A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Mystic vs. El Paso for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Mystic or El Paso?

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 Mystic and El Paso. 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.

Mystic

Mystic is a charming, quaint, and laid back town. Other reasons to visit include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Mystic travel costs.

El Paso

El Paso is a laid-back, low-key, and undiscovered city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See El Paso travel costs.

Mystic and El Paso: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Mystic or El Paso?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Mystic. Although Mystic and El Paso are both popular with visitors, Mystic has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Mystic is more touristy than El Paso and is known for its New England charm and local character. It is also home to the Mystic Seaport Museum. El Paso is popular for its Spanish missions and its outstanding Mexican food.

How is Mystic different from El Paso?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Mystic or El Paso?

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

Many visitors head to Mystic specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

El Paso offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Visitors can learn about local art, culture, and history at the El Paso Museum of Art, the El Paso Museum of History, the 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Museum, and the Eduardo Pedregón Memorial Veterans Museum.

Is the Food Better in Mystic or El Paso? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Mystic and El Paso can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Mystic. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in El Paso. Mexican food and barbecue are popular around town but you'll also find burgers, pizza, and other American favorites.

Is Mystic or El Paso Better for Nightlife?

Both Mystic and El Paso have good vibes after the sun sets.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Mystic. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

El Paso has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a number of bars, nightclubs, and lounges around town where you can enjoy a fun night out.

Is Mystic or El Paso Better for Beaches?

Mystic is a very popular place for its beaches. However, El Paso is not a beach destination.

Mystic is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

El Paso is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Mystic or El Paso?

Mystic is a very popular place for shopping. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

El Paso offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of malls and outlet centers around town. One of the most well known is Bassett Place, but other options include Cielo Vista Mall and the Fountains at Farah.

Is Mystic or El Paso Better for Families?

Mystic is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, El Paso is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Mystic is a very family-friendly destination. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in El Paso. There are adventure parks, playgrounds, outdoor centers and nature activities that families can enjoy.

Is Mystic or El Paso Better for Couples?

Mystic is very good for romance. However, El Paso is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Most people don't think of El Paso as a couple's destination. Couples can enjoy dinner and a show or taking a romantic drive up to the overlook.

Is Mystic or El Paso Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

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

Public transit is mostly limited in El Paso. While there are some bus routes in town, you shouldn't rely on them and must have a private vehicle to efficiently visit the city.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Mystic or El Paso a more walkable city?

Mystic and El Paso are decent when it comes to walkability.

Mystic is generally not a very walkable town. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

El Paso is generally not very walkable. You really need a car to get around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Mystic Worth Visiting? and Is El Paso Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in El Paso or Mystic?

How long in Mystic or El Paso?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Mystic or El Paso to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Mystic than El Paso because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Mystic, and 1-2 days is enough time in El Paso.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in El Paso than Mystic 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 El Paso.

One day in Mystic or El Paso?

In Mystic, you'll find nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of El Paso. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Mystic or El Paso?

In Mystic, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Mystic has to offer.

El Paso is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Mystic or El Paso?

Mystic is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in El Paso. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Mystic or El Paso?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Mystic. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Mystic. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the laid-back destination of El Paso. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Mystic or El Paso?

El Paso has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Mystic and El Paso, 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.