A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Avon vs. Banff for Skiing, Hiking, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Avon or Banff?

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 Avon and Banff. 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.

Avon

Avon is a scenic, active, and outdoorsy town. And you can't forget about the skiing, nightlife, and food. See Avon travel costs.

Banff

Banff is a scenic, outdoorsy, and sporty town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and hiking. See Banff travel costs.

Avon and Banff: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Avon or Banff?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Banff. Although Avon and Banff are popular destinations, Banff has more sights and attractions for tourists. Banff is very popular for its skiing, food, nightlife, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Avon attracts visitors for its museums and attractions and resorts. Avon is famous for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Banff is famous for its stunning beauty, pristine nature, and nearby lakes. It is also well known for Lake Louise.

How is Avon different from Banff?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Avon or Banff Better for Skiing?

Banff is a must-visit destination for snow skiing. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for skiing and snowboarding.

Banff is a top destination for snow skiing, and it attracts visitors from around the world. The town makes a great base for experiencing the three nearby ski resorts: Banff Sunshine, The Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt Norquay. You can purchase a SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and experience the area's best skiing. There's a long ski season and a stunning setting within the Canadian Rockies.

Visitors travel far to experience snow skiing in Avon. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Avon or Banff?

Avon is a moderate town for its sights and museums. However, Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Avon offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

Banff does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Avon or Banff? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Banff is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Banff makes for a great culinary experience. The downtown has bistros, taverns, and many casual eateries. For a more fine dining experience, you can go to one of the luxury hotels, which have nice dining areas. Throughout town you'll find classic Canadian food like poutine, as well as pizza and bar food.

Avon has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Nightlife?

Banff is notable for nightlife. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Banff has plenty to do after the sun goes down. It's a great town for partying and it's compact and easy to barhop if you want. For the town's size, you'll find a huge number of bars and breweries to choose from, and there's always something going on.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Avon. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Resorts?

Avon is a popular place for its resorts. However, Banff is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Avon makes a nice vacation spot. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Banff is not a resort destination.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Hiking?

Banff is a must-visit destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its hiking trails.

Banff is well-known for its hiking and trekking. The town is set within Banff National Park, and is surrounded by world class hiking. There are more than 1,000 miles of trails that wander alongside rivers, lead to waterfalls, or climb mountain peaks. You may also see local wildlife.

Avon is a good destination for hiking. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Is the Shopping Better in Avon or Banff?

Banff is a good destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Banff is a great destination for shopping. There are tons of downtown shops that sell local items, art, sports gear, or clothing.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Avon or Banff More Beautiful?

Banff is notable for its scenery and beauty. However, Avon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Banff is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. The dramatic Rocky Mountains and stunning natural beauty make this an iconic and beautiful destination.

Avon is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Families?

Banff is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Banff is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the low key hikes like Tunnel Mountain hike. There's also the Banff Gondola and several playgrounds in downtown Banff. For adventure activities, check out the Golden Skybridge or Lake Louise.

Avon is a family-friendly town. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Couples?

Banff is a must-visit destination for romance. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its romantic activities.

Banff is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. It's a beautiful destination for a honeymoon or anniversary trip. There are countless hikes and stunning natural beauty. There are also spas, horseback riding, and many great restaurants.

Avon makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Banff is notable for backpackers. However, Avon is a mediocre town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Banff. There are a couple of hostels around town and plenty of natural beauty that appeals to backpackers.

Avon is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers prefer to stay closer to the ski facilities.

Is Avon or Banff Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Avon and Banff offer nice public transit options.

Avon has a few public transit options. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

Banff has some public transit options. There's a bus system, Roam, that connects the towns of Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.

Is Avon or Banff a more walkable city?

Banff is notable for its walkability. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its high level of walkability.

Banff is very walkable. The downtown is very walkable and there are trailheads nearby as well.

Avon is a somewhat walkable place. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

For even more information, also check out Is Avon Worth Visiting? and Is Banff Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Banff or Avon?

How long in Avon or Banff?

In either Avon or Banff, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Banff than Avon because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Avon, and 2-5 days is enough time in Banff.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Banff than Avon 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 Banff.

One day in Avon or Banff?

In Avon, many people enjoy the skiing and nightlife that this scenic destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Banff is a small town where visitors enjoy the nightlife and food. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Avon or Banff?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Avon. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Banff is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

Five days in Avon or Banff?

Avon is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and skiing when visiting the destination of Avon. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Banff might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Avon or Banff?

You'll find skiing and nightlife around the outdoorsy destination of Avon. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Because Banff is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Avon or Banff?

Banff has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Avon and Banff, 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.