A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Columbus vs. Bangor for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Columbus or Bangor?

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

Should I visit Columbus or Bangor? 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.

Columbus

Columbus is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Columbus travel costs.

Bangor

Bangor is a laid back, welcoming, and friendly town. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Bangor travel costs.

Columbus and Bangor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Columbus or Bangor?

Both Bangor and Columbus have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Columbus is better known for its nightlife, while Bangor is more popular for its food and small town charm. Columbus is well known for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene. Bangor is well known for its history as a lumber town.

How is Columbus different from Bangor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Columbus or Bangor?

Spend time exploring the notable sights and museums in either Columbus or Bangor.

Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.

Bangor offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

Is the Food Better in Columbus or Bangor? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bangor is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Bangor. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Columbus. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.

Is Columbus or Bangor Better for Nightlife?

Columbus is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Bangor is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Bangor. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Columbus or Bangor?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Columbus and Bangor.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Columbus. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.

Bangor offers some nice shopping areas. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Is Columbus or Bangor Better for Families?

Columbus is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bangor is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Columbus is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.

Bangor is a family-friendly city. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

Is Columbus or Bangor Better for Couples?

Neither Columbus or Bangor is generally regarded as a top spot for a couple to visit.

Columbus is not the best destination for a couple to visit. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.

Most people don't think of Bangor as a couple's destination. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

Is Columbus or Bangor Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find respectable public transit in both Columbus and Bangor.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.

Public transit is generally limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

Is Columbus or Bangor a more walkable city?

Columbus and Bangor are notable when it comes to walkability.

Columbus is somewhat walkable. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.

Bangor is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Bangor Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bangor or Columbus?

How long in Columbus or Bangor?

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

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

One day in Columbus or Bangor?

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

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

A weekend in Columbus or Bangor?

Columbus is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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

Five days in Columbus or Bangor?

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

Bangor 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.

A week in Columbus or Bangor?

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

Bangor 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 town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Columbus or Bangor?

Columbus has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Bangor. When comparing the sizes of Columbus and Bangor, 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 Columbus or Bangor?

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 Columbus or Bangor in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Columbus as well as Bangor. Many visitors come to Columbus in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Columbus is generally a little warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 77°F (25°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

Columbus receives a lot of rain in the summer. Columbus usually gets more rain in July than Bangor. Columbus gets 4.4 inches (112 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbus or Bangor in the Autumn?

Both Bangor and Columbus are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Columbus for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Bangor because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

Columbus is much warmer than Bangor in the autumn. The daily temperature in Columbus averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Bangor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In October, Columbus usually receives less rain than Bangor. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Columbus or Bangor in the Winter?

Both Bangor and Columbus during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Columbus because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bangor this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bangor in the winter. The weather in Columbus can be very cold. In the winter, Columbus is much warmer than Bangor. Typically, the winter temperatures in Columbus in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Bangor averages at about 18°F (-8°C).

Columbus usually gets less rain in January than Bangor. Columbus gets 2.2 inches (56 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Columbus or Bangor in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Columbus and Bangor. Also, many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm.

In April, Columbus is generally much warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in Columbus average around 54°F (12°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

In April, Columbus usually receives around the same amount of rain as Bangor. Columbus gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Bangor and Columbus