A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Gainesville vs. Salt Lake City for Attractions, Nightlife, Food, and Families

Should you visit Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Gainesville or Salt Lake City, 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.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a high energy, active, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Gainesville travel costs.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a religious, architectural, and notable city. It's also known for museums, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Gainesville and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

You'll generally find more things to do in Salt Lake City than Gainesville. Salt Lake City is bigger than Gainesville, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Salt Lake City is better known for its scuba diving & snorkeling and hiking, while Gainesville is more popular for its nightlife. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. Also, Salt Lake City is famous for Temple Square. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida

How is Gainesville different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Both Gainesville and Salt Lake City have excellent landmarks and museums for visitors.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Gainesville can be an interesting and educational experience. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Salt Lake City. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

Is the Food Better in Gainesville or Salt Lake City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Gainesville and Salt Lake City offer notable local cuisine and restaurants.

Gainesville offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Salt Lake City has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a very popular place for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

Gainesville has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

Salt Lake City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Gainesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Salt Lake City has a few areas where visitors often go scuba diving or snorkeling. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Gainesville is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

Salt Lake City is a nice place to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, Gainesville is not a hiking destination.

Salt Lake City has hiking trails worth exploring. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Gainesville is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Both Gainesville and Salt Lake City are notable shopping destinations.

Gainesville is a great destination for shopping. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Salt Lake City. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

Gainesville and Salt Lake City are both notable destinations for the whole family.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

Salt Lake City is a family-friendly city. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

Gainesville and Salt Lake City are both notable to visit as a couple.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Salt Lake City makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Students?

Gainesville is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

Gainesville is very popular with students. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Salt Lake City is not popular with students.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Gainesville and Salt Lake City offer notable public transit options.

Gainesville has a few public transit options. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

Salt Lake City has some public transit options. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

Is Gainesville or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

Gainesville is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for its walkability.

Gainesville is a somewhat walkable city. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

Salt Lake City is generally not very walkable. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Gainesville Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Salt Lake City or Gainesville?

How long in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Gainesville and Salt Lake City. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Salt Lake City than in Gainesville. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Gainesville, and 2-3 days is enough time in Salt Lake City.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gainesville than Salt Lake City 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 Gainesville.

One day in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

In Gainesville, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the religious city of Salt Lake City. 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.

A weekend in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Gainesville is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the notable destination of Salt Lake City. This city 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.

Five days in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gainesville. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The religious city of Salt Lake City offers shopping and museums. 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.

A week in Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Gainesville. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Salt Lake City. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, The Best Photography Tours in United States of America, and The Best Camping Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Gainesville and Salt Lake City, we can see that Salt Lake City is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Gainesville or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Gainesville. When comparing the sizes of Gainesville and Salt Lake City, 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.