A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Boise vs. Kamloops for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Boise or Kamloops?

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

Should I visit Boise or Kamloops? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Boise

Boise is a welcoming, authentic, and friendly city. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Boise travel costs.

Kamloops

Kamloops is a laid-back, outdoorsy, and nature-filled city. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Kamloops travel costs.

Boise and Kamloops: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Boise or Kamloops?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Kamloops than Boise. While Boise is larger than Kamloops, Kamloops has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Kamloops is more popular for its skiing, food, and hiking, while Boise is known for its museums and attractions. Boise is popular for its many outdoor and recreational activities. Kamloops is popular for its hiking trails, bike paths, and golf courses. It is also home to Sun Peaks Resort.

How is Boise different from Kamloops?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Skiing?

Kamloops is an excellent place to visit for skiing and snowboarding. However, Boise is not a skiing destination.

Kamloops draws a large crowd in the winter for its impressive snow skiing opportunities. There's a long ski season that runs from mid-November to mid-April. The region has two major ski resorts - Sun Peaks Resorts and Harper Mountain.

Boise is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Boise or Kamloops?

Boise is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

Boise offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Kamloops offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that highlight the local culture and the region's heritage.

Is the Food Better in Boise or Kamloops? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kamloops is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Kamloops is becoming an appealing option for foodies. You'll find restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. There are also international options like Jamaican, Indian, or Chinese.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Nightlife?

Both Boise and Kamloops have good vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Boise. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Kamloops has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find pubs, bars, breweries and night clubs around town that range in personality and style.

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Hiking?

Kamloops is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Boise is not a hiking destination.

Kamloops is a good destination for hiking. The area is filled with hiking trails that pass through grasslands, desert landscapes, and pine forests. There is something for every skill level.

Boise is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Boise or Kamloops?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Boise and Kamloops.

Boise has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Kamloops is a great destination for shopping. Downtown you'll find local boutiques and eclectic shops. You could also head to Aberdeen Mall for all of the major brands and recognizable stores.

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Families?

Kamloops is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Kamloops. There are great parks and outdoor spaces for kids as well as the Deep Creek Tool Museum, Westsyde Centennial Park and Petting Zoo, and Hells Gate Air Tram. You can also take a ride on the Kettle Valley Railway Steam Engine. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to either Kamloops Wildlife Park or Kangaroo Creek Farm.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Couples?

Kamloops is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Kamloops is a good city for couples to visit. The area is filled with great hikes and nice parks. There are also great restaurants that make for a good date night.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Boise or Kamloops Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find decent public transit in both Boise and Kamloops.

Public transit is mostly limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is generally limited in Kamloops. There is a bus system through the city.

Is Boise or Kamloops a more walkable city?

Boise and Kamloops are decent when it comes to walkability.

Boise is generally not a very walkable city. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

Kamloops is generally not very walkable. The downtown is the most walkable part of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Boise Worth Visiting? and Is Kamloops Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kamloops or Boise?

How long in Boise or Kamloops?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Boise or Kamloops to fill your time. In our opinion, Kamloops has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Kamloops than Boise. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Kamloops than Boise 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 Kamloops.

One day in Boise or Kamloops?

The city of Boise offers nightlife and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

In Kamloops, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this laid-back destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Boise or Kamloops?

Boise is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Boise, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kamloops. 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.

Five days in Boise or Kamloops?

Boise 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.

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

A week in Boise or Kamloops?

Boise is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

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

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Boise or Kamloops?

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