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

Should you visit Nags Head or Vieques Island?

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

Should I visit Nags Head or Vieques Island? 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 Vieques Island?

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.

Vieques Island

Amidst the melodious chorus of coqui frogs and gentle whispers of palm trees blowing in an evening breeze, you will find that the waters around you glow just as brightly as the stars above. This tropical paradise is none other than Vieques, Puerto Rico. Tropical forests, bioluminescent bays, coral reefs--this island attracts visitors from all around the world who seek to see the wonders and beauties of the tropics. This island suits those from all walks of life, from history buffs seeking to learn about its unique past to nature-lovers wanting to admire its untouched wilderness. Vieques is the place for a perfect vacation!

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 Vieques Island, we can see that Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vieques Island 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 Vieques Island Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Nags Head or Vieques Island?

Vieques Island has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nags Head. When comparing the sizes of Nags Head and Vieques Island, 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 Nags Head or Vieques Island?

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

Should I visit Nags Head or Vieques Island in the Summer?

Both Vieques Island and Nags Head are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Nags Head in the summer for the family-friendly experiences. Plenty of visitors come to Vieques Island because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In the summer, Nags Head is cooler than Vieques Island. Typically, the summer temperatures in Nags Head in July average around 78°F (26°C), and Vieques Island averages at about 29°C (83°F).

It's quite sunny in Vieques Island. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Nags Head. Nags Head usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vieques Island during summer. Nags Head gets 274 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 287 hours of full sun in the summer.

It's quite rainy in Nags Head. In July, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Nags Head or Vieques Island in the Autumn?

Both Vieques Island and Nags Head during the autumn are popular places to visit. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vieques Island year-round.

In October, Nags Head is generally much colder than Vieques Island. Daily temperatures in Nags Head average around 62°F (16°C), and Vieques Island fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

In Vieques Island, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Nags Head. In the autumn, Nags Head often gets less sunshine than Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 205 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 235 hours of full sun.

Vieques Island gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Nags Head usually gets less rain in October than Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Nags Head or Vieques Island in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Nags Head and Vieques Island. The winter months attract visitors to Nags Head because of the cuisine. Vieques Island attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

The weather in Nags Head can be very cold. Nags Head is much colder than Vieques Island in the winter. The daily temperature in Nags Head averages around 41°F (5°C) in January, and Vieques Island fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vieques Island this time of the year. Nags Head usually receives less sunshine than Vieques Island during winter. Nags Head gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Vieques Island receives 240 hours of full sun in the winter.

Nags Head gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Nags Head usually receives more rain than Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Nags Head or Vieques Island in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Nags Head as well as Vieques Island. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vieques Island throughout the year.

In the spring, Nags Head is much colder than Vieques Island. Typically, the spring temperatures in Nags Head in April average around 59°F (15°C), and Vieques Island averages at about 27°C (80°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vieques Island. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Nags Head this time of the year. In the spring, Nags Head often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 262 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vieques Island receives 272 hours of full sun.

Nags Head usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Vieques Island. Nags Head gets 3 inches (75 mm) of rain, while Vieques Island receives 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Vieques Island and Nags Head