A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sacramento vs. Durango for Attractions, Families, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Sacramento or Durango?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Sacramento or Durango, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Sacramento

Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Durango

Durango is a quaint, scenic, and nature-filled small town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. Because of its quaint atmosphere, it draws plenty of visitors, too. Visitors also love the hiking and museums.

Sacramento and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sacramento or Durango?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Durango. Although Sacramento and Durango are popular destinations, Durango has more sights and attractions for tourists. Durango is very popular for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Sacramento attracts visitors for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping. Durango is more touristy than Sacramento and is known for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. It is also well known for The Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital.

How is Sacramento different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a decent place to visit for skiing and snowboarding. However, Sacramento is not a skiing destination.

Durango is a fun local destination for snow skiers. Purgatory Ski Resort is about 20 minutes from town and it's a family-friendly mountain with beginner and intermediate runs. It's small, and geared specifically to the beginner and younger crowd.

Sacramento is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sacramento or Durango?

Sacramento is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Durango is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sacramento. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.

Durango offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most visitors come to town specifically to ride the Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. There's also the D&SNGRR Railroad Museum, and the Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum.

Is the Food Better in Sacramento or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sacramento is a good destination for its restaurants. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Sacramento. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Durango. Most of the restaurants are casual and family-friendly, serving up burgers or sandwiches for a reasonable price. You'll also find some coffeeshops and even a few food trucks and international restaurants.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Sacramento is a good destination for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Sacramento. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Durango. It's a small town that attracts tourists mainly for its train, so you won't find much in the way of a nightlife scene.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a nice place to visit for its old town. However, Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Plenty of visitors enjoy exploring the old town in Durango. Filled with character, the downtown feels like you've stepped into a Western. The town has a long history as a mining and railroad community, which you can see throughout the historic area. It really feels like you're in the "Wild West."

Sacramento does not have a historic old town.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Durango. It's surrounded by plenty of natural beautiful and there is an endless supply of hikes in the region. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.

Sacramento is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sacramento or Durango?

Sacramento is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Sacramento. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.

If you're looking to go shopping, Durango has some nice offerings. The charming town has some boutiques that sell beautifully made Native American jewelry and other interesting items. There are also souvenir shops and other venues that target tourists specifically.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Christmas?

Durango is a nice place to visit for its Christmas holiday experiences. However, Sacramento does not offer Christmas activities.

Christmas holiday activities are popular when visiting Durango. It is a great Christmas town where you can meet Santa, go skiing, and even take the Polar Express.

Sacramento does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Families?

Durango is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Durango is very family-friendly. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Couples?

Neither Sacramento or Durango is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Most people don't think of Sacramento as a couple's destination. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.

Durango is not always the best place to visit for a couple. The town may not be the first romantic destination that comes to mind, but the railroad combined with wandering the downtown can make for a great couple's getaway.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Durango. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Sacramento is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although most backpackers skip this town for more popular destinations, there are a couple of hostels in town.

Is Sacramento or Durango Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sacramento is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Durango. It's a small town with no real public transit options so a car is a must.

Is Sacramento or Durango a more walkable city?

Sacramento and Durango are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Sacramento is generally not a very walkable city. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.

Durango is generally not very walkable. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.

For even more information, also check out Is Sacramento Worth Visiting? and Is Durango Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durango or Sacramento?

How long in Sacramento or Durango?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sacramento and Durango. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Durango than in Sacramento. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Sacramento, and 2-3 days is enough time in Durango.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durango than Sacramento 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 Durango.

One day in Sacramento or Durango?

In Sacramento, 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.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Sacramento or Durango?

In Sacramento, 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 Sacramento has to offer.

Even though Durango is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this small town.

Five days in Sacramento or Durango?

Sacramento 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.

Durango, a popular small town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Sacramento or Durango?

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

Durango is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Sacramento or Durango?

Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Sacramento and Durango, 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.