A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Houston vs. Durango for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Houston or Durango?

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 Houston and Durango. 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.

Houston

Houston is a southern, one-of-a-kind, and diverse city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include live music, food, and shopping. See Houston travel costs.

Durango

Durango is a nature-filled, historic, and charming small town. It also offers plenty of small town charm and also has plenty of sights and activities. Durango is a beautiful place to visit, too. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. And you can't forget about the hiking and museums. See Durango travel costs.

Houston and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Houston or Durango?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston. Although Houston and Durango are popular destinations, Houston has more sights and attractions for tourists. Houston is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Durango attracts visitors for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Durango is more touristy than Houston and is popular for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. Houston is famous for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also well known for The Space Center Houston.

How is Houston different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Houston or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a small town with a few options for winter skiing. However, Houston is not a skiing destination.

Durango is a fun local destination for snow skiers. 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.

Houston is not a skiing destination.

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

Houston is a very popular place for its museums and history. Also, Durango is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Houston. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

Durango offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

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

Houston is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Houston. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Durango. 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.

Is Houston or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Houston is a very popular place for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

Houston has a large number of nightlife venues. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

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 Houston or Durango Better for Music?

Houston is a good destination for live music. However, Durango is not a live music destination.

You don't have to look far to find a unique music venue in Houston. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Durango is not a live music destination.

Is Houston or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a good destination for its old town. However, Houston does not have a historic old town.

Many people head to Durango to see the 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."

Houston does not have a historic old town.

Is Houston or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Houston is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around 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.

Houston is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Houston or Durango?

Houston is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Houston. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

If you're looking to go shopping, Durango has some nice offerings. 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.

Is Houston or Durango More Beautiful?

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

Durango is a beautiful place to visit, too. The town is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

Houston is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Houston or Durango Better for Families?

Both Houston and Durango are excellent family-friendly destinations.

Houston is a very kid-friendly city. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Durango. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Is Houston or Durango Better for Couples?

Houston is a good destination for romance. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Houston is a nice destination for couples. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

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 Houston or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

Houston is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this sprawling city, but there are some hostels and cheap motels.

Is Houston or Durango Better for Students?

Houston is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Durango is not popular with students.

Plenty of students visit Houston. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

Durango is not popular with students.

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

Houston is a decent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

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

Is Houston or Durango a more walkable city?

Houston and Durango both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Houston is generally not very walkable. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Durango or Houston?

How long in Houston or Durango?

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

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

One day in Houston or Durango?

Because Houston is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Durango is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This small 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 Houston or Durango?

Because Houston is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Houston has to offer.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. 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 Durango has to offer.

Five days in Houston or Durango?

Houston is a great place to explore. 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.

Durango 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 Houston or Durango?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Houston. Many people enjoy the live music and food when visiting Houston. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durango. Since Durango is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. 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 Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Houston or Durango?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Houston and Durango, 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.