A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Cocoa Beach vs. Pasadena for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Cocoa Beach and Pasadena. 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.

Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach is a adventurous, fun-filled, and relaxing beach town. Other popular activities here include food, beaches, and shopping. See Cocoa Beach travel costs.

Pasadena

Pasadena is a quaint, charming, and picturesque city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Pasadena travel costs.

Cocoa Beach and Pasadena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Cocoa Beach. Although Cocoa Beach and Pasadena are popular destinations, Cocoa Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Cocoa Beach is very popular for its resorts and beaches, while Pasadena attracts visitors for its nightlife and shopping. Cocoa Beach is more touristy than Pasadena and is popular for its wonderful surfing waves and its proximity to the Kennedy Space Center. It is also well known for the Kennedy Space Center. Pasadena is famous for being the home of the Tournament of Roses and the Rose Bowl.

How is Cocoa Beach different from Pasadena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

You'll find a number of excellent museums and attractions in both Pasadena and Cocoa Beach.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Cocoa Beach. The town's proximity to the Kennedy Space Center is a big appeal for space enthusiasts. It's easy to take advantage of the great beaches and then spend a day exploring the space center. Also in town is the Florida Surf Museum.

Pasadena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a good number of museums around town that include kids' museums, art museums, and local museums. Popular museums include the USC Pacific Asia Museum, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Pasadena Museum of History. Many people also enjoy touring the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Is the Food Better in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Cocoa Beach and Pasadena offer excellent local cuisine and restaurants.

Cocoa Beach has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. Seafood is the obvious choice in this beach town. Head to Westgate Cocoa Beach Pier for some great restaurants. In addition to seafood options, you'll find steakhouses, bistros, and pizza shops.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Pasadena makes for a great culinary experience. Local restaurants feature southern California cuisine as well as international flavors. Dishes often use local ingredients that are fresh and seasonal. Restaurants range from casual to fine dining and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Nightlife?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its evening party scene. Also, Cocoa Beach is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Pasadena has a large number of nightlife venues. Much of the nightlife scene is concentrated around Old Pasadena. You'll find clubs, bars, and lounges that begin the evening with Happy Hours and then become more party-focused as the evening progresses.

Cocoa Beach has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a number of casual pubs, bars, and grills around town where you can grab a drink in a relaxed setting.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Resorts?

Cocoa Beach is a good destination for its resorts. However, Pasadena is not a resort destination.

Cocoa Beach has a few great resort options. There are casual and family-friendly resorts in the area that make for a nice beach vacation.

Pasadena is not a resort destination.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Beaches?

Cocoa Beach is notable for the beach. However, Pasadena is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Cocoa Beach for it's beautiful beaches. There are long stretches of sand that are great for swimming, surfing, water sports, or just relaxing in the sun. The most popular area is around Cocoa Beach Pier. For family-friendly, head to James H. Nance Park which also has a playground. If you have a dog, Canova Beach Park is your best option.

Pasadena is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Pasadena is a very popular place for its shopping areas. Also, Cocoa Beach is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Pasadena. Old Pasadena is where you'll find some of the best shopping. It's filled with a charming atmosphere and interesting boutiques.

Cocoa Beach is a great destination for shopping. You'll find lots of great local shops as well as malls and beach stores where you can pick up everything you need.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Families?

Cocoa Beach is an amazing beach town to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

With a huge array of activities for kids, Cocoa Beach is very family-friendly. It's right by the Kennedy Space Center, which is a great excursion for kids and adults alike. There's also the Brevard Zoo, amazing beaches, and great parks where the kids can run around.

Pasadena is a family-friendly beach town. There are a number of kid-friendly museums around town including Kidspace Children's Museum. There are also nature centers, playgrounds, and plenty of family-friendly restaurants.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Couples?

Cocoa Beach is notable for couples. Also, Pasadena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Cocoa Beach is a very popular place to visit for couples. Beautiful beaches, fun outdoor activities, and great date night activities make this a wonderful couples destination.

Pasadena is a nice destination for couples. It's a charming town with a bit of a European vibe and plenty of outdoor activities. Fine dining and interesting shopping make this a nice weekend destination.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find nice public transit in both Cocoa Beach and Pasadena.

Cocoa Beach has some public transit options. You can hop on the Cocoa Beach Trolley to access many sights in the area. It's a service provided by the Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT).

You'll find some public transit in Pasadena, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Buses and light rail offer local transit and connect the city to nearby Los Angeles.

Is Cocoa Beach or Pasadena a more walkable city?

Cocoa Beach and Pasadena are nice when it comes to walkability.

Cocoa Beach is a somewhat walkable beach town. For the most walkable areas stay near the town center. In general, you'll want to have a car to access most of what the area has to offer though.

Pasadena is somewhat walkable. Most people head to Old Pasadena, which is the most concentrated and walkable part of the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Cocoa Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Pasadena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Pasadena or Cocoa Beach?

How long in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Cocoa Beach and Pasadena. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Cocoa Beach than in Pasadena. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Cocoa Beach, and 1-3 days is enough time in Pasadena.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Pasadena than Cocoa Beach 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 Pasadena.

One day in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

The beach town of Cocoa Beach offers food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the picturesque city of Pasadena. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Cocoa Beach is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this beach town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cocoa Beach, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the quaint destination of Pasadena. This city 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 Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Cocoa Beach is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Cocoa Beach, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

The charming city of Pasadena offers shopping and museums. 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 Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Cocoa Beach is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This beach town offers something for everyone.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Pasadena. 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 Northern Lights Tours in Alaska, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

Pasadena has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Cocoa Beach. When comparing the sizes of Cocoa Beach and Pasadena, 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 Cocoa Beach or Pasadena?

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 Cocoa Beach or Pasadena in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Cocoa Beach as well as Pasadena. The summer months attract visitors to Cocoa Beach because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pasadena this time of year.

Cocoa Beach is a little warmer than Pasadena in the summer. The daily temperature in Cocoa Beach averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Pasadena fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Cocoa Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Cocoa Beach usually gets more rain in July than Pasadena. Cocoa Beach gets 8.3 inches (211 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Pasadena in the Autumn?

Both Pasadena and Cocoa Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Cocoa Beach this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Pasadena for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Cocoa Beach is a little warmer than Pasadena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Cocoa Beach in October average around 77°F (25°C), and Pasadena averages at about 68°F (20°C).

It's quite rainy in Cocoa Beach. In October, Cocoa Beach usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Cocoa Beach gets 4.1 inches (103 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.3 inches (7 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Cocoa Beach is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Pasadena in the Winter?

Both Pasadena and Cocoa Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Cocoa Beach for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Pasadena in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In January, Cocoa Beach is generally a little warmer than Pasadena. Daily temperatures in Cocoa Beach average around 63°F (17°C), and Pasadena fluctuates around 56°F (13°C).

Cocoa Beach usually gets less rain in January than Pasadena. Cocoa Beach gets 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 2.5 inches (63 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Cocoa Beach or Pasadena in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Cocoa Beach and Pasadena. Many visitors come to Cocoa Beach in the spring for the beaches.

Cocoa Beach is a little warmer than Pasadena in the spring. The daily temperature in Cocoa Beach averages around 73°F (23°C) in April, and Pasadena fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In April, Cocoa Beach usually receives more rain than Pasadena. Cocoa Beach gets 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain, while Pasadena receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Cocoa Beach is June to November.

Typical Weather for Pasadena and Cocoa Beach