A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Nags Head vs. Saint John for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Nags Head or Saint John?

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

Should I visit Nags Head or Saint John? 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: Nags Head or Saint John?

Nags Head

Nags Head is a popular tourist destination in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The town, with a population of almost 3,000, has many nice beaches and is also where you'll find Jockey's Ridge, which has the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern United States. It's also the most visited park within the North Carolina park system.

Saint John

With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.

This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage.

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

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

When is the best time to visit Nags Head or Saint John?

Nags Head has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Saint John in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Saint John. Most visitors come to Nags Head for the family-friendly experiences during these months. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year.

Nags Head is cooler than Saint John in the summer. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 78°F (26°C) in July, and Saint John fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Nags Head receives a lot of rain in the summer. Nags Head usually gets more rain in July than Saint John. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Saint John in the Autumn?

Both Saint John and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the autumn, Nags Head is much colder than Saint John. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Nags Head in October average around 62°F (16°C), and Saint John averages at about 28°C (82°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Saint John. In October, Nags Head usually receives less rain than Saint John. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Nags Head or Saint John in the Winter?

Both Saint John and Nags Head during the winter are popular places to visit. The cuisine are the main draw to Nags Head this time of year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round.

It's quite cold in Nags Head in the winter. In January, Nags Head is generally much colder than Saint John. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 41°F (5°C), and Saint John fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually gets more rain in January than Saint John. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Saint John in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Saint John. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Nags Head is much colder than Saint John in the spring. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 59°F (15°C) in April, and Saint John fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).

In April, Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of rain as Saint John. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Saint John receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Saint John and Nags Head