A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Winston-Salem vs. Durango for Families, Attractions, Food, and Old Town

Should you visit Winston-Salem or Durango?

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

Should I visit Winston-Salem 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.

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem is a under-rated, welcoming, and friendly city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Durango

Durango is a historic, charming, and quaint small town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. This is an attractive and quaint destination worth visiting as well. Other popular activities here include hiking and museums.

Winston-Salem and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Winston-Salem or Durango?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Durango than Winston-Salem, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Durango is better known for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Winston-Salem is more popular for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Durango is more touristy than Winston-Salem and is popular for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. Also, Durango is famous for The Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. Winston-Salem is well known for it's southern character and quaint college campuses.

How is Winston-Salem different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a moderate small town for snow skiing. However, Winston-Salem is not a skiing destination.

While in the area, visitors like to go to Durango for snow skiing. 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.

Winston-Salem is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Winston-Salem or Durango?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Winston-Salem or Durango.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Winston-Salem. Old Salem has a nice concentration of museums and gardens. Outside of the old town you'll find several art museums like the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts and the Reynolda House Museum of American Art.

Durango is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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 Winston-Salem or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem. North Carolina barbecue is popular around town. The city is also the birthplace of Krispy Kreme donuts and during the holiday season you should sample the local Moravian Cookies.

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 Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Winston-Salem is a good destination for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Winston-Salem. Local breweries are popping up around town. You'll also find active nightlife venues near the colleges and universities.

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 Winston-Salem or Durango Better for its Old Town?

It's fun to wander around the notable old towns in both Winston-Salem and Durango.

Winston-Salem offers a nice historic old town area. Nearby Old Salem is filled with historic museums, gardens, and restaurants. A ticket is required for most of the venues, but the atmosphere and architecture are charming.

Durango is a good destination for visiting its 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."

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Winston-Salem is not a hiking destination.

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.

Winston-Salem is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Winston-Salem or Durango?

Winston-Salem is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Winston-Salem. You'll find a mix of larger shopping malls, retail outlets, and shopping centers around town.

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 Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Christmas?

Durango is a popular place for its Christmas activities. However, Winston-Salem does not offer Christmas activities.

Many visitors go to Durango during the Christmas season. It is a great Christmas town where you can meet Santa, go skiing, and even take the Polar Express.

Winston-Salem does not offer Christmas activities.

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Families?

Durango is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Winston-Salem is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Durango is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city. There are interactive museums like the Kaleideum science museums. There are also outdoor parks and playgrounds, kid-friendly restaurants, and a children's theater.

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Winston-Salem or Durango as a couple's destination.

Winston-Salem is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are restaurants and movie theaters that make for a nice date night. There are also parks and walks that will get you outdoors.

Durango is not the best destination for a couple to visit. 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 Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a popular place for backpackers. However, Winston-Salem is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Durango. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Winston-Salem is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's not on the itinerary for most backpackers.

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Students?

Winston-Salem is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Durango is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University as well as colleges such as Salem College give parts of the city a collegiate vibe.

Durango is not popular with students.

Is Winston-Salem or Durango Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Winston-Salem 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 Winston-Salem. There are bus routes, but they are limited in their frequency and convenience, making a car essential for most visitors.

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 Winston-Salem or Durango a more walkable city?

Winston-Salem and Durango both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Winston-Salem is generally not very walkable. The downtown area is the most pedestrian-friendly part of town, but most of the city requires a car.

Durango is generally not a very walkable city. 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 Winston-Salem Worth Visiting? and Is Durango Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durango or Winston-Salem?

How long in Winston-Salem or Durango?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durango than Winston-Salem 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 Durango.

One day in Winston-Salem or Durango?

In Winston-Salem, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Even though Durango is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Winston-Salem or Durango?

In Winston-Salem, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Winston-Salem has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durango. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Winston-Salem or Durango?

Winston-Salem is a great place to explore. 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 is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This small 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 Winston-Salem or Durango?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Winston-Salem. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Winston-Salem. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Durango is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Winston-Salem and Durango, we can see that Durango 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 Winston-Salem Expensive? and Is Durango Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Winston-Salem or Durango?

Winston-Salem has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Winston-Salem 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.