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

Should you visit Saint Louis or Detroit?

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 Detroit. 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 unexpected, fascinating, and under rated city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums.

Detroit

Detroit is a under-rated, hardworking, and overlooked city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for live music, food, and shopping.

Saint Louis and Detroit: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Detroit?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Detroit than Saint Louis. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Detroit is very popular for its nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Saint Louis attracts visitors for its museums and shopping. Saint Louis is more touristy than Detroit and is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. Detroit is famous for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry. It is also well known for the Henry Ford Experience.

How is Saint Louis different from Detroit?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Louis is an unbeatable place for its museums and history. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

The museums and tourist attractions in Saint Louis are world-renowned. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Detroit. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Detroit can be difficult as they are each nice 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.

Detroit has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

Is Saint Louis or Detroit Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is well known for nightlife. Also, Saint Louis is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

Detroit is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Louis has a few options to choose from. 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.

Is Saint Louis or Detroit Better for Music?

Detroit is an amazing city to visit for live music. However, Saint Louis is not a live music destination.

Detroit is a world class music destination. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Saint Louis is not a live music destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Detroit?

Saint Louis is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.

Saint Louis is well-known for its shopping. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Many visitors go to Detroit to go shopping. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Is Saint Louis or Detroit Better for Families?

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

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Saint Louis is very family-friendly. 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.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Saint Louis or Detroit Better for Couples?

Saint Louis is a nice place to visit for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Saint Louis makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

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

Saint Louis is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit in Saint Louis can get you to some places easily. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Is Saint Louis or Detroit a more walkable city?

Saint Louis and Detroit both are nice 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.

Detroit is a somewhat walkable place. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

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

Should I spend more time in Detroit or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Detroit?

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

Families should spend more time in Saint Louis than Detroit. 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 Detroit. 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 Detroit 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 Detroit?

In Saint Louis, you'll find nightlife and food. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. 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.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the hardworking city of Detroit. Most people visit for the live music. 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 Detroit?

In Saint Louis, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Saint Louis has to offer.

Visitors enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the overlooked destination of Detroit. 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 Detroit?

Saint Louis 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.

The hardworking city of Detroit offers museums and nightlife. 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 Detroit?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Saint Louis. One reason most visitors come is for the museums. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Many people enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting Detroit. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the live music. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saint Louis and Detroit, we can see that Saint Louis is more expensive. And not only is Detroit much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Detroit would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Detroit 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 Saint Louis would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Louis than you might in Detroit.

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 Detroit Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Detroit?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Saint Louis. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Detroit, 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 Detroit?

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 Detroit in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Detroit. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Detroit for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Saint Louis is a little warmer than Detroit. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint Louis in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Detroit averages at about 74°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Detroit. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Detroit. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 319 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets more rain in July than Detroit. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Detroit in the Autumn?

Both Detroit and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Saint Louis for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Detroit because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene.

In October, Saint Louis is generally a little warmer than Detroit. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 60°F (16°C), and Detroit fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives more sunshine than Detroit during autumn. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 172 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Detroit. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Detroit in the Winter?

Both Detroit and Saint Louis during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Detroit this time of year.

It's quite cold in Detroit in the winter. The weather in Saint Louis can be very cold. Saint Louis is much warmer than Detroit in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 31°F (-1°C) in January, and Detroit fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).

In the winter, Saint Louis often gets more sunshine than Detroit. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Detroit receives 120 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Detroit. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Detroit in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Detroit. Also, many travelers come to Detroit for the activities around the city.

In the spring, Saint Louis is much warmer than Detroit. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint Louis in April average around 58°F (15°C), and Detroit averages at about 49°F (9°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Detroit this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Detroit during spring. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Detroit receives 223 hours of full sun in the spring.

Saint Louis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Detroit. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Detroit receives 3.2 inches (80 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Detroit and Saint Louis