A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Cruz vs. Durango for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Durango?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Durango? 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 Cruz

Santa Cruz is a coastal, scenic, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and museums.

Durango

Durango is a historic, charming, and quaint small town. This is also a fantastic small town with plenty of charm and local activities. It's a gorgeous place to visit. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. It's also known for hiking and museums.

Santa Cruz and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Durango?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Cruz. Although Santa Cruz and Durango are both popular with visitors, Santa Cruz has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Cruz is more popular for its food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Durango is known for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Durango and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also home to Santa Cruz Wharf. Durango is popular for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities.

How is Santa Cruz different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a moderate small town for snow skiing. However, Santa Cruz is not a skiing destination.

Locals like to visit Durango to take advantage of their winter sports. 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.

Santa Cruz is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Cruz or Durango?

Both Santa Cruz and Durango have good landmarks and museums for visitors.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

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 Santa Cruz or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

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 Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

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 Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its beaches. However, Durango is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Durango is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a popular place for its historic old town. However, Santa Cruz does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Durango to see the historical old town. 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."

Santa Cruz does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is notable for the nearby hiking options. Also, Santa Cruz is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its hiking trails.

Durango is a popular spot for hiking. 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.

Many people include a hike when visiting Santa Cruz. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Durango?

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

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

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 Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Christmas?

Durango is a popular place for its Christmas activities. However, Santa Cruz does not offer Christmas activities.

Durango is a fun destination over Christmas. It is a great Christmas town where you can meet Santa, go skiing, and even take the Polar Express.

Santa Cruz does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Santa Cruz or Durango.

Santa Cruz is a very family-friendly place to visit. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

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.

Is Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for romance. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Most people don't think of Durango as a couple's destination. 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 Santa Cruz or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Santa Cruz and Durango are good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Durango is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

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

Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel 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 Santa Cruz or Durango a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is a world-class destination for its walkability. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

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 Santa Cruz Worth Visiting? and Is Durango Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durango or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Durango?

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

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

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

One day in Santa Cruz or Durango?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town 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 Santa Cruz or Durango?

In Santa Cruz, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz or Durango?

Santa Cruz is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Santa Cruz or Durango?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Cruz. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. 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 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Durango?

Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz 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.