A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cape Canaveral vs. Santa Barbara for Attractions, Beaches, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara, 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.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a stunning, wealthy, and opulent coastal town. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Many visitors also come to Santa Barbara because of it's amazing beauty. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Cape Canaveral and Santa Barbara: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara. Although Cape Canaveral and Santa Barbara are popular destinations, Santa Barbara has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Barbara is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, historical sights, hiking, shopping, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Cape Canaveral attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Cape Canaveral is famous for being the location of the Kennedy Space Center and at the heart of space exploration in the United States. Santa Barbara is famous for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. It is also well known for The Old Mission Santa Barbara.

How is Cape Canaveral different from Santa Barbara?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara?

Cape Canaveral is renowned for its sights and museums. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town 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.

Many visitors head to Santa Barbara specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

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

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Cape Canaveral is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Barbara has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

Cape Canaveral offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Nightlife?

Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara has a few options to choose from. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

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 Santa Barbara Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its luxury resorts. Also, Cape Canaveral is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its resorts.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Cape Canaveral has a handful of resorts to choose from. 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.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Cape Canaveral is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Cape Canaveral is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for the beach. Also, Cape Canaveral is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its beaches.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Cape Canaveral. 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.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Cape Canaveral does not have a historic old town.

Santa Barbara has an old town worth visiting. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Cape Canaveral does not have a historic old town.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for hiking. However, Cape Canaveral is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Cape Canaveral is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Cape Canaveral is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many people travel to Santa Barbara specifically to go shopping. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Cape Canaveral is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Cape Canaveral is not a destination known for its beauty.

Many visitors also come to Santa Barbara because of it's amazing beauty. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

Cape Canaveral is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Families?

Cape Canaveral is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Santa Barbara is not as famous, but is still a good coastal town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Cape Canaveral is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Santa Barbara is a very family-friendly destination. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Cape Canaveral is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

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.

Is Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its student-friendly activities. However, Cape Canaveral is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town to visit as a student. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Cape Canaveral is not popular with students.

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

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Cape Canaveral is not known for its public transit.

While Santa Barbara offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

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 Santa Barbara a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town for its ease of walking around. However, Cape Canaveral is not known for its walkability.

Santa Barbara is a very walkable destination. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

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 Santa Barbara Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Barbara or Cape Canaveral?

How long in Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cape Canaveral and Santa Barbara. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Barbara than Cape Canaveral. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Cape Canaveral, and 2-3 days is enough time in Santa Barbara.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the fascinating destination of Cape Canaveral. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Santa Barbara, you'll find museums and nightlife. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

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. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Santa Barbara is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. 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 Santa Barbara?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the unique destination of Cape Canaveral. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Santa Barbara. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Santa Barbara?

You'll find museums and food around the town of Cape Canaveral. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the coastal town of Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Santa Barbara, we can see that Cape Canaveral is more expensive. And not only is Santa Barbara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Barbara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara.

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 Santa Barbara Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Cape Canaveral. When comparing the sizes of Cape Canaveral and Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara?

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 Santa Barbara in the Summer?

Both Santa Barbara and Cape Canaveral during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Cape Canaveral in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Cape Canaveral is a little warmer than Santa Barbara in the summer. The daily temperature in Cape Canaveral averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 65°F (19°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Cape Canaveral. Cape Canaveral usually gets more rain in July than Santa Barbara. Cape Canaveral gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Cape Canaveral and Santa Barbara. Most visitors come to Cape Canaveral for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Cape Canaveral is a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cape Canaveral in October average around 74°F (24°C), and Santa Barbara averages at about 62°F (17°C).

Cape Canaveral gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Cape Canaveral gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Cape Canaveral is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Cape Canaveral as well as Santa Barbara. The winter months attract visitors to Cape Canaveral because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Santa Barbara this time of year.

In January, Cape Canaveral is generally a little warmer than Santa Barbara. Daily temperatures in Cape Canaveral average around 60°F (15°C), and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

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

Should I visit Cape Canaveral or Santa Barbara in the Spring?

Both Santa Barbara and Cape Canaveral are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches are the main draw to Cape Canaveral this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

Cape Canaveral is much warmer than Santa Barbara in the spring. The daily temperature in Cape Canaveral averages around 70°F (21°C) in April, and Santa Barbara fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

In April, Cape Canaveral usually receives more rain than Santa Barbara. Cape Canaveral gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Santa Barbara receives 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Cape Canaveral is June to November.

Typical Weather for Santa Barbara and Cape Canaveral