A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Acadia National Park vs. Pasadena for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Acadia National Park or Pasadena, 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.

Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park is a scenic, picturesque, and beautiful national park. With stunning beauty, Acadia National Park attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include beaches and hiking. See Acadia National Park travel costs.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Pasadena travel costs.

Acadia National Park and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Pasadena. Although Acadia National Park and Pasadena are popular destinations, Pasadena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Pasadena is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and shopping, while Acadia National Park attracts visitors for its beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty. Acadia National Park is more touristy than Pasadena and is popular for its scenic drives, beautiful fall foliage, and cross country skiing in the winter. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl. It is also well known for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

How is Acadia National Park different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Pasadena can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Acadia National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are educational centers and Ranger Programs at the visitor centers in the park.

Is the Food Better in Acadia National Park or Pasadena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

Pasadena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Acadia National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There's one restaurant in the park, the Jordan Pond House Restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner between mid-May and October. Many visitors prefer to bring their own food and enjoy meals at one of the six picnic areas.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Pasadena has a large number of nightlife venues. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Acadia National Park. The park is more about sunsets and stargazing than lively nightlife parties.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Beaches?

Acadia National Park is a good destination for the beach. However, Pasadena is not a beach destination.

Acadia National Park offers a nice beach destination. There is one oceanside beach in the park, Sand Beach, as well as two lakefront beaches, Echo Lake Beach and Lake Wood. Many visitors enjoy swimming during the warmer months.

Pasadena is not a beach destination.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Hiking?

Acadia National Park is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Acadia National Park is a popular spot for hiking. With 158 miles of hiking trails, this is a favorite activity for visitors to the park. There are diverse habitats that trails pass through including forests, estuaries, and coastal settings.

Pasadena is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its shopping areas. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Acadia National Park has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are several park stores near visitor centers and campgrounds.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena More Beautiful?

Acadia National Park is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Pasadena is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Acadia National Park attracts visitors from all around. The dramatic ocean views and beautiful hiking trails make this a popular and scenic national park.

Pasadena is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Families?

Acadia National Park is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Acadia National Park is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are campgrounds and games that kids will enjoy. There are also Ranger Programs and hiking trails that are great for kids of all ages.

Pasadena is a family-friendly national park. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Acadia National Park and Pasadena are both nice to visit as a couple.

Acadia National Park is a good national park for couples to visit. The natural beauty and scenic trails make this a romantic destination for couples.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Acadia National Park is a good destination for backpackers. However, Pasadena is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Acadia National Park. There are campgrounds and hiking trails that attracts hikers and backpackers who enjoy the beautiful natural setting.

Pasadena is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the list for most backpackers.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Pasadena is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Pasadena has some public transit options. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Public transit is generally limited in Acadia National Park. The Island Explorer Shuttle Bus operates between late June and early October.

Is Acadia National Park or Pasadena a more walkable city?

Pasadena is a nice place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Acadia National Park is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Pasadena is a somewhat walkable city. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

Acadia National Park is generally not very walkable. There are countless hiking trails, but having a car allows more efficient access to everything that the park has to offer.

For even more information, also check out Is Acadia National Park Worth Visiting? and Is Pasadena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Acadia National Park?

How long in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Acadia National Park and Pasadena. In our opinion, Pasadena has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Pasadena than Acadia National Park. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

One day in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

The beautiful national park of Acadia National Park offers . Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Pasadena. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Pasadena has to offer.

A weekend in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Acadia National Park is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this national park makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Acadia National Park, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Pasadena is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Acadia National Park is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many people visit Pasadena for five days. You'll find museums and nightlife around the city of Pasadena. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

Acadia National Park is a great place to explore. 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. This national park offers something for everyone.

The charming destination of Pasadena offers nightlife and food. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Acadia National Park or Pasadena?

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 Acadia National Park or Pasadena in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Acadia National Park as well as Pasadena. Many travelers come to Acadia National Park for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Pasadena in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

Acadia National Park is cooler than Pasadena in the summer. The daily temperature in Acadia National Park averages around 69°F (21°C) in July, and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Acadia National Park usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. Acadia National Park gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Acadia National Park or Pasadena in the Autumn?

Both Pasadena and Acadia National Park are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Acadia National Park in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Pasadena for the shopping scene during these months.

In the autumn, Acadia National Park is much colder than Pasadena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Acadia National Park in October average around 48°F (9°C), and Pasadena averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In October, Acadia National Park usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Acadia National Park gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Acadia National Park or Pasadena in the Winter?

Both Pasadena and Acadia National Park during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Acadia National Park for the museums and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Pasadena because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Acadia National Park can be very cold during winter. In January, Acadia National Park is generally much colder than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Acadia National Park average around 18°F (-8°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Acadia National Park usually gets more rain in January than Pasadena. Acadia National Park gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Acadia National Park or Pasadena in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Acadia National Park and Pasadena. The spring months attract visitors to Acadia National Park because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

Acadia National Park is much colder than Pasadena in the spring. The daily temperature in Acadia National Park averages around 43°F (6°C) in April, and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In April, Acadia National Park usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Acadia National Park gets 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Acadia National Park