A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cape Canaveral vs. Durham for Attractions, Families, Couples, and Food

Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Durham?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Durham, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Cape Canaveral

Cape Canaveral is a fascinating, wonder-filled, and unique town. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and shopping. See Cape Canaveral travel costs.

Durham

Durham is a diverse, student-filled, and sports oriented city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Durham travel costs.

Cape Canaveral and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Cape Canaveral. Although Cape Canaveral and Durham are popular destinations, Cape Canaveral has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cape Canaveral is very popular for its museums and attractions, resorts, and beaches, while Durham attracts visitors for its nightlife. Cape Canaveral is more touristy than Durham and is popular for being the location of the Kennedy Space Center and at the heart of space exploration in the United States. It is also well known for The Kennedy Space Center. Durham is famous for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Cape Canaveral different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Cape Canaveral is an amazing town to visit for its sights and museums. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Cape Canaveral on the map. The area has become synonymous with the Kennedy Space Center. Visitors head to the Space Coast to see the museums, learn about the space program, or possibly even see a rocket launch. The attractions are world class and offer a truly unique glimpse into the evolution of space travel.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Durham can be an interesting and educational experience. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

Is the Food Better in Cape Canaveral or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Cape Canaveral and Durham can be an enjoyable experience.

Cape Canaveral is becoming an appealing option for foodies. It's a small town but there's no shortage of excellent seafood in the area. Many restaurants have outdoor seating and patios that let you take advantage of the Florida sunshine. You'll find crab, mussels, shrimp, and clams on many menus around town.

Durham offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Durham is a nice place to visit for its evening party scene. However, Cape Canaveral is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Durham has a few options to choose from. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Most people don't head to Cape Canaveral specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The area isn't known for its nightlife scene, but there are enough places that you can go out for a good meal and drink.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Resorts?

Cape Canaveral is very good for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

Cape Canaveral has a few great resort options. There are a number of resorts in the area that attract visitors. Some of the most popular are the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Resort and the Radisson Resort.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Beaches?

Cape Canaveral is very good for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Cape Canaveral to enjoy the beach. You'll likely want to head to the Cocoa Beach area for the best beaches. Jetty Park Beach and Pier is one of the most popular nearby areas for fishing and camping, but visitors must purchase a pass. Other popular beaches include Playalinda Beach and Cherie Down Park.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

If you're looking to go shopping, Cape Canaveral and Durham both offer plenty of nice spots.

Cape Canaveral has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are some nice local shopping areas around town. For a little retail therapy, head to Banana River Square, White Rose Shopping Center, or Belair Courtyard.

Durham is a great destination for shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Families?

Cape Canaveral is an amazing town to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Cape Canaveral is one of the most popular family destinations. What sets this area apart is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. There are many kid-friendly activities that outer space enthusiasts will love. Planet Play is a highlight, and if your timing is right, you might even see a rocket launch. In addition to the Kennedy Space Center, the area is a quintessential beach town. There are parks and outdoor areas as well as places where kids can interact with animals.

Durham is a family-friendly town. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Couples?

Cape Canaveral is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Cape Canaveral is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful Florida beaches, combined with the unique opportunity to visit the Kennedy Space Center, make this a fascinating couple's destination. There are also many nice restaurants and great places to relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Cape Canaveral is not popular with students.

Durham is a great city to visit as a student. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Cape Canaveral is not popular with students.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Durham is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Cape Canaveral is not known for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Cape Canaveral. There are very limited public transportation options, but there are a few shuttle buses and SCAT (the Space Coast Area Transit). Route 9 travels from Cocoa to Port Canaveral with service available Monday through Saturday.

Is Cape Canaveral or Durham a more walkable city?

Durham is adequate for its ease of walking around. However, Cape Canaveral is not known for its walkability.

Durham is generally not a very walkable city. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

Cape Canaveral is not a walkable town. It's not a walkable area, which can be particularly challenging if you're arriving by cruise ship.

For even more information, also check out Is Cape Canaveral Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Cape Canaveral?

How long in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

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

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durham than Cape Canaveral 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 Durham.

One day in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the destination of Cape Canaveral. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

In Durham, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Cape Canaveral is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Durham is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Five days in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Cape Canaveral. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durham. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the iconic destination of Cape Canaveral. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Durham. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cape Canaveral or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Cape Canaveral. When comparing the sizes of Cape Canaveral and Durham, 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 Cape Canaveral or Durham?

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 Cape Canaveral or Durham in the Summer?

Both Durham and Cape Canaveral during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Cape Canaveral for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Durham because of the family-friendly experiences.

Cape Canaveral is around the same temperature as Durham in the summer. The daily temperature in Cape Canaveral averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Durham fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral usually gets more rain in July than Durham. Cape Canaveral gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Canaveral and Durham. The autumn months attract visitors to Cape Canaveral because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

In the autumn, Cape Canaveral is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cape Canaveral in October average around 74°F (24°C), and Durham averages at about 61°F (16°C).

Cape Canaveral gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Durham. Cape Canaveral gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Cape Canaveral is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Durham in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cape Canaveral as well as Durham. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Cape Canaveral this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Durham for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Durham. In January, Cape Canaveral is generally much warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Cape Canaveral average around 60°F (15°C), and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Cape Canaveral usually gets less rain in January than Durham. Cape Canaveral gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Cape Canaveral are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Cape Canaveral for the beaches.

Cape Canaveral is a little warmer than Durham in the spring. The daily temperature in Cape Canaveral averages around 70°F (21°C) in April, and Durham fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

In April, Cape Canaveral usually receives less rain than Durham. Cape Canaveral gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Cape Canaveral is June to November.

Typical Weather for Durham and Cape Canaveral