A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Wisconsin Dells vs. Reno for Families, Nightlife, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

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

Should I visit Wisconsin Dells 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.

Wisconsin Dells

Wisconsin Dells is a high energy, fun-filled, and lighthearted city. It's also popular because of the hiking, nightlife, and food.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Wisconsin Dells and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Wisconsin Dells. Although Wisconsin Dells and Reno are both popular with visitors, Wisconsin Dells has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Wisconsin Dells is more popular for its resorts and hiking, while Reno is known for its museums and shopping. Wisconsin Dells is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its many waterparks and unapologetically playful atmosphere. It is also home to Noah's Ark Water Park. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Wisconsin Dells different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its museums and landmarks. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

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.

While most people don't head to Wisconsin Dells specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of art galleries in the area, but most visitors spend the majority of their time at the theme parks and waterparks.

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

Foodies will find both Wisconsin Dells and Reno both to be good destinations.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Wisconsin Dells. Pizza, pasta, burgers, and steak in a family-friendly atmosphere are the most common options in the area. There are also a few fine dining restaurants as well as pubs and brunch places to choose from.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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 Wisconsin Dells or Reno Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Wisconsin Dells or Reno has a better nightlife scene.

The people in Wisconsin Dells know how to have a good time. In the evening the fun-filled atmosphere takes on a different vibe. There are bars, clubs, casinos, and shows that keep things lively throughout the evening.

The nightlife in Reno has something for everybody. 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.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Reno Better for Resorts?

Wisconsin Dells is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Reno is not a resort destination.

Wisconsin Dells has a few great resort options. Many of the waterparks in the area have affiliated resorts that offer family-friendly entertainment.

Reno is not a resort destination.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Reno Better for Hiking?

Wisconsin Dells is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Wisconsin Dells is a good destination for hiking. Visitors often forget that this was originally a destination for its natural beauty. There are still many hiking trails in the area with some of the favorites found at Mirror Lake State Park, Rocky Arbor State Park, and Chimney Rock Private Park.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Reno is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for its shopping areas.

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.

Wisconsin Dells has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find shopping malls and shopping centers, as well as gift shops in the area.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Reno Better for Families?

Wisconsin Dells is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Wisconsin Dells is a very family-friendly destination. While it used to be known for its impressive sandstone formations along the Wisconsin River, today it has a more touristy atmosphere with theme parks and amusement parks. It's also become known as the "Water Park Capital of the World", and it won't disappoint. There are both indoor and outdoor waterparks as well as train rides, boat rides, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

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 Wisconsin Dells or Reno Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Wisconsin Dells and Reno make for a good place to visit.

Wisconsin Dells makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are a number of resorts with spas and romantic atmospheres. There are also wineries and plenty of entertainment options in the area.

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.

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

Reno is a city with a few options for its public transit. However, Wisconsin Dells is a city with minimal options for times when you don't have a car.

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

Public transit is quite limited in Wisconsin Dells. There's no real public transportation in the area.

Is Wisconsin Dells or Reno a more walkable city?

Wisconsin Dells and Reno both are decent when exploring on foot.

Wisconsin Dells is generally not very walkable. While the downtown area is walkable, you really need a car to access everything that the area has to offer.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Reno or Wisconsin Dells?

How long in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Wisconsin Dells and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Wisconsin Dells than in Reno. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Wisconsin Dells, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.

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

Couples should spend more time in Reno than Wisconsin Dells. 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 Wisconsin Dells 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 Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Visitors enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting the destination of Wisconsin Dells. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

The vibrant destination of Reno offers nightlife and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Wisconsin Dells is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

The city of Reno offers food and shopping. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

You'll find food and nightlife around the lighthearted destination of Wisconsin Dells. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Reno is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

The high energy city of Wisconsin Dells offers nightlife and food. 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Reno. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Wisconsin Dells and Reno, we can see that Reno 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 Wisconsin Dells Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Wisconsin Dells or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Wisconsin Dells. When comparing the sizes of Wisconsin Dells 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.