Which place is cheaper, Sacramento or Blue Ridge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Blue Ridge and Sacramento. 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.
Blue Ridge is a quaint, charming, and outdoorsy town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Blue Ridge is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the food, hiking, and shopping. See Blue Ridge travel costs.
Sacramento is a laid back, relaxed, and undiscovered city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Sacramento travel costs.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Blue Ridge. Although Blue Ridge and Sacramento are popular destinations, Blue Ridge has more sights and attractions for tourists. Blue Ridge is very popular for its food, hiking, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Sacramento attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Blue Ridge is more touristy than Sacramento and is known for its beautiful mountain setting, miles of hiking trails, and small town atmosphere. It is also well known for Chattahoochee National Forest. Sacramento is famous for its history and state capital.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sacramento and Blue Ridge. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Sacramento is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Blue Ridge is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Sacramento. As the state capital, you'll find a number of historical and informational museums around town. You should check out the State Capital, as well as the California State Railroad Museum, the Crocker Museum of Art, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, and the California Automobile Museum.
Blue Ridge offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. While you don't immediately think of museums in the area, there are a couple. The Dahlonega Gold Museum gives information on the gold rush and mining industry in town. In nearby Tennessee, Ducktown Basin Museum is a historic mine site that is open for tours.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for its restaurants. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
Blue Ridge has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find plenty of small town restaurants serving local dishes like barbecue, trout, and biscuits with gravy. Southern food is popular, but you'll also find plenty of breweries and wineries in the area. Head downtown for an assortment of options that include southern, vegan, and even international flavors.
There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sacramento area. Casual restaurants with laid back atmospheres are what's most common around town. You'll also find a variety of international cuisines that include Korean and Vietnamese.
The nice nightlife scene is relatively similar in Blue Ridge and Sacramento.
With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Blue Ridge. Head downtown for a mix of breweries, bars, and clubs where you'll find live music and a casual meal.
Sacramento has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There highest concentration of activities are found in Downtown Sacramento. You'll find bars, clubs and live music in the area. You can also head to midtown, which has performing arts and comedy shows.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Sacramento is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Blue Ridge. There are miles of hiking trails in the area that take you to waterfalls and viewpoints. The starting point of the Appalachian Trail is also nearby, and another popular trail is the Benton MacKaye Trail. Options range from beginner to expert with everything in between.
Sacramento is not a hiking destination.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping areas.
Blue Ridge is well-known for its shopping. You'll find artisan shops, art galleries, and boutique clothing vendors. Many places are concentrated in the charming downtown area, which is fun to explore for a day or two.
Many visitors go to Sacramento to go shopping. You'll find down-to-earth vendors who have reasonable prices and a great selection. Some of the most interesting shopping is found at the Old Sacramento Waterfront or along Folsom Boulevard.
Blue Ridge is a nice place to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Sacramento is not a destination known for its beauty.
Blue Ridge is a beautiful place to visit, too. There are plenty of hikes to waterfalls and scenic viewpoints. There's also a scenic railroad as well as places to kayak or go horseback riding.
Sacramento is not a destination known for its beauty.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Sacramento is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Blue Ridge is very family-friendly. Kids who enjoy hiking and playing outdoors will have fun here. There are waterfall hikes, fruit picking farms, and plenty of playgrounds. There's also a scenic railway and lots of places to sample treats.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Sacramento. With the large number of families that live in the area, you'll a variety of kid-friendly activities. Options include smaller amusement parks like Funderland Amusement Park, museums like the Sacramento Children's Museum, and indoor trampoline parks. There's also Fairytale Town, which is an imagination filled playground.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for couples.
Blue Ridge makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. If you're looking for a cozy retreat where you can relax in a cabin, take long walks through nature, and enjoy local food, then this is your place. There are plenty of bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and rustic cabins with fireplaces and simple pleasures. If you want to escape it all then the mountains are the place to be.
Sacramento is not always the best place to visit for a couple. Picnics, nice restaurants, and shows make for enjoyable date activities while you're in town.
Blue Ridge is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for backpackers.
Many backpackers visit Blue Ridge. There are a number of campgrounds in the area as well as plenty of hikes that backpackers will enjoy. Nearby you'll also find the start of the famed Appalachian Trail.
Sacramento is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although most backpackers skip this town for more popular destinations, there are a couple of hostels in town.
Sacramento is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Blue Ridge is lacking in good options for its public transit.
Public transit is mostly limited in Sacramento. There's both light rail and buses around town.
Public transit is limited or non-existant in Blue Ridge. There's no real public transportation system in the area.
Blue Ridge is a nice place to visit for its high level of walkability. However, Sacramento is lacking in good options for its ease of walking around.
Blue Ridge is a somewhat walkable place. While the downtown area is relatively walkable, if you want to hike and get out in nature, you'll need to have a car.
Sacramento is generally not very walkable. You'll really want a car to get around town, but Midtown is one of the more walkable areas.
For even more information, also check out Is Blue Ridge Worth Visiting? and Is Sacramento Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Blue Ridge or Sacramento to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Blue Ridge than Sacramento because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Blue Ridge, and 1-2 days is enough time in Sacramento.
Families should spend more time in Blue Ridge than Sacramento. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Blue Ridge, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Blue Ridge than Sacramento. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Blue Ridge that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Blue Ridge than Sacramento 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 Blue Ridge.
Blue Ridge might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.
With museums and nightlife around the relaxed city of Sacramento, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Sacramento, one day is sufficent for most.
Even though Blue Ridge is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.
With nightlife and food around the destination of Sacramento, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.
Blue Ridge, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Sacramento, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Blue Ridge is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
Sacramento is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in Blue Ridge is $150, while the average daily cost in Sacramento is $320. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Blue Ridge and Sacramento in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Blue Ridge or Sacramento? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Sacramento, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Sacramento and Blue Ridge change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
For Sacramento, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Blue Ridge, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Sacramento, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Also in Sacramento, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Blue Ridge and Sacramento, we can see that Sacramento is more expensive. And not only is Blue Ridge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Blue Ridge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Blue Ridge 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 Sacramento would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sacramento than you might in Blue Ridge.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Blue Ridge Expensive? and Is Sacramento Expensive?.
Sacramento has a larger population, and is about 400 times larger than the population of Blue Ridge. When comparing the sizes of Blue Ridge and Sacramento, 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.
Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Both Sacramento and Blue Ridge are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Blue Ridge in the summer for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Sacramento for the family-friendly experiences during these months.
In the summer, Blue Ridge is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the summer temperatures in Blue Ridge in July average around 81°F (27°C), and Sacramento averages at about 76°F (24°C).
It's quite sunny in Sacramento. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Blue Ridge. Blue Ridge usually receives less sunshine than Sacramento during summer. Blue Ridge gets 265 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 439 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Blue Ridge. In July, Blue Ridge usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 5.2 inches (131 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain each month for the summer.
Both Sacramento and Blue Ridge during the autumn are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Blue Ridge for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Sacramento because of the shopping scene.
In October, Blue Ridge is generally around the same temperature as Sacramento. Daily temperatures in Blue Ridge average around 63°F (17°C), and Sacramento fluctuates around 64°F (18°C).
In Sacramento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Blue Ridge. In the autumn, Blue Ridge often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 211 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 300 hours of full sun.
Blue Ridge usually gets more rain in October than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain this time of the year.
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Blue Ridge and Sacramento. The winter months attract visitors to Blue Ridge because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sacramento this time of year.
The weather in Blue Ridge can be very cold. Blue Ridge is much colder than Sacramento in the winter. The daily temperature in Blue Ridge averages around 40°F (5°C) in January, and Sacramento fluctuates around 45°F (7°C).
Blue Ridge usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sacramento during winter. Blue Ridge gets 145 hours of sunny skies, while Sacramento receives 149 hours of full sun in the winter.
Blue Ridge gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Blue Ridge usually receives more rain than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 3.8 inches (97 mm) of rain each month for the winter.
The spring brings many poeple to Blue Ridge as well as Sacramento. The small town charm and the natural beauty are the main draw to Blue Ridge this time of year.
In the spring, Blue Ridge is a little warmer than Sacramento. Typically, the spring temperatures in Blue Ridge in April average around 62°F (17°C), and Sacramento averages at about 58°F (15°C).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sacramento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Blue Ridge this time of the year. In the spring, Blue Ridge often gets less sunshine than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sacramento receives 328 hours of full sun.
Blue Ridge receives a lot of rain in the spring. Blue Ridge usually gets more rain in April than Sacramento. Blue Ridge gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Sacramento receives 1.3 inches (32 mm) of rain this time of the year.
Blue Ridge | Sacramento | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
Jan | 40°F (5°C) | 5.4 inches (137 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
Feb | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (132 mm) | 51°F (10°C) | 2.9 inches (73 mm) |
Mar | 53°F (12°C) | 5.6 inches (143 mm) | 54°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Apr | 62°F (17°C) | 4.4 inches (112 mm) | 58°F (15°C) | 1.3 inches (32 mm) |
May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.3 inches (7 mm) |
Jun | 78°F (25°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.1 inches (3 mm) |
Jul | 81°F (27°C) | 5.2 inches (131 mm) | 76°F (24°C) | 0 inches (1 mm) |
Aug | 80°F (27°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 75°F (24°C) | 0.1 inches (2 mm) |
Sep | 74°F (24°C) | 3.7 inches (94 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 0.5 inches (12 mm) |
Oct | 63°F (17°C) | 3 inches (75 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 1.1 inches (27 mm) |
Nov | 53°F (12°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 2.7 inches (68 mm) |
Dec | 44°F (7°C) | 5.2 inches (133 mm) | 45°F (7°C) | 2.6 inches (65 mm) |