A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Tampa vs. Reno for Nightlife, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Tampa or Reno?

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

Should I visit Tampa or Reno? 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.

Tampa

Tampa is a easy-going, low-key, and laid-back city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. It's also popular because of the food and beaches.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Tampa and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Tampa or Reno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Tampa than Reno. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Tampa is very popular for its scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and big city activities, while Reno attracts visitors for its museums, nightlife, and shopping. Reno is more touristy than Tampa and is known for its casinos and nightlife scene. Tampa is famous for its amusement parks, wildlife parks, and popularity as a cruise ship port. It is also well known for Busch Gardens.

How is Tampa different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Tampa or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its museums and history. However, Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Reno. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Tampa does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Tampa or Reno? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Tampa and Reno can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

Tampa is becoming an appealing option for foodies. There are a surprising number of great local restaurants around town as well as a good food truck scene. Some favorite dishes include fresh caught seafood, Grouper sandwiches, and Cuban sandwiches.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Tampa is lacking in options for nightlife.

Reno has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Tampa is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. The city has some good nightclubs, sports bars, and other spots where locals enjoy spending the evening.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Tampa is a decent place to visit for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to go snorkeling in Tampa. While the water isn't always the clearest, there are some nice snorkeling and diving spots in the area. Options include Shell Key and Egmont Key, Crystal River, and Fort De Soto.

Reno is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Beaches?

Tampa is an excellent place to visit for the beach. However, Reno is not a beach destination.

Tampa is considered a top beach destination. Popular beaches near Tampa include Ben T. Davis Beach, Fred Howard Park, and Indian Rocks Beach.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Tampa or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Tampa is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Families?

Tampa is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Tampa. The city has a number of kid-oriented attractions including Busch Gardens Amusement Park, several kid-friendly museums, and a number of animal centers, aquariums, and wildlife rescue facilities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Couples?

Reno is a popular place for couples. However, Tampa is lacking in options for romance.

Reno is a good city for couples to visit. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Tampa is not the best destination for a couple to visit. The area does have great restaurants and some fun places to explore, but the downtown area has room for improvement and much of the city is suburban.

Is Tampa or Reno Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Reno is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Tampa is lacking in options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Tampa. There is the street car that runs from downtown Tampa to Ybor City and stops at 11 stations.

Is Tampa or Reno a more walkable city?

Tampa and Reno are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Tampa is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some neighborhoods that are considered walkable, you really need a car if you hope to explore Tampa in depth.

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Tampa Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Tampa?

How long in Tampa or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Tampa and Reno. In our opinion, Reno has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Reno than Tampa. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Tampa, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Tampa 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 Reno.

One day in Tampa or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food when visiting the destination of Tampa. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Reno, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this growing destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Tampa or Reno?

Tampa is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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 Reno. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Tampa or Reno?

You'll find food around the laid-back destination of Tampa. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Reno is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Reno. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Tampa or Reno?

The easy-going city of Tampa offers food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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 shopping around the energetic destination of Reno. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Tampa or Reno?

Tampa has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Reno. When comparing the sizes of Tampa and Reno, 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.