A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Atlantic City vs. Cleveland for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Atlantic City or Cleveland?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Atlantic City and Cleveland. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Atlantic City

Atlantic City is a flashy, party-oriented, and colorful city. Other reasons to visit include food, beaches, and shopping. See Atlantic City travel costs.

Cleveland

Cleveland is a under-rated, diverse, and authentic city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Cleveland travel costs.

Atlantic City and Cleveland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Atlantic City. Although Atlantic City and Cleveland are both popular with visitors, Atlantic City has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Atlantic City is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, and beaches, while Cleveland is known for its museums and attractions and music. Atlantic City is more touristy than Cleveland and is popular for its casinos, gambling culture, nightlife scene, and wild personality It is also home to Steel Pier and the Boardwalk. Cleveland is popular for being the home to "rock 'n roll" as well as its friendly and hard working people.

How is Atlantic City different from Cleveland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Cleveland is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Atlantic City is not particularly known for its historical sights.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Cleveland. There are diverse museums around town such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (moCa), and the Great Lakes Science Center. Music lovers will appreciate a visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

While most people don't head to Atlantic City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While most people don't spend their time in museums, there is the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, the African American Heritage Museum, and the Noyes Museum Galleries.

Is the Food Better in Atlantic City or Cleveland? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Atlantic City is a nice place to visit for its restaurants. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Atlantic City. There are budget buffets around town as well as seafood restaurants and even some fine dining. Salt water taffy is a local specialty that you should pick up while you're in the area.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Cleveland. Casual dining with comfort food is the way most residents prefer to eat. There are local foods that have made a name for themselves such as gourmet hot dogs and deli sandwiches. The food is also influenced by the city's German, Irish, Polish, and Italian roots. Pierogis, bratwurst, and chicken paprikash are all common.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Nightlife?

Atlantic City is an amazing city to visit for nightlife. Also, Cleveland is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Atlantic City has a colorful and one-of-a-kind nightlife scene. This is a city that is all about its nightlife scene. Many visitors come here just to party, and you'll find clubs with DJs or bands playing from sunset to sunrise. There are glitzy lounges and dive bars with everything in between. As a gambling town, there are casinos and all-night activities that keep the energy going round the clock.

Cleveland has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Breweries have become a popular nighttime activity. There are also comedy clubs, music venues, and several theaters.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Music?

Cleveland is well known for live music. However, Atlantic City is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Cleveland. Home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it has long been a destination for music enthusiasts. There are many independent music venues and it's the perfect place to catch a show.

Atlantic City is not a live music destination.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Resorts?

Atlantic City is a very popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Cleveland is not a resort destination.

Atlantic City is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. The beach and boardwalk are lined with casinos and resorts. There are many recognizable names such as Harrah's, Bally's, Caesars, Hard Rock, and the Tropicana.

Cleveland is not a resort destination.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Beaches?

Atlantic City is a nice place to visit for its beaches. However, Cleveland is not a beach destination.

Atlantic City has a beach worth visiting. There's a Boardwalk that runs along the beach and is lined with piers and hotels. The Downtown Beach is the most accessible, and where most tourists hang out. If you're willing to travel a little further, there are some nice beaches nearby such as Margate Beach and Brigantine Beach.

Cleveland is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Cleveland and Atlantic City.

Atlantic City is a great destination for shopping. You'll find many souvenir shops along the boardwalk. There's also a Tangier Outlet Mall in the area. Some of the hotels such as the Tropicana have their own shopping areas as well.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Cleveland. Large shopping malls offer plenty of selection. There's also West Side Market, which is the oldest public market in the city. Other interesting shopping areas include Little Italy and the Cleveland Flea.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Families?

Cleveland is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Atlantic City is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Cleveland. Kid-friendly activities in the area include the Children’s Museum of Cleveland, the Great Lakes Science Center, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. There's also the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well as the smaller Akron Zoo.

For families, Atlantic City is not always the best place to visit. Most families avoid this area for more family-friendly beaches, but if you find yourself in the area, you can check out Ripley's Believe It or Not or go on a dolphin cruise. Also popular is Steel Pier, which has rides for all ages.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Couples?

Atlantic City is a nice place to visit for romance. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Atlantic City is a nice destination for couples. It's not exactly known for its romance, but there are casinos, hotels, and a beaches that are fun to visit. You'll also find several spas and sunset cruises in the area.

Most people don't think of Cleveland as a couple's destination. There are several romantic date night activities like boat rides on Lake Erie or dining at a nice restaurant.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Atlantic City is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Atlantic City. There is a hostel in the area. You'll also find a younger crowd and plenty of partying.

Cleveland is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There's little in the area that attracts the backpacker crowd.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Atlantic City is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Atlantic City has some public transit options. The Jitney are shuttle buses that runs from one end of the city to the other. They pass by most of the hotels and casinos along Pacific Avenue.

Public transit is generally limited in Cleveland. There are bus, trolley, and train lines through the city, but a car is the most efficient way to get around.

Is Atlantic City or Cleveland a more walkable city?

Atlantic City is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Cleveland is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

Atlantic City is very walkable. Many of the hotels are walkable and located near the boardwalk.

Cleveland is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are more walkable than others (Downtown, Ohio City and Buckeye - Shaker), most visitors need a car to easily access everything they wish to do.

For even more information, also check out Is Atlantic City Worth Visiting? and Is Cleveland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Cleveland or Atlantic City?

How long in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Atlantic City and Cleveland. In our opinion, Atlantic City has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Atlantic City than Cleveland. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Atlantic City than Cleveland 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 Atlantic City.

One day in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Atlantic City. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Atlantic City has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the authentic destination of Cleveland. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Atlantic City or Cleveland?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the flashy destination of Atlantic City. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cleveland. 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 Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the flashy city of Atlantic City. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. It's also a relaxing resort destination. Most people head to the area for the nightlife. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the diverse destination of Cleveland. This city 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 Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Atlantic City is a popular choice for travelers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find live music and shopping around the city of Cleveland. 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 Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Atlantic City or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Atlantic City. When comparing the sizes of Atlantic City and Cleveland, 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.

When is the best time to visit Atlantic City or Cleveland?

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 Atlantic City or Cleveland in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Atlantic City as well as Cleveland. Many visitors come to Atlantic City in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Cleveland for the music scene and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Atlantic City is around the same temperature as Cleveland in the summer. The daily temperature in Atlantic City averages around 75°F (24°C) in July, and Cleveland fluctuates around 75°F (24°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Cleveland. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Atlantic City this time of the year. In the summer, Atlantic City often gets less sunshine than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 273 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 307 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Cleveland. Atlantic City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Atlantic City usually gets more rain in July than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 4 inches (101 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Cleveland in the Autumn?

Both Cleveland and Atlantic City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Atlantic City for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Cleveland because of the shopping scene and the music scene.

In the autumn, Atlantic City is around the same temperature as Cleveland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Atlantic City in October average around 56°F (13°C), and Cleveland averages at about 56°F (13°C).

Atlantic City usually receives more sunshine than Cleveland during autumn. Atlantic City gets 197 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 165 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Atlantic City usually receives more rain than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.9 inches (49 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Cleveland in the Winter?

Both Cleveland and Atlantic City during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Atlantic City because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cleveland this time of year.

It's quite cold in Cleveland in the winter. The weather in Atlantic City can be very cold. In January, Atlantic City is generally much warmer than Cleveland. Daily temperatures in Atlantic City average around 31°F (-0°C), and Cleveland fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Atlantic City often gets more sunshine than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 146 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Cleveland receives 95 hours of full sun.

Atlantic City usually gets more rain in January than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 1.5 inches (39 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Atlantic City or Cleveland in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Atlantic City and Cleveland. The beaches are the main draw to Atlantic City this time of year.

Atlantic City is around the same temperature as Cleveland in the spring. The daily temperature in Atlantic City averages around 51°F (10°C) in April, and Cleveland fluctuates around 51°F (10°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Cleveland this time of the year. In Atlantic City, it's very sunny this time of the year. Atlantic City usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Cleveland during spring. Atlantic City gets 217 hours of sunny skies, while Cleveland receives 213 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Atlantic City usually receives more rain than Cleveland. Atlantic City gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Cleveland receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Cleveland and Atlantic City