A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mandeville vs. Columbia River Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge?

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

Should I visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge?

Mandeville

Mandeville is a small, quiet town in the mountains of Jamaica with a population of about 50,000. The town is situated on a plateau west of Kingston. It is the largest town in the parish of Manchester and the fifth largest urban center in the country.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.

The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandeville and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that Columbia River Gorge is more expensive. And not only is Mandeville much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mandeville is in Caribbean Islands and Columbia River Gorge is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mandeville would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandeville 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 Columbia River Gorge would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbia River Gorge than you might in Mandeville.

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

Which is Bigger, Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge?

Mandeville has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Mandeville and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge?

Columbia River Gorge has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Mandeville experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Mandeville as well as Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Mandeville is generally a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 29°C (83°F), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mandeville this time of the year. In the summer, Mandeville often gets less sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 257 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 338 hours of full sun.

Mandeville usually gets more rain in July than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Mandeville are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Mandeville throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Mandeville is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the autumn. The daily temperature in Mandeville averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mandeville. Mandeville usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during autumn. Mandeville gets 233 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Mandeville. In October, Mandeville usually receives more rain than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 160 mm (6.3 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Mandeville during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Mandeville because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Columbia River Gorge can be very cold. In the winter, Mandeville is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the winter temperatures in Mandeville in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 40°F (4°C).

It's quite sunny in Mandeville. In the winter, Mandeville often gets more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 86 hours of full sun.

Columbia River Gorge gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Mandeville usually gets less rain in January than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Mandeville or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Mandeville and Columbia River Gorge. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Mandeville year-round. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.

In April, Mandeville is generally much warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Mandeville average around 26°C (80°F), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Columbia River Gorge this time of the year. In Mandeville, it's very sunny this time of the year. Mandeville usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia River Gorge during spring. Mandeville gets 225 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 231 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Mandeville usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Mandeville gets 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and Mandeville