F (23°C).

It's quite sunny in Fairfield. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Roanoke. Roanoke usually receives less sunshine than Fairfield during summer. Roanoke gets 273 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Roanoke. In July, Roanoke usually receives more rain than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Roanoke 79°F (26°C) 
    Fairfield 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Roanoke or Fairfield in the Autumn?

Both Fairfield and Roanoke during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Roanoke for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Roanoke is generally around the same temperature as Fairfield. Daily temperatures in Roanoke average around 60°F (16°C), and Fairfield fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In Fairfield, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Roanoke. In the autumn, Roanoke often gets less sunshine than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 210 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 300 hours of full sun.

Roanoke usually gets more rain in October than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Roanoke 60°F (16°C) 
    Fairfield 62°F (17°C)

Should I visit Roanoke or Fairfield in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Roanoke and Fairfield. The winter months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Roanoke can be very cold. Roanoke is much colder than Fairfield in the winter. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 38°F (3°C) in January, and Fairfield fluctuates around 46°F (8°C).

Roanoke usually receives more sunshine than Fairfield during winter. Roanoke gets 165 hours of sunny skies, while Fairfield receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Roanoke usually receives less rain than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Roanoke 38°F (3°C) 
    Fairfield 46°F (8°C)

Should I visit Roanoke or Fairfield in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Roanoke as well as Fairfield.

In the spring, Roanoke is a little warmer than Fairfield. Typically, the spring temperatures in Roanoke in April average around 59°F (15°C), and Fairfield averages at about 56°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Fairfield. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Roanoke this time of the year. In the spring, Roanoke often gets less sunshine than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 246 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Fairfield receives 328 hours of full sun.

Roanoke usually gets more rain in April than Fairfield. Roanoke gets 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain, while Fairfield receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Roanoke 59°F (15°C) 
    Fairfield 56°F (13°C)

Typical Weather for Fairfield and Roanoke

Roanoke Fairfield
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 38°F (3°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 46°F (8°C) 3.8 inches (97 mm)
Feb 41°F (5°C) 3 inches (77 mm) 51°F (11°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 50°F (10°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 54°F (12°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Apr 59°F (15°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm) 56°F (13°C) 1.3 inches (32 mm)
May 68°F (20°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm) 64°F (18°C) 0.3 inches (7 mm)
Jun 75°F (24°C) 3.4 inches (88 mm) 69°F (21°C) 0.1 inches (3 mm)
Jul 79°F (26°C) 4.2 inches (106 mm) 73°F (23°C) 0 inches (1 mm)
Aug 78°F (26°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm) 72°F (22°C) 0.1 inches (2 mm)
Sep 72°F (22°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 70°F (21°C) 0.5 inches (12 mm)
Oct 60°F (16°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm) 62°F (17°C) 1.1 inches (27 mm)
Nov 51°F (11°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 54°F (12°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm)
Dec 42°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm) 46°F (8°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm)