A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Daytona Beach vs. Chapel Hill for Nightlife, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

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

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill? 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.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach is a energetic, lively, and fun beach city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include beaches, nightlife, and live music. See Daytona Beach travel costs.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a student-oriented, collegiate, and southern town. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Chapel Hill travel costs.

Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Daytona Beach. Although Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill are popular destinations, Daytona Beach has more sights and attractions for tourists. Daytona Beach is very popular for its nightlife, music, resorts, beaches, and big city activities, while Chapel Hill attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, and shopping. Daytona Beach is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is known for its spring break culture, wild parties, and the Daytona 500 NASCAR race. It is also well known for The Daytona International Speedway. Chapel Hill is famous for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States.

How is Daytona Beach different from Chapel Hill?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Chapel Hill is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

Chapel Hill offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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.

Daytona Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its 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.

Daytona Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. This beach is more about the parties and drinks than it is about the food.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Nightlife?

Daytona Beach is very popular for its evening party scene. Also, Chapel Hill is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Daytona Beach is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. Spring break is when the parties are at their peak. For the most active nightlife head to A1A from Ormond-by-the-Sea to Ponce Inlet, Main and Beach Streets, and Seabreeze Boulevard, ONE DAYTONA and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach, and Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach.

Many people head to Chapel Hill for the nightlife scene. 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.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Music?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for its music scene. However, Chapel Hill is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Daytona Beach is active and vibrant. You can see live music at the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Bandshell and The Roof.

Chapel Hill is not a live music destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Resorts?

Daytona Beach is a beach city with a few options for its resorts. However, Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

You might not think of Daytona Beach as a resort destination, but it has a few places. Many resorts in the area focus more on affordability than luxury. The oceanfront hotels usually have nice beachfront pools and rooms with balconies and oceanfront views. You'll pay a bit more for the waterfront rooms.

Chapel Hill is not a resort destination.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Beaches?

Daytona Beach is a popular place for the beach. However, Chapel Hill is not a beach destination.

Daytona Beach is a good option for a beach vacation. The city's beaches are lively and festive, so if you're looking for a beach with music, drinking, and partying, then this is your place. In the surrounding areas you'll find some quieter, more family-friendly beaches. It's also best to avoid the Spring Break crowds if you're hoping for a quieter and more family-friendly vacation.

Chapel Hill is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Chapel Hill to go 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.

Daytona Beach is a good destination for shopping. Souvenir shops and t-shirt shops are the main shopping you'll find in this area. The boardwalk is lined with gimmicky shops where you can pick up magnets or beach paraphernalia.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Families?

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its kid-friendly activities.

Chapel Hill is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Daytona Beach is not always a place people visit with their families. Although it's best avoided during spring break, Daytona with kids can be fun when the crowds aren't too bad. There are water parks, surfing lessons, and of course the beach. The restaurants are usually family-friendly as well with many offering kid's menus and early opening hours.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill make for a nice place to visit.

Daytona Beach is a good beach city for couples to visit. While romance isn't exactly what comes to mind when you first think of Daytona, couples who like to party and be out and about will enjoy a visit to Daytona Beach. There's plenty to do and some very great seafood restaurants in the area, so it's not hard to turn it into a couple's destination.

Chapel Hill is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill Better for Students?

Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill are both first-rate destinations for students and younger travelers.

Many students frequent Daytona Beach. It's one of the original Spring Break destinations, and the trend continues. If you're a student looking to cut loose, you'll find plenty of likeminded vacationers in the area, with many bars and hotels catering specifically to the younger crowd.

Students come from all over the world to visit Chapel Hill. 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.

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

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its public transit. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for times when you don't have a car.

Chapel Hill has a few public transit options. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Public transit is quite limited in Daytona Beach. There's limited transportation options around town so you really must have a private vehicle. If you've been out drinking, you can call a taxi or an Uber.

Is Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill a more walkable city?

Chapel Hill is a popular place for its ease of walking around. However, Daytona Beach is not a good beach city for its walkability.

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.

Daytona Beach is not a very walkable beach city. This area requires a car if you want to access restaurants, nightlife, or anything away from your hotel.

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

Should I spend more time in Chapel Hill or Daytona Beach?

How long in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Chapel Hill than in Daytona Beach. Usually, 7 days is a good amount of time for Daytona Beach, and 1-3 days is enough time in Chapel Hill.

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

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

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

One day in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the energetic beach city of Daytona Beach. Most people visit for the nightlife. 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.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the collegiate destination of Chapel Hill. 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.

A weekend in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

You'll find live music and nightlife around the energetic destination of Daytona Beach. This beach city offers something for everyone. A weekend may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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

Five days in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

The party-hard beach city of Daytona Beach offers nightlife and live music. 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.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the student-oriented destination of Chapel Hill. 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.

A week in Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Many people enjoy the live music and nightlife when visiting Daytona Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and shopping around the town of Chapel Hill. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill, we can see that Daytona Beach 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 Daytona Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Daytona Beach 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 Daytona Beach Expensive? and Is Chapel Hill Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Daytona Beach has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Chapel Hill. When comparing the sizes of Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill, 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 Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Daytona Beach and Chapel Hill. The summer months attract visitors to Daytona Beach because of the beaches, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year.

Daytona Beach is around the same temperature as Chapel Hill in the summer. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

Chapel Hill receives a lot of rain in the summer. Daytona Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Daytona Beach usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chapel Hill. Daytona Beach gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Daytona Beach as well as Chapel Hill. The city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene are the main draw to Daytona Beach this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Chapel Hill. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Daytona Beach in October average around 74°F (23°C), and Chapel Hill averages at about 61°F (16°C).

Daytona Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Daytona Beach usually gets more rain in October than Chapel Hill. Daytona Beach gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill in the Winter?

Both Chapel Hill and Daytona Beach are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Daytona Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Chapel Hill in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Chapel Hill can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Daytona Beach is generally much warmer than Chapel Hill. Daily temperatures in Daytona Beach average around 58°F (14°C), and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

In January, Daytona Beach usually receives less rain than Chapel Hill. Daytona Beach gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Daytona Beach or Chapel Hill in the Spring?

Both Chapel Hill and Daytona Beach during the spring are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Daytona Beach in the spring for the beaches and the activities around the city.

Daytona Beach is a little warmer than Chapel Hill in the spring. The daily temperature in Daytona Beach averages around 69°F (21°C) in April, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

Daytona Beach usually gets less rain in April than Chapel Hill. Daytona Beach gets 2.2 inches (57 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Chapel Hill and Daytona Beach