A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Detroit vs. Moab for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Detroit or Moab?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Detroit or Moab, 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.

Detroit

Detroit is a under-rated, hardworking, and overlooked city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Detroit travel costs.

Moab

Moab is a active, scenic, and adventurous town. Moab is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the hiking and shopping. See Moab travel costs.

Detroit and Moab: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Detroit or Moab?

Both Moab and Detroit have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Detroit is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Moab attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Moab is more touristy than Detroit and is known for its desert landscapes and the iconic arches found at Arches National Park. Detroit is famous for its Motown music, blue collar atmosphere, and influential auto industry.

How is Detroit different from Moab?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Detroit or Moab?

Detroit is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Moab is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

Detroit is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Historical Museum, and the Michigan Science Center.

Moab offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that will teach you about the geology and history. You can pop in the Moab Museum or the Film Museum at Red Cliffs Ranch, as well as the galleries around town.

Is the Food Better in Detroit or Moab? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Detroit is a popular place for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Moab is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Detroit. There's a local flavor to the food with a number of classic dishes that are popular like square pizza, Coney dogs, and corned beef egg rolls.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Moab. The town has grown over the years and now you'll find a diverse selection of restaurants that serve decent food. There are steakhouses, pizzerias, and even a couple ice cream shops.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Nightlife?

Detroit is great for nightlife. However, Moab is not a good destination for nightlife and partying.

Many people head to Detroit for the nightlife scene. It's long history in music still influences the nightlife scene. You'll find bars, clubs, and other activities around town. Greektown and Midtown are both popular neighborhoods during the evening.

Most people don't head to Moab specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The town has grown significantly and you'll find bars, taverns, and breweries where you can hang out in the evening, but it's still a quiet place with a laid back atmosphere.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Music?

Detroit is very popular for live music. However, Moab is not a live music destination.

Detroit is known as a music capital around the world. Few cities have such an influential music industry. It's home to Motown and is well known for its soul music, jazz, blues, and rap.

Moab is not a live music destination.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Hiking?

Moab is an unbeatable place for its hiking trails. However, Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Known for its hiking, Moab draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. The area is filled with hiking trails, both inside the nearby national parks as well as outside. Canyonlands National Park is large with impressive overlooks, while Arches National Park has fun hikes that take you by diverse arches and include many opportunities for scrambling. Outside of the park, hikers can visit Corona Arch or search for dinosaur footprints at Dinosaur Tracks Trail.

Detroit is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Detroit or Moab?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Detroit and Moab.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Detroit. There are several shopping streets like Woodward Avenue. There are also outlet malls, shopping centers, and Eastern Market.

Many visitors go to Moab to go shopping. There are gift shops, places to buy outdoor equipment, and convenient stores around town. There are also a number of art galleries that sell local items or impressive photography.

Is Detroit or Moab More Beautiful?

Moab is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Detroit is not a destination known for its beauty.

Moab is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The desert landscapes and unique geological features make this a fascinating and beautiful area to explore. The dramatic arches in Arches National Park tell a unique story of how the geology of the area has changed.

Detroit is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Families?

Moab is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Detroit is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Moab is very family-friendly. It's a world of outdoor adventures. You'll find river rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and many kid-friendly trails. There's also the Tracks Museum, where kids can learn about dinosaurs as well as swimming pools or swimming holes in the area.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Detroit. Head to the Detroit Zoo or check out one of the amusement parks in the area. Kids will enjoy a visit to Legoland and there's also the Sea Life Michigan Aquarium. You could also spend some time visiting the unique museums in the area.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Couples?

Moab is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for couples.

Moab makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area is filled with adventurous fun, with everything from world-class hikes to impressive rafting trips. The dramatic landscape provides the backdrop for a truly spectacular trip.

Detroit is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's not a city that usually brings to mind romance, but if you find yourself here for a couple of days, there's a RiverWalk area and some interesting local neighborhoods.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Moab is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Detroit is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Moab. The town has many campgrounds and even a few hostels. Arches National Park has only a few backcountry overnight camping sites. Terrain is rough and most areas aren't accessible by trail.

Detroit is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels in the area, but this is still an often overlooked city.

Is Detroit or Moab Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Detroit is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Moab is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Detroit. There's a streetcar and bus system, but the car is still king in Motor City.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Moab. There are efforts to create a transportation program within town, but there are limited transportation options available. If you book a tour, they usually provide transportation.

Is Detroit or Moab a more walkable city?

Detroit is a popular place for its walkability. However, Moab is not a good destination for its high level of walkability.

Detroit is somewhat walkable. There are parts of downtown Detroit that are walkable, but most people need a car to get around.

Moab is generally not very walkable. While it's possible to walk around within the town, most visitors don't come to visit they town, they come to explore the area. You'll need a car to access most points of interest in the area.

For even more information, also check out Is Detroit Worth Visiting? and Is Moab Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Moab or Detroit?

How long in Detroit or Moab?

In either Detroit or Moab, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Moab than Detroit because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Detroit, and 2-5 days is enough time in Moab.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Detroit than Moab 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 Detroit.

One day in Detroit or Moab?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the destination of Detroit. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Moab, you'll find shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Detroit or Moab?

Detroit is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the live music. 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.

In Moab, you'll find shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Moab has to offer.

Five days in Detroit or Moab?

You'll find food and shopping around the hardworking destination of Detroit. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Moab is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Moab has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Detroit or Moab?

The under-rated city of Detroit offers shopping and museums. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Moab. Many people enjoy the shopping when visiting Moab. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

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 Detroit and Moab, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Detroit much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Detroit would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Detroit 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Detroit.

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

Which is Bigger, Detroit or Moab?

Detroit has a larger population, and is about 190 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Detroit and Moab, 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.