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

Should you visit Wilmington or Reno?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Wilmington or Reno, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Wilmington

Wilmington is a welcoming, charming, and historic city. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums.

Reno

Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Wilmington and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wilmington or Reno?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Wilmington than Reno. While Reno is larger than Wilmington, Wilmington has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Wilmington is better known for its beaches and historical sights, while Reno is more popular for its nightlife. Wilmington is well known for its laid back beaches, historical waterfront area, and university setting. Also, Wilmington is famous for the Battleship North Carolina. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Wilmington different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Wilmington or Reno.

Wilmington is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are art, history, and science museums around town. The Battleship North Carolina is a popular destination. Science enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science or the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. For art, head to the Cameron Art Museum or Art in Bloom Gallery.

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

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

Both Wilmington and Reno offer a number of notable restaurants to choose from.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Wilmington. Head to the waterfront for local seafood restaurants that offer outdoor seating and fresh caught fish. There are also farm-to-table restaurants and local diners with casual food.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Reno. 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 Wilmington or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Reno is great for nightlife. Also, Wilmington is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

Many people head to Reno for the nightlife scene. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Wilmington. Live music is popular around town. There are also bars, lounges and dance clubs. When the weather is warm, many places make use of the outdoor setting, which makes for a relaxed and fun evening.

Is Wilmington or Reno Better for Beaches?

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

Wilmington is considered a top beach destination. Nearby you'll find Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They have long stretches of sand and great waves. The water is usually warm enough for swimming between the months of April and October. During these peak months parking can be challenging, but during the quieter times, you shouldn't have trouble.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is Wilmington or Reno Better for its Old Town?

Wilmington is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Reno does not have a historic old town.

Wilmington has an old town worth visiting. The Historic District is along the waterfront and has 18th and 19th century architecture. There are also great restaurants and interesting shops.

Reno does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Wilmington or Reno?

If you're looking to go shopping, Wilmington and Reno both offer plenty of notable spots.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Wilmington. Head downtown for the most interesting local shops. You'll find boutiques and souvenir shops where you can pick up art, accessories, or antiques.

Reno offers some nice shopping areas. 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.

Is Wilmington or Reno Better for Families?

Wilmington 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 Wilmington. Near town you'll find several beaches - Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, and Carolina Beach. They're all family-friendly and perfect for a day's activity. The city also has the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, the Children's Museum of Wilmington, and the Wilmington Railroad Museum. For a rainy day there are also indoor play areas and entertainment centers.

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 Wilmington or Reno Better for Couples?

Wilmington is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Wilmington makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beaches are great for a relaxing day of swimming and sunbathing. In the evening head into town and enjoy one of the local seafood restaurants on the waterfront. You'll also find great shopping and historical sights in the area.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Wilmington or Reno Better for Students?

Wilmington is a popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Reno is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Wilmington. The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a popular school that brings many students to town.

Reno is not popular with students.

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

Wilmington and Reno both offer respectable public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Wilmington. There are public buses around town, but for practical reasons, you'll want to have your own vehicle.

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

Is Wilmington or Reno a more walkable city?

Wilmington is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

Wilmington is a somewhat walkable city. The Historic District is best explored on foot. You can also get around Wrightsville Beach on foot, but traveling between these places requires a car.

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 Wilmington Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reno or Wilmington?

How long in Wilmington or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wilmington and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Wilmington than in Reno. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Wilmington, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

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

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

One day in Wilmington or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Wilmington. 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.

With museums and nightlife around the growing city of Reno, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Wilmington or Reno?

Wilmington 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.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Reno, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Wilmington or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the welcoming destination of Wilmington. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

Reno, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. 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 Wilmington or Reno?

The welcoming city of Wilmington offers nightlife and 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.

Reno 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 Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Wilmington and Reno, we can see that Wilmington 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 Wilmington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wilmington 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 Wilmington Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Wilmington or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Wilmington. When comparing the sizes of Wilmington 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.