A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Everglades National Park vs. Chapel Hill for Attractions, Backpackers, Food, and Families

Should you visit Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill can help you decide which place is right for you.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a pristine, adventure-filled, and unique national park. Everglades National Park offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include hiking. See Everglades National Park travel costs.

Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a student-oriented, collegiate, and southern town. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Chapel Hill travel costs.

Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Known for its beauty
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular for shopping
  • Public transit not as usable
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for students
  • Good public transit
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Chapel Hill. Although Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill are popular destinations, Chapel Hill has more sights and attractions for tourists. Chapel Hill is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, and shopping, while Everglades National Park attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Everglades National Park is more touristy than Chapel Hill and is popular for its unique habitats and wildlife such as the friendly manatees. Chapel Hill is famous for being the home of the oldest public university in the United States. It is also well known for the University of North Carolina.

How is Everglades National Park different from Chapel Hill?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a great town for its historical sights. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Chapel Hill specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Everglades National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. It's worth checking out the Museum of the Everglades, but most visitors prefer to spend their time outdoors exploring the habitats.


Is the Food Better in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Chapel Hill is becoming an appealing option for foodies. 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.

Everglades National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are a few casual eateries near the park. The options include taquerias and grills. You'll also find some farm fresh fruit stands on the side of the road and it's definitely worth stopping to pick up a snack.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Nightlife?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is a great town for its evening party scene. However, Everglades National Park is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Chapel Hill has something for everybody. 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.

People don't go to Everglades National Park for the nightlife. There are a couple of grills outside of the park, but the nightlife scene is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Hiking?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Everglades National Park is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Everglades National Park. The trails take you through a variety of habitats and range in length from short nature walks to longer, in depth hikes. Do be aware that the insects can be brutal. Mosquitos and biting flies are both common.

Chapel Hill is not a hiking destination.


Is the Shopping Better in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is very good for its shopping areas. However, Everglades National Park is not known for shopping.

Chapel Hill has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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.

Everglades National Park has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There's a park store, but otherwise the shopping is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill More Beautiful?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Everglades National Park is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Chapel Hill is not a destination known for its beauty.

Everglades National Park offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The natural beauty is impressive and it's easy to see why this is a highlight for many visitors to southern Florida.

Chapel Hill is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Families?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

You'll find nice kid-friendly activities in either Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill.

Everglades National Park offers lots of family activities. An airboat ride is a highlight for many kids. There's also hiking, kayaking, and even Junior Ranger programs. Do be on the lookout for mosquitoes, which can be relentless in the park.

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.


Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Couples?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Both Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill are nice destinations to visit as a couple.

Everglades National Park is a good national park for couples to visit. Hiking and enjoying a bit of nature makes for a nice romantic getaway. Go kayaking or take an airboat ride and then enjoy some time exploring the natural setting.

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 Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Everglades National Park is well known for backpackers. However, Chapel Hill is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Everglades National Park is a very popular national park for backpackers and budget travelers. There are two drive-in campgrounds (Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground) that you can reach from the Homestead entrance to the park.

Chapel Hill is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There is a young population thanks to the university, but there's little else to attract backpackers.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Students?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is an unbeatable place for its student-friendly activities. However, Everglades National Park is not popular with students.

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.

Everglades National Park is not popular with students.


Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its public transit.

While Chapel Hill offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are bus routes that operate between Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Everglades National Park. There is no real public transportation to the park so an organized tour is your best option if you don't have a vehicle.

Is Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill a more walkable city?

Everglades National Park
Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Everglades National Park is not known 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.

Everglades National Park is generally not very walkable. While there are hiking trails, to really explore the park you'll want to have a car or take an organized tour.

For even more information, also check out Is Everglades National Park Worth Visiting? and Is Chapel Hill Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Chapel Hill or Everglades National Park?

How long in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill. In our opinion, Chapel Hill has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Chapel Hill than Everglades National Park. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Everglades National Park, and 1-3 days is enough time in Chapel Hill.

Families should spend more time in Chapel Hill than Everglades National Park. 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 Everglades National Park. 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 Everglades National Park 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.


  • How many days in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill? Ideal Length of Stay
    Everglades National Park 2-3 
    Chapel Hill 1-3

One day in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the adventure-filled national park of Everglades National Park. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

With food and shopping around the southern town of Chapel Hill, there's plenty to do. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


A weekend in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the natural destination of Everglades National Park. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This national park 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.

With shopping and museums around the student-oriented destination of Chapel Hill, there's plenty to do. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation.A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Five days in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

The natural national park of Everglades National Park offers . Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the student-oriented town of Chapel Hill. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Many people enjoy the when visiting Everglades National Park. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Chapel Hill is a great place to explore. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Chapel Hill or Everglades National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Everglades National Park Prices
    USA Prices
    Chapel Hill Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Everglades National Park $169
    Chapel Hill $200

The average daily cost (per person) in Everglades National Park is $169, while the average daily cost in Chapel Hill is $200. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Everglades National Park $80
    Chapel Hill $95
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Everglades National Park $160
    Chapel Hill $190
Compare Hotels in Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill

Looking for a hotel in Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Everglades National Park


Hotels in Chapel Hill


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Chapel Hill Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Everglades National Park $56
    Chapel Hill $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

Prices for flights to both Chapel Hill and Everglades National Park change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Everglades National Park $54
    Chapel Hill $84

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Everglades National Park $28
    Chapel Hill $17

Tours and Activities in Everglades National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Everglades National Park.

  • Flamingo Everglades Boat Tours: $52

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Everglades National Park $7.86
    Chapel Hill $40


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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Everglades National Park Expensive? and Is Chapel Hill Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill?

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 Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Everglades National Park as well as Chapel Hill. Most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Chapel Hill because of the family-friendly experiences.

Everglades National Park is around the same temperature as Chapel Hill in the summer. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 82°F (28°C) in July, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Chapel Hill. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Everglades National Park this time of the year. In the summer, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 259 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Everglades National Park usually gets more rain in July than Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Everglades National Park 82°F (28°C) 
    Chapel Hill 79°F (26°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill in the Autumn?

Both Chapel Hill and Everglades National Park are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Everglades National Park because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Chapel Hill this time of year.

In the autumn, Everglades National Park is much warmer than Chapel Hill. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Everglades National Park in October average around 78°F (26°C), and Chapel Hill averages at about 61°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Chapel Hill. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park usually receives more sunshine than Chapel Hill during autumn. Everglades National Park gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Everglades National Park. In October, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November in Everglades National Park is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Everglades National Park 78°F (26°C) 
    Chapel Hill 61°F (16°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill in the Winter?

Both Chapel Hill and Everglades National Park during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Chapel Hill for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Chapel Hill. In January, Everglades National Park is generally much warmer than Chapel Hill. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 67°F (19°C), and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

It's quite sunny in Everglades National Park. In the winter, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Chapel Hill receives 162 hours of full sun.

Everglades National Park usually gets less rain in January than Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Everglades National Park 67°F (19°C) 
    Chapel Hill 40°F (5°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Chapel Hill in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Everglades National Park and Chapel Hill. Many travelers come to Everglades National Park for the natural beauty.

Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Chapel Hill in the spring. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 74°F (24°C) in April, and Chapel Hill fluctuates around 60°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Chapel Hill this time of the year. In Everglades National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. Everglades National Park usually receives more sunshine than Chapel Hill during spring. Everglades National Park gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while Chapel Hill receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Everglades National Park usually receives around the same amount of rain as Chapel Hill. Everglades National Park gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Chapel Hill receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring. The hurricane season in Everglades National Park is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Everglades National Park 74°F (24°C) 
    Chapel Hill 60°F (16°C)

Typical Weather for Chapel Hill and Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park Chapel Hill
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 67°F (19°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 40°F (5°C) 3.2 inches (82 mm)
Feb 68°F (20°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Mar 71°F (22°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 52°F (11°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Apr 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 60°F (16°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 78°F (26°C) 6.4 inches (162 mm) 68°F (20°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Jun 81°F (27°C) 9.4 inches (238 mm) 76°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.9 inches (149 mm) 79°F (26°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm)
Aug 83°F (28°C) 7.5 inches (191 mm) 78°F (26°C) 4.9 inches (125 mm)
Sep 82°F (28°C) 7.6 inches (194 mm) 73°F (23°C) 3.8 inches (96 mm)
Oct 78°F (26°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm) 61°F (16°C) 2.8 inches (71 mm)
Nov 73°F (23°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 53°F (11°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Dec 69°F (21°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) 44°F (7°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)