A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Roanoke vs. Pasadena for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Roanoke or Pasadena?

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

Should I visit Roanoke or Pasadena? 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.

Roanoke

Roanoke is a scenic, outdoorsy, and laid back town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, hiking, and shopping.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Roanoke and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Roanoke or Pasadena?

Both Pasadena and Roanoke have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Roanoke is very popular for its hiking, while Pasadena attracts visitors for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping. Roanoke is more touristy than Pasadena and is popular for its welcoming hospitality and convenient access to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl.

How is Roanoke different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Roanoke or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a great city for its historical sights. Also, Roanoke is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

Pasadena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Roanoke is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are several museums and sights around town such as the Living-Coral Reef Aquarium, the Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Taubman Museum of Art. There's also the Harrison Museum of African American Culture and even the Roanoke Pinball Museum.

Is the Food Better in Roanoke or Pasadena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pasadena is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Roanoke is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Roanoke offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are burger joints, pizza restaurants, and plenty of other casual eateries where you can grab a quick meal.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Roanoke is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife.

The nightlife in Pasadena has something for everybody. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Roanoke. There are local venues in the area that have drinks and often live music. You'll find jazz, country, rock, and bluegrass, particularly along Crooked Road in Franklin County.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Hiking?

Roanoke is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Roanoke is a popular spot for hiking. The surrounding countryside is filled with mountain hikes. The Blue Ridge Mountains are crossed by trails that take you to waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and through serene forest. McAfee Knob, Sharp Top Mountain, and Roaring Run Trail some of the best hikes in the area.

Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Roanoke or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a great city for its shopping areas. Also, Roanoke is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Roanoke is a great destination for shopping. Market Street in Downtown Roanoke is lined with local vendors, particularly at the Historic Roanoke City Market. The town also has a mall and several shopping centers.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Roanoke or Pasadena.

Roanoke offers lots of family activities. The Blue Ridge Parkway is filled with kid-friendly hiking trails and fun outdoor activities. You can visit the Blue Ridge Institute & Farm Museum or Smith Mountain Lake Farm. There's also Virginia Children's Theater.

Pasadena is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Roanoke is notable for couples. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Roanoke is a very popular place to visit for couples. Staying at a quaint bed and breakfast, tucked into the beautiful mountain setting is the perfect romantic getaway. Nearby there are vineyards and wine cellars, as well as gardens, hikes, and other outdoor activities.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Roanoke is a good destination for backpackers. However, Pasadena is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Roanoke. There are several campgrounds in the area as well as great hiking trails.

Pasadena is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the list for most backpackers.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pasadena is a popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Roanoke is not known for its public transit.

While Pasadena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Public transit is generally limited in Roanoke. There are buses as well as a free trolley service through the downtown, but you really do need a car to get most places.

Is Roanoke or Pasadena a more walkable city?

Pasadena is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Roanoke is not known for its walkability.

Pasadena is a somewhat walkable city. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

Roanoke is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is the most walkable part of town, with sidewalks and more dense development styles.

For even more information, also check out Is Roanoke Worth Visiting? and Is Pasadena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Roanoke?

How long in Roanoke or Pasadena?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Roanoke and Pasadena. In our opinion, Pasadena has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Pasadena than Roanoke. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pasadena than Roanoke 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 Pasadena.

One day in Roanoke or Pasadena?

The town of Roanoke offers nightlife and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Pasadena, 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 Roanoke or Pasadena?

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

In Pasadena, 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 Pasadena has to offer.

Five days in Roanoke or Pasadena?

Roanoke 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.

Pasadena 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 Roanoke or Pasadena?

Roanoke is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pasadena. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Pasadena. 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 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.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Roanoke and Pasadena, we can see that Roanoke is more expensive. And not only is Pasadena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pasadena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pasadena 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 Pasadena.

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

Which is Bigger, Roanoke or Pasadena?

Pasadena has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Roanoke. When comparing the sizes of Roanoke and Pasadena, 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 Pasadena?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Roanoke or Pasadena in the Summer?

Both Pasadena and Roanoke during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Roanoke for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the family-friendly experiences.

Roanoke is a little warmer than Pasadena in the summer. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 79°F (26°C) in July, and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Roanoke. Roanoke usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. Roanoke gets 4.2 inches (106 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Roanoke or Pasadena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Roanoke and Pasadena. The autumn months attract visitors to Roanoke because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.

In the autumn, Roanoke is cooler than Pasadena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Roanoke in October average around 60°F (16°C), and Pasadena averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In October, Roanoke usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Roanoke gets 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Roanoke or Pasadena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Roanoke as well as Pasadena. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Roanoke this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Pasadena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Roanoke in the winter. In January, Roanoke is generally much colder than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Roanoke average around 38°F (3°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Roanoke usually gets more rain in January than Pasadena. Roanoke gets 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Roanoke or Pasadena in the Spring?

Both Pasadena and Roanoke are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Roanoke is around the same temperature as Pasadena in the spring. The daily temperature in Roanoke averages around 59°F (15°C) in April, and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In April, Roanoke usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Roanoke gets 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Roanoke