A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Louis vs. Charlotte for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Saint Louis or Charlotte?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint Louis and Charlotte. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a fascinating, under rated, and unexpected city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Charlotte

Charlotte is a up-and-coming, growing, and evolving city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Saint Louis and Charlotte: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

You'll generally find more things to do in Charlotte than Saint Louis. Charlotte is bigger than Saint Louis, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Charlotte is better known for its big city activities, while Saint Louis is more popular for its museums and shopping. Saint Louis is more touristy than Charlotte and is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. Charlotte is well known for its banking industry and growing Uptown area. Also, Charlotte is famous for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

How is Saint Louis different from Charlotte?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

Saint Louis is terrific for its historical sights. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Saint Louis has many famous sights for visitors. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

Charlotte is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The Mint Museum is a popular place to visit, as is the Gantt Center for African American Arts. Art enthusiasts will appreciate a visit to the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and sports enthusiasts will enjoy a stop at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Is the Food Better in Saint Louis or Charlotte? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Charlotte can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Saint Louis offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Charlotte has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. The food scene continues to grow and change around town. You'll find the latest trendy restaurant changes regularly, but dishes often include upscale southern faire or classic American. There are also many international restaurants, particularly Mexican, Thai, and Chinese.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Saint Louis and Charlotte.

Saint Louis has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

If you're looking for night time activities Charlotte has a few options to choose from. Head Uptown for some of the best nightlife. The city has many bars and clubs that keep things fun late into the night.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

Saint Louis is great for its shopping areas. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Saint Louis. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Charlotte is a great destination for shopping. Shopping malls such as SouthPark Mall or Carolina Place offer all of the standard retailers. Concord Mills is another favorite mall in the area. Aside from the malls, there is no shortage of shopping centers around town.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte Better for Families?

Saint Louis is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Saint Louis. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.

Charlotte is a family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of museums for kids, with one of the best being Discovery Place. It has many hands-on science based exhibits that kids will love. Another unique experience is a visit to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. Carowinds Amusement Park is also in the area as are many great parks, playgrounds, and natural areas.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte Better for Couples?

Saint Louis and Charlotte both notable destinations for a couple.

Saint Louis is a nice destination for couples. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Charlotte makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are a number of date night activities around town, particularly Uptown. You can see a show or concert at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center or hit up one of the trendy bars or restaurants. There are also sporting events and other festivals that are fun to experience.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte Better for Students?

Charlotte is a good destination for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Charlotte is popular with students. There are a number of smaller colleges in town, but the biggest university is the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Saint Louis is great for times when you don't have a car. Also, Charlotte is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its public transit.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Saint Louis. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Charlotte has a few public transit options. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Is Saint Louis or Charlotte a more walkable city?

Saint Louis and Charlotte both are notable when exploring on foot.

Saint Louis is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

Charlotte is a somewhat walkable place. The Uptown area is the most walkable part of the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Louis Worth Visiting? and Is Charlotte Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Charlotte or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saint Louis than Charlotte 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 Saint Louis.

One day in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Saint Louis. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saint Louis has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the up-and-coming city of Charlotte. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the under rated destination of Saint Louis. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the evolving destination of Charlotte. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the under rated city of Saint Louis. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Most people head to the area for the museums. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The evolving city of Charlotte offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Saint Louis or Charlotte?

Saint Louis is a popular choice for travelers. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Charlotte. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Louis and Charlotte, we can see that Charlotte 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 Saint Louis Expensive? and Is Charlotte Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Charlotte?

Charlotte has a larger population, and is about 86% larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Charlotte, 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 Saint Louis or Charlotte?

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 Saint Louis or Charlotte in the Summer?

Both Charlotte and Saint Louis during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Charlotte in the summer for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Louis is generally around the same temperature as Charlotte. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 81°F (27°C), and Charlotte fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

In Charlotte, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the summer, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlotte receives 289 hours of full sun.

Charlotte gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Saint Louis usually gets less rain in July than Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Charlotte receives 4.6 inches (116 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Charlotte in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Charlotte. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the autumn for the shopping scene. Also, most visitors come to Charlotte for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene during these months.

Saint Louis is cooler than Charlotte in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 60°F (16°C) in October, and Charlotte fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Charlotte this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives less sunshine than Charlotte during autumn. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Charlotte receives 223 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of rain as Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Charlotte receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Charlotte in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Charlotte. Most visitors come to Saint Louis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Charlotte because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Saint Louis can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint Louis is much colder than Charlotte. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Louis in January average around 31°F (-1°C), and Charlotte averages at about 42°F (6°C).

In the winter, Saint Louis often gets less sunshine than Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Charlotte receives 173 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets less rain in January than Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Charlotte receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Charlotte in the Spring?

Both Charlotte and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Charlotte this time of year.

In April, Saint Louis is generally cooler than Charlotte. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 58°F (15°C), and Charlotte fluctuates around 63°F (17°C).

It's quite sunny in Charlotte. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives less sunshine than Charlotte during spring. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Charlotte receives 273 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Saint Louis. In April, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Charlotte. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Charlotte receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Charlotte and Saint Louis