A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Chapel Hill vs. Avon for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Chapel Hill or Avon?

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

Should I visit Chapel Hill or Avon? 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.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a collegiate, southern, and student-oriented town. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Chapel Hill travel costs.

Avon

Avon is a active, outdoorsy, and scenic town. Other popular activities here include food, hiking, and skiing. See Avon travel costs.

Chapel Hill and Avon: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chapel Hill or Avon?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Avon than Chapel Hill, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Avon is better known for its skiing, resorts, and hiking, while Chapel Hill is more popular for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and shopping. Avon is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is known for it's affordable accommodation options and its access to Beaver Creek Ski Resort. Also, Avon is famous for Avon Recreation Center. Chapel Hill is well known for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States.

How is Chapel Hill different from Avon?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Skiing?

Avon is well known for winter skiing. However, Chapel Hill is not a skiing destination.

Avon is a well-known ski destination which attracts visitors from far and wide. Beaver Creek is the main ski area near town and it's about a mile away. The town of Avon is below Beaver Creek and is located beside an interstate.

Chapel Hill is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Chapel Hill or Avon?

Chapel Hill is notable for its sights and museums. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its museums and history.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Chapel Hill. Many of the museums are affiliated with UNC. A highlight of many trips is a visit to the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center. Hours can vary, so check the schedule ahead of time. Also worth visiting are the Ackland Art Museum and the Carolina Basketball Museum.

While most people don't head to Avon specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. While there aren't a ton of museums in the area, it's worth checking out the Walking Mountains Science Center.

Is the Food Better in Chapel Hill or Avon? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Chapel Hill and Avon offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chapel Hill area. Students often eat on Franklin Street, which has a diverse mix of casual and slightly nicer restaurants. You'll find Indian food, Mediterranean, Italian, and Greek. The city also has excellent barbecue and other southern favorites.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Avon. There are casual eateries where you can grab a bite to eat, whether you're in the mood for Chinese, pizza, or burgers.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Nightlife?

Chapel Hill is notable for nightlife. Also, Avon is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Chapel Hill has plenty to do after the sun goes down. Most of the nightlife is centered around the student population. Franklin Street has a number of bars where students hang out. There are also parties hosted by fraternities and sororities. Things are quieter during the summer months when students are mostly gone.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Avon. It's a small town but there are some bars and lively pubs where you can enjoy cold drinks.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Resorts?

Avon is a popular place for its resorts. However, Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Avon has a few great resort options. There are the typical chain resort options, many with beautiful mountain views.

Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Hiking?

Avon is a popular place for its hiking experiences. However, Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

Avon is a good destination for hiking. There are paved trails and recreational paths through town that are great for both hiking and biking. The main ones are Eagle Valley Trail and the trails in West Avon Preserve.

Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Chapel Hill or Avon?

Chapel Hill is a good destination for shopping. However, Avon is a mediocre town for its shopping opportunities.

Chapel Hill is a great destination for shopping. There are a mix of local shops, larger shopping centers, and suburban malls. There are also weekly farmer's markets that are fun to check out.

If you're looking to go shopping, Avon has some nice offerings. There aren't a ton of shopping opportunities in town, but there are enough shops around in case you need to pick up necessities or buy a gift.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Chapel Hill or Avon.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Chapel Hill. You can wander around the UNC campus or visit one of the museums affiliated with the school. This includes a planetarium that has regular shows and movies (The Morehead Planetarium and Science Center). There are also science exhibits geared specifically towards kids.

Avon offers lots of family activities. There are parks and playgrounds around town and there's easy access to the Beaver Creek Ski Resort. There's also plenty of hiking in the area.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Chapel Hill and Avon make for a notable place to visit.

Chapel Hill is a good town for couples to visit. There's an eclectic mix of restaurants on Franklin Street. Couples will also enjoy exploring the campus at UNC, visiting the botanical garden, or checking out one of the town's museums.

Avon is a nice destination for couples. While avid skiers prefer to stay at nearby Beaver Creek, the town of Avon offers a good alternative.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Students?

Chapel Hill is a must-visit destination for students. However, Avon is not popular with students.

Chapel Hill is a very popular place to visit for students. It's a quintessential college town. UNC has a nice campus and Franklin Street is the main spot for restaurants and shopping. Most of the students live near or on campus, but once you head further out things get more suburban.

Avon is not popular with students.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Chapel Hill and Avon.

You'll find some public transit in Chapel Hill, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

While Avon offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are shuttles and buses that travel through town and to Beaver Creek.

Is Chapel Hill or Avon a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill and Avon both are notable when exploring on foot.

Chapel Hill is a somewhat walkable town. The area around UNC is the most walkable part of town. Elsewhere things are very suburban and you'll need a car.

Avon is somewhat walkable. The town center is small and there are paved walking trails that you can use. It's possible to walk to restaurants or the recreation center, depending on where you're staying.

For even more information, also check out Is Chapel Hill Worth Visiting? and Is Avon Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Avon or Chapel Hill?

How long in Chapel Hill or Avon?

It's fun to spend time in either Chapel Hill or Avon. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Avon due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Chapel Hill, and 2-4 days is enough time in Avon.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Chapel Hill than Avon 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 Chapel Hill.

One day in Chapel Hill or Avon?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Chapel Hill. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Visitors enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the scenic town of Avon. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Chapel Hill or Avon?

Chapel Hill is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the active destination of Avon. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Chapel Hill or Avon?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the southern destination of Chapel Hill. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The active town of Avon offers food and skiing. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Chapel Hill or Avon?

The southern town of Chapel Hill offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Many people enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting Avon. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Chapel Hill or Avon?

Chapel Hill has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Avon. When comparing the sizes of Chapel Hill and Avon, 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.