A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Flagstaff vs. Kamloops for Hiking, Food, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Flagstaff or Kamloops?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Flagstaff and Kamloops can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is a active, adventurous , and picturesque city. Flagstaff is a beautiful place to visit, too. Visitors also love the nightlife, food, and hiking. See Flagstaff travel costs.

Kamloops

Kamloops is a laid-back, outdoorsy, and nature-filled city. Other popular activities here include skiing, nightlife, and food. See Kamloops travel costs.

Flagstaff and Kamloops: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Flagstaff. Although Flagstaff and Kamloops are both popular with visitors, Flagstaff has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Flagstaff is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Kamloops is known for its skiing. Flagstaff is more touristy than Kamloops and is popular for its nearby craters and volcanic caves as well as its location along the historic Route 66. It is also home to Walnut Canyon National Monument. Kamloops is popular for its hiking trails, bike paths, and golf courses.

How is Flagstaff different from Kamloops?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Skiing?

Kamloops is well known for winter skiing. However, Flagstaff is not a skiing destination.

Kamloops is a well-known ski destination which attracts visitors from far and wide. There's a long ski season that runs from mid-November to mid-April. The region has two major ski resorts - Sun Peaks Resorts and Harper Mountain.

Flagstaff is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Flagstaff is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

Flagstaff offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Lowell Observatory is a highlight for many visitors, especially those who are fascinated by space. There's also the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Pioneer Museum, and Fort Tuthill Military History Museum.

Kamloops offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that highlight the local culture and the region's heritage.

Is the Food Better in Flagstaff or Kamloops? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Flagstaff is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Kamloops is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Flagstaff has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The food scene is diverse and growing. There's a focus on local recipes and ingredients. You'll also find many casual and family-friendly restaurants. American cuisine is common, but you'll also find burritos, Indian curries, and frittatas.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Kamloops area. You'll find restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. There are also international options like Jamaican, Indian, or Chinese.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Flagstaff and Kamloops.

Flagstaff has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find a range of bars and cocktail lounges around town that come to life in the evening hours.

If you're looking for night time activities Kamloops has a few options to choose from. You'll find pubs, bars, breweries and night clubs around town that range in personality and style.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Hiking?

Flagstaff is an amazing city to visit for its hiking trails. Also, Kamloops is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Around Flagstaff visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Nearby you'll find world class hikes through surreal landscapes and diverse environments. The area is filled with desert landscapes and varied rock formations that are best explored on foot. Trails range in length and skill level, but whatever your ability, the hiking in the area is among the best.

Kamloops offers some nice hiking trails. The area is filled with hiking trails that pass through grasslands, desert landscapes, and pine forests. There is something for every skill level.

Is the Shopping Better in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Kamloops and Flagstaff.

Many visitors go to Flagstaff to go shopping. Located along historic Route 66, you'll find many shops that capture the city's history, particularly in the Southside Historic District. The town also has farmer's markets as well as shopping centers and large malls.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Kamloops. Downtown you'll find local boutiques and eclectic shops. You could also head to Aberdeen Mall for all of the major brands and recognizable stores.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops More Beautiful?

Flagstaff is a city with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Kamloops is not a destination known for its beauty.

Flagstaff is a beautiful place to visit, too. While the city itself isn't exactly beautiful, the surrounding landscapes are surreal and truly unique.

Kamloops is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Families?

Both Flagstaff and Kamloops are great to visit with kids.

Flagstaff is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city is filled with outdoor activities for kids like ropes courses and adventure parks. Kids will also enjoy climbing around the Lava River Cave, visiting Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, or hiking through the many diverse landscapes in the area. There are also museums that educate visitors on the city's history as well as Lowell Observatory, which will intrigue all the space enthusiasts among us.

Kamloops is a very family-friendly destination. There are great parks and outdoor spaces for kids as well as the Deep Creek Tool Museum, Westsyde Centennial Park and Petting Zoo, and Hells Gate Air Tram. You can also take a ride on the Kettle Valley Railway Steam Engine. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to either Kamloops Wildlife Park or Kangaroo Creek Farm.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Couples?

Both Flagstaff and Kamloops are good destinations for a couple's getaway.

Flagstaff is a good city for couples to visit. Hiking and outdoor adventure sports make this city a good destination for couples who enjoy active living. There are many parks that you can visit as well as hiking trails and unique natural settings.

Kamloops is a nice destination for couples. The area is filled with great hikes and nice parks. There are also great restaurants that make for a good date night.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Flagstaff is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit Flagstaff. There are campgrounds nearby as well as tons of nature parks and countless hiking trails in the area.

Kamloops is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's often overlooked by backpackers, but there is a hostel in town.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Flagstaff and Kamloops.

Public transit is generally limited in Flagstaff. The Mountain Line offers eight routes through town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Kamloops. There is a bus system through the city.

Is Flagstaff or Kamloops a more walkable city?

Flagstaff is a city with good options for its high level of walkability. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its ease of walking around.

Flagstaff is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and walkable, but you'll really want to have a car to explore the nearby hiking trails and natural areas.

Kamloops is generally not very walkable. The downtown is the most walkable part of town.

For even more information, also check out Is Flagstaff Worth Visiting? and Is Kamloops Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Kamloops or Flagstaff?

How long in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Flagstaff or Kamloops to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Flagstaff than Kamloops because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Flagstaff, and 1-2 days is enough time in Kamloops.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Flagstaff than Kamloops 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 Flagstaff.

One day in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

The city of Flagstaff offers food and shopping. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

You'll find food and shopping around the city of Kamloops. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Kamloops has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

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

You'll find shopping and skiing around the outdoorsy destination of Kamloops. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Flagstaff is a popular choice for travelers. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. 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.

Travelers enjoy the skiing and nightlife when visiting the nature-filled city of Kamloops. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Flagstaff is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

Kamloops is a popular choice for travelers. 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 will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, The Best Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Flagstaff or Kamloops?

Kamloops has a larger population, and is about 19% larger than the population of Flagstaff. When comparing the sizes of Flagstaff and Kamloops, 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.