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

Should you visit Saint Louis or Durham?

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 Durham. 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. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Durham

Durham is a student-filled, sports oriented, and diverse city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Saint Louis and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Durham?

You'll generally find more things to do in Saint Louis than Durham. Saint Louis is bigger than Durham, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Saint Louis is more touristy than Durham and is known for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West. Also, Saint Louis is famous for the Gateway Arch. Durham is well known for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Saint Louis different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Saint Louis is an amazing city to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Saint Louis on the map. 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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Durham can be an interesting and educational experience. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

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

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Durham 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.

Durham has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Saint Louis or Durham Better for Nightlife?

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

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 Durham has a few options to choose from. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Durham?

Saint Louis is a well-known place for its shopping areas. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Saint Louis. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Durham. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Saint Louis or Durham Better for Families?

Saint Louis is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Saint Louis is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Durham is a family-friendly city. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Saint Louis or Durham Better for Couples?

Saint Louis and Durham 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.

Durham makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Saint Louis or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is well known for students. However, Saint Louis is not popular with students.

Many students visit Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Saint Louis is not popular with students.

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

Saint Louis is a well-known place for its public transit. However, Durham is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Saint Louis or Durham a more walkable city?

Saint Louis is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Durham is not a good city for its walkability.

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

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

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

Should I spend more time in Durham or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Durham?

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

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

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saint Louis. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sports oriented city of Durham. 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 Durham?

Saint Louis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the diverse destination of Durham. 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 Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The student-filled city of Durham 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 Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the under rated destination of Saint Louis. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Durham. 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 Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Durham?

Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 57% larger than the population of Durham. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Durham, 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 Durham?

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 Saint Louis or Durham in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Durham. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Saint Louis is generally around the same temperature as Durham. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 81°F (27°C), and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives more sunshine than Durham during summer. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun in the summer.

Durham receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Durham. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Durham. Many visitors come to Saint Louis in the autumn for the shopping scene. Additionally, most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months.

Saint Louis is around the same temperature as Durham in the autumn. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 60°F (16°C) in October, and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Durham. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the autumn, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Durham. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Durham in the Winter?

Both Durham and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. 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 Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Durham can be very cold. Saint Louis can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Saint Louis is much colder than Durham. Typically, the winter temperatures in Saint Louis in January average around 31°F (-1°C), and Durham averages at about 40°F (5°C).

Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Durham during winter. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Durham. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Saint Louis during the spring are popular places to visit.

In April, Saint Louis is generally around the same temperature as Durham. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 58°F (15°C), and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Saint Louis. In the spring, Saint Louis often gets less sunshine than Durham. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually gets more rain in April than Durham. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Durham and Saint Louis