A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Bangor vs. Durango for Families, Attractions, Food, and Backpackers

Should you visit Bangor or Durango?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Bangor and Durango can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Bangor

Bangor is a laid back, welcoming, and friendly town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Bangor travel costs.

Durango

Durango is a scenic, nature-filled, and historic small town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Durango 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. See Durango travel costs.

Bangor and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bangor or Durango?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Durango than Bangor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Durango is better known for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Bangor is more popular for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Durango is more touristy than Bangor 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. Bangor is well known for its history as a lumber town.

How is Bangor different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Bangor or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a moderate small town for snow skiing. However, Bangor 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.

Bangor is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bangor or Durango?

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

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Bangor. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

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 Bangor or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bangor 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 Bangor. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

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 Bangor or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Bangor is a decent place to visit for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

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 Bangor or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a small town with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Durango offers a nice historic old town area. 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."

Bangor does not have a historic old town.

Is Bangor or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is a well-known place for the nearby hiking options. However, Bangor 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.

Bangor is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Bangor or Durango?

Bangor is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Bangor. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

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 Bangor or Durango More Beautiful?

Durango is a small town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Durango offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The town is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

Bangor is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bangor or Durango Better for Families?

Durango is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town 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.

Bangor is a family-friendly town. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Bangor or Durango Better for Couples?

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

Bangor is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

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 Bangor or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a small town with good options for backpackers. However, Bangor is not a good town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Durango is a good small town to visit for backpackers. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Bangor is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Budget accommodation is available, but most backpackers don't think the visit here.

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

Bangor 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 Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

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 Bangor or Durango a more walkable city?

Bangor is a good destination for its walkability. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

Bangor is somewhat walkable. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

Durango is generally not very walkable. 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 Bangor Worth Visiting? and Is Durango Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durango or Bangor?

How long in Bangor or Durango?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durango than Bangor 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 Bangor or Durango?

In Bangor, you'll find museums and food. This town offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Bangor or Durango?

In Bangor, 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 Bangor has to offer.

Durango is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Bangor or Durango?

Bangor 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.

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. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Bangor or Durango?

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

Durango is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This small town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, and The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Bangor or Durango?

Bangor has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Bangor 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.