A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Barbara vs. Avon for Hiking, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Avon?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Avon? 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.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a wealthy, opulent, and pristine coastal town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. You'll find world class beauty here as well. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches.

Avon

Avon is a active, outdoorsy, and scenic town. Other popular activities here include skiing, nightlife, and food.

Santa Barbara and Avon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Avon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara than Avon, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Santa Barbara is better known for its museums, food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Avon is more popular for its skiing. Santa Barbara is well known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. Also, Santa Barbara is famous for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Avon is well known for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort.

How is Santa Barbara different from Avon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Skiing?

Avon is a well-known place for snow skiing. However, Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

Avon is a well-known ski destination which attracts visitors from far and wide. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Santa Barbara is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Barbara or Avon?

Santa Barbara is notable for its sights and museums. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Santa Barbara. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

While most people don't head to Avon specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

Is the Food Better in Santa Barbara or Avon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Barbara is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Santa Barbara makes for a great culinary experience. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Avon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Nightlife?

Both Santa Barbara and Avon are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Avon. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is notable for its resorts. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its luxury resorts.

There are plenty of resorts in Santa Barbara to choose from. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

With a selection of resorts, Avon makes a nice vacation spot. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a moderate coastal town for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Avon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Avon is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for its beaches. However, Avon is not a beach destination.

Santa Barbara offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Avon is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a good destination for its historic old town. However, Avon does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Barbara to see the historical old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Avon does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its hiking trails.

Santa Barbara is well-known for its hiking and trekking. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Avon is a good destination for hiking. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Barbara or Avon?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Families?

Santa Barbara is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Avon is a family-friendly coastal town. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its romantic activities.

Santa Barbara is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Avon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is notable for students. However, Avon is not popular with students.

Many students visit Santa Barbara. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Avon is not popular with students.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Santa Barbara and Avon offer notable public transit options.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Avon has some public transit options. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

Is Santa Barbara or Avon a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is notable for its walkability. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its high level of walkability.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Avon is a somewhat walkable place. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting? and Is Avon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avon or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Avon?

It's fun to spend time in either Santa Barbara or Avon. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Avon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Santa Barbara, and 2-4 days is enough time in Avon.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Avon 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Santa Barbara or Avon?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Barbara. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the active destination of Avon. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Santa Barbara or Avon?

Santa Barbara is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avon. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Santa Barbara or Avon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the affluent destination of Santa Barbara. This coastal town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active destination of Avon. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Santa Barbara or Avon?

The pristine coastal town of Santa Barbara offers nightlife and food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

You'll find food and skiing around the town of Avon. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Avon?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara and Avon, 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.