A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Durango vs. Hope for Hiking, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Durango or Hope?

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 Durango and Hope. 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.

Durango

Durango is a charming, quaint, and scenic small town. Since it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors, too. Durango is a gorgeous place to visit. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. Other reasons to visit include hiking and museums. See Durango travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a small, friendly, and local town. Other reasons to visit include hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Durango and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Durango or Hope?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Durango. Although Durango and Hope are both popular with visitors, Durango has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Durango is more popular for its skiing, museums and attractions, historical sights, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Hope is known for its nightlife. Durango is popular for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. It is also home to The Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. Hope is popular for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Durango different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Durango or Hope Better for Skiing?

Durango is adequate for skiing. However, Hope is not a skiing destination.

Locals like to visit Durango to take advantage of their winter sports. Purgatory Ski Resort is about 20 minutes from town and it's a family-friendly mountain with beginner and intermediate runs. It's small, and geared specifically to the beginner and younger crowd.

Hope is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Durango or Hope?

Durango is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

Durango is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Most visitors come to town specifically to ride the Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. There's also the D&SNGRR Railroad Museum, and the Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

Is the Food Better in Durango or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Durango and Hope both to be decent destinations.

Durango offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Most of the restaurants are casual and family-friendly, serving up burgers or sandwiches for a reasonable price. You'll also find some coffeeshops and even a few food trucks and international restaurants.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Hope is a decent place to visit for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Hope. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Durango. It's a small town that attracts tourists mainly for its train, so you won't find much in the way of a nightlife scene.

Is Durango or Hope Better for its Old Town?

Durango is very good for its historic old town. However, Hope does not have a historic old town.

Durango is a good destination for visiting its old town. Filled with character, the downtown feels like you've stepped into a Western. The town has a long history as a mining and railroad community, which you can see throughout the historic area. It really feels like you're in the "Wild West."

Hope does not have a historic old town.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hiking trails can be found around both Durango and Hope, and they are high quality.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Durango. It's surrounded by plenty of natural beautiful and there is an endless supply of hikes in the region. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Hope. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

Is the Shopping Better in Durango or Hope?

Shoppers can find a variety of decent stores in both Durango and Hope.

Durango is a good destination for shopping. The charming town has some boutiques that sell beautifully made Native American jewelry and other interesting items. There are also souvenir shops and other venues that target tourists specifically.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is Durango or Hope More Beautiful?

Durango is very good for its scenery and beauty. However, Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Durango is a gorgeous place to visit. The town is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Families?

Both Durango and Hope are high quality family-friendly destinations.

Durango is a very family-friendly destination. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Hope is a very kid-friendly small town. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Couples?

Hope is a very popular place for romance. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Hope makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

Most people don't think of Durango as a couple's destination. The town may not be the first romantic destination that comes to mind, but the railroad combined with wandering the downtown can make for a great couple's getaway.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is a very popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Durango is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Hope is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Durango. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Is Durango or Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither Durango or Hope offer decent public transit.

Public transit is quite limited in Durango. It's a small town with no real public transit options so a car is a must.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is Durango or Hope a more walkable city?

Durango and Hope are decent when it comes to walkability.

Durango is generally not a very walkable small town. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

For even more information, also check out Is Durango Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Durango?

How long in Durango or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Durango and Hope. In our opinion, Durango has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Durango than Hope. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Hope than Durango 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 Hope.

One day in Durango or Hope?

Durango is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Hope, you'll find . Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Durango or Hope?

Durango is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Hope, you'll find . 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. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Hope has to offer.

Five days in Durango or Hope?

Durango is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This small town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hope is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Durango or Hope?

Because Durango is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 Hope. Many people enjoy the when visiting Hope. 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 The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Durango or Hope?

Durango has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Durango and Hope, 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.