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

Should you visit Ketchikan or Hope?

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 Ketchikan and Hope can help you decide which place is right for you.

Ketchikan

Ketchikan is a local, scenic, and quaint town. With fun activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Ketchikan is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include museums, food, and hiking. See Ketchikan travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a small, friendly, and local town. It's also known for hiking. See Hope travel costs.

Ketchikan and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ketchikan or Hope?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Ketchikan. Although Ketchikan and Hope are both popular with visitors, Ketchikan has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Ketchikan is more touristy than Hope and is popular for its salmon fishing, beautiful natural environment, and strong sense of local culture. It is also home to the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. Hope is popular for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo."

How is Ketchikan different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Ketchikan is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There are a few local museums in town such as the Tongass Historical Museum and the Totem Heritage Center.

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 Ketchikan or Hope? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Ketchikan is a world-class destination for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Hope is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Ketchikan has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. It's known as the salmon capital of the world for good reason. You can expect some of the freshest seafood around with many local restaurants serving up fresh Dungeness Crab, Alaska King Crab, and Alaskan King Salmon. It's a huge fishing destination and the cuisine reflects that, but even if you're looking for a landlover's menu, you'll find a number of good dishes.

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 Ketchikan or Hope Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are decent in both Ketchikan and Hope.

Most people don't head to Ketchikan specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. Because most visitors arrive by cruise ship, there's a more local vibe to the nightlife scene. You'll find a few local bars around town where you can enjoy a drink and good conversation.

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.

Is Ketchikan or Hope Better for Hiking?

Ketchikan is a world-class destination for hiking. Also, Hope is not as popular, but is still a nice town for the nearby hiking options.

Many people visit Ketchikan specifically for its hiking. You'll find many hikes that will take you through the local vegetation or to impressive viewpoints. Some hikes involve challenging climbs while others are more relaxing. Some visitors prefer to hire a guide to the lead them through the Alaskan wilderness, but the most popular and easier trails are usually well marked.

Hope is a popular spot for hiking. 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 Ketchikan or Hope?

Ketchikan is very good for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Ketchikan. As tourism has grown, the shopping in downtown Ketchikan has shifted from locally-oriented venders to jewelry and souvenir stores. Many shops are only open during the summer months, and you'll find the more local shops outside of town.

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 Ketchikan or Hope More Beautiful?

Ketchikan is a great town for its scenery and beauty. However, Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Ketchikan is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's located at the southernmost entrance to the Inside Passage, so you can expect dramatic natural beauty and a breathtaking setting.

Hope is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Ketchikan or Hope Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Ketchikan or Hope.

Ketchikan is a very family-friendly place to visit. There are a number of kid-friendly activities and tours, but do note that many tours book up fully with cruise ship passengers. Any tours you wish to do should be arranged well in advance. Popular kid-friendly activities include the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, Misty Fjords, and a visit to Totem Bight State Historical Park. Everyone will enjoy learning about the area's history and nature at the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. And anyone who enjoys the show "The Most Dangerous Catch" will appreciate the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Hope is very family-friendly. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

Is Ketchikan or Hope Better for Couples?

Both Ketchikan and Hope are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Ketchikan is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples who enjoy natural beauty, hiking, and wildlife will appreciate their time here. There are many opportunities for fishing and a plethora of seafood restaurants in the area that take advantage of this past time.

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.

Is Ketchikan or Hope Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Hope is notable for backpackers. Also, Ketchikan is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

It's common for backpackers to visit Ketchikan. While most visitors arrive by cruise ship, for those travel independently will appreciate the hostel in town.

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

Ketchikan is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Hope is not known for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Ketchikan. There are buses that travel through town.

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

Is Ketchikan or Hope a more walkable city?

Ketchikan is a great town for its walkability. However, Hope is not known for its high level of walkability.

Ketchikan is very walkable. The downtown is relatively compact and walkable.

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 Ketchikan Worth Visiting? and Is Hope Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Hope or Ketchikan?

How long in Ketchikan or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ketchikan and Hope. In our opinion, Ketchikan has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Ketchikan than Hope. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Ketchikan, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

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

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

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

One day in Ketchikan or Hope?

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Ketchikan. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

You'll find around the town of Hope. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Ketchikan or Hope?

Ketchikan 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.

You'll find around the local destination of Hope. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Ketchikan or Hope?

You'll find shopping and museums around the local destination of Ketchikan. This 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.

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the friendly town of Hope. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. 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.

A week in Ketchikan or Hope?

The local town of Ketchikan offers museums and food. 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.

Hope is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, 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 Ketchikan and Hope, we can see that Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ketchikan 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 Ketchikan Expensive? and Is Hope Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ketchikan or Hope?

Ketchikan has a larger population, and is about 56% larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of Ketchikan 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.

When is the best time to visit Ketchikan or Hope?

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 Ketchikan or Hope in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ketchikan as well as Hope. The summer months attract visitors to Ketchikan because of the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Hope this time of year.

Ketchikan is cooler than Hope in the summer. The daily temperature in Ketchikan averages around 58°F (15°C) in July, and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Ketchikan receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ketchikan usually gets more rain in July than Hope. Ketchikan gets 7.6 inches (193 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ketchikan or Hope in the Autumn?

Both Hope and Ketchikan are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ketchikan this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Hope for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Ketchikan is cooler than Hope. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ketchikan in October average around 46°F (8°C), and Hope averages at about 10°C (51°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. It's quite rainy in Ketchikan. In October, Ketchikan usually receives more rain than Hope. Ketchikan gets 22.9 inches (581 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ketchikan or Hope in the Winter?

Both Hope and Ketchikan during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Ketchikan for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Hope in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Hope can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Ketchikan. In January, Ketchikan is generally much colder than Hope. Daily temperatures in Ketchikan average around 34°F (1°C), and Hope fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Hope gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Ketchikan. Ketchikan usually gets more rain in January than Hope. Ketchikan gets 14.9 inches (379 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ketchikan or Hope in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ketchikan and Hope. Many visitors come to Ketchikan in the spring for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

Ketchikan is cooler than Hope in the spring. The daily temperature in Ketchikan averages around 44°F (6°C) in April, and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the spring. Ketchikan gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Ketchikan usually receives more rain than Hope. Ketchikan gets 11.3 inches (286 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hope and Ketchikan