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

Should you visit Tallahassee or Durham?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Tallahassee and Durham can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Tallahassee

Tallahassee is a lively, vibrant, and youthful city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Tallahassee and Durham: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with couples
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Tallahassee or Durham?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Durham than Tallahassee. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Tallahassee is famous for its capital building and many universities. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team. It is also well known for the Duke University Chapel.

How is Tallahassee different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tallahassee or Durham?

Tallahassee
Durham

You'll find a number of superb museums and attractions in both Durham and Tallahassee.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Tallahassee. As the capital city of Florida, you'll find a number of museums around town. Tallahassee Museum has outdoor and indoor space to explore. You can also visit the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, the Museum of Florida History, or the Florida Historic Capital Museum.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Durham. 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 Tallahassee or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Tallahassee
Durham

Durham is a city with good options for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Tallahassee is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Durham is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Tallahassee offers some easy restaurants to choose from. You'll find plenty of chain restaurants and cheap eateries that cater to the students. The main options are classic American restaurants with a few international restaurants mixed in as well.

Is Tallahassee or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Tallahassee
Durham

The vibe at night is nice in both Tallahassee and Durham.

If you're looking for night time activities Tallahassee has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is mostly centered around the student population. There are many bars and pubs that fill up with students on weekends.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. 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 Tallahassee or Durham?

Tallahassee
Durham

If you're looking to go shopping, Tallahassee and Durham both offer plenty of nice spots.

Tallahassee has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There is no shortage of strip malls and shopping centers in the area. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at Railroad Square and Market Square.

Durham is a great destination for shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.


Is Tallahassee or Durham Better for Families?

Tallahassee
Durham

Both Tallahassee and Durham are nice to visit with kids.

Tallahassee offers lots of family activities. There are plenty of outdoor parks and adventure activities for kids. You could also see the wild manatees at Wakulla Springs.

Durham is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Tallahassee or Durham Better for Couples?

Tallahassee
Durham

Durham is a city with good options for couples. However, Tallahassee is not a good destination for romance.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. 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.

Tallahassee is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Head to a restaurant or bar. You could also check out a concert or explore a garden or park in town.

Is Tallahassee or Durham Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Tallahassee
Durham

Tallahassee is very good for backpackers. However, Durham is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Tallahassee is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. The student population creates an environment that is welcoming to backpackers. There's also a hostel in town with affordable rooms.

Durham is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The student population means there are a number of parties and bars around town, but most backpackers overlook this city.


Is Tallahassee or Durham Better for Students?

Tallahassee
Durham

For students, both Tallahassee and Durham are superb places to visit.

Students come from all over to stay in Tallahassee. Both Florida State University and Florida A&M University are located here. There's a large student population with many activities and cheap restaurants that appeal to the student crowd.

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.

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

Tallahassee
Durham

Tallahassee and Durham both offer reasonable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Tallahassee. There is a bus system operated by StarMetro.

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

Is Tallahassee or Durham a more walkable city?

Tallahassee
Durham

Tallahassee and Durham are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Tallahassee is generally not a very walkable city. There are a couple of walkable areas around Railroad Square, Downtown, and Midtown, but for the most part the city is not pedestrian-friendly.

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


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

Should I spend more time in Durham or Tallahassee?

How long in Tallahassee or Durham?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee.


  • How many days in Tallahassee or Durham? Ideal Length of Stay
    Tallahassee 1-2 
    Durham 1-3

One day in Tallahassee or Durham?

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

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the diverse 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 Tallahassee or Durham?

Tallahassee is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. 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 sports oriented 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 Tallahassee or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Tallahassee. 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 diverse 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 Tallahassee or Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the youthful destination of Tallahassee. 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 G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.


Which place is cheaper, Durham or Tallahassee?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tallahassee is $156, while the average daily cost in Durham is $162. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Tallahassee and Durham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tallahassee $89
    Durham $92
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tallahassee $178
    Durham $184
Compare Hotels in Tallahassee and Durham

Looking for a hotel in Tallahassee or Durham? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Tallahassee


Hotels in Durham


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tallahassee Hotel Prices and Durham Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tallahassee $33
    Durham $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Tallahassee or Durham?

Prices for flights to both Durham and Tallahassee change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tallahassee $47
    Durham $44

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tallahassee $12
    Durham $26

Tours and Activities in Tallahassee

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tallahassee.

  • Luxury Picnic Experience at Pedrick Pond Park: $120
  • Experience Tranquility with a Picnic at Pedrick Pond Park: $120
  • Tallahassee Tranquility: A Scenic Walking Tour: $192
  • Tallahassee Delights: A Christmas Tour Through Art and Parks: $247
  • Tallahassee Tranquility: A Scenic Walking Tour: $375
  • Tallahassee Delights: A Christmas Tour Through Art and Parks: $482

Tours and Activities in Durham

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Durham are as follows:

  • Downtown Durham Historian-Guided Walking Tour: $16
  • Durham African American History Tour: $16
  • Durham NC: Art Walking Tour: $20
  • True Crime Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tallahassee $53
    Durham $34


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


Which is Bigger, Tallahassee or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of Tallahassee. When comparing the sizes of Tallahassee 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 Tallahassee or Durham?

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 Tallahassee or Durham in the Summer?

Both Durham and Tallahassee during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Tallahassee in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Durham for the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Tallahassee is around the same temperature as Durham in the summer. The daily temperature in Tallahassee averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Tallahassee. In the summer, Tallahassee often gets more sunshine than Durham. Tallahassee gets 283 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.

Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Tallahassee. Tallahassee usually gets more rain in July than Durham. Tallahassee gets 8.9 inches (227 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Tallahassee 82°F (28°C) 
    Durham 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Tallahassee or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Tallahassee and Durham. Most visitors come to Tallahassee for the shopping scene during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Durham because of the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Tallahassee is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Tallahassee in October average around 69°F (20°C), and Durham averages at about 61°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Tallahassee, it's very sunny this time of the year. Tallahassee usually receives more sunshine than Durham during autumn. Tallahassee gets 256 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Tallahassee usually receives around the same amount of rain as Durham. Tallahassee gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Tallahassee is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Tallahassee 69°F (20°C) 
    Durham 61°F (16°C)

Should I visit Tallahassee or Durham in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Tallahassee as well as Durham. The winter months attract visitors to Tallahassee because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

It's quite cold in Durham in the winter. In January, Tallahassee is generally much warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Tallahassee average around 51°F (11°C), and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

In the winter, Tallahassee often gets more sunshine than Durham. Tallahassee gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.

Tallahassee usually gets more rain in January than Durham. Tallahassee gets 3.7 inches (95 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Tallahassee 51°F (11°C) 
    Durham 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Tallahassee or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Tallahassee are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities.

Tallahassee is a little warmer than Durham in the spring. The daily temperature in Tallahassee averages around 67°F (19°C) in April, and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tallahassee. Tallahassee usually receives more sunshine than Durham during spring. Tallahassee gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Tallahassee. In April, Tallahassee usually receives more rain than Durham. Tallahassee gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Tallahassee is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Tallahassee 67°F (19°C) 
    Durham 60°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Durham and Tallahassee

Tallahassee Durham
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 51°F (11°C) 3.7 inches (95 mm) 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 54°F (12°C) 4.8 inches (121 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 60°F (16°C) 5.9 inches (151 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 67°F (19°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 74°F (23°C) 4.1 inches (103 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Jun 80°F (27°C) 6.6 inches (168 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 8.9 inches (227 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm)
Aug 82°F (28°C) 6.9 inches (175 mm) 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm)
Sep 78°F (26°C) 6.7 inches (169 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Oct 69°F (20°C) 2.9 inches (74 mm) 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 60°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm) 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Dec 54°F (12°C) 4.2 inches (107 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)