A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Arlington for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit New Bern or Arlington?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Arlington? 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.

New Bern

New Bern is a charming, laid back, and quaint town. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. It's also popular because of the museums, food, and shopping. See New Bern travel costs.

Arlington

Arlington is a international, historical, and educational city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Arlington travel costs.

New Bern and Arlington: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Arlington?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Arlington than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Arlington is better known for its museums and attractions, food, and nightlife, while New Bern is more popular for its small town charm. Arlington is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its international connections, its biking and walking trails, and being the location of the Pentagon. Also, Arlington is famous for Arlington National Cemetery. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Arlington?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in New Bern or Arlington?

Arlington is well known for its museums and landmarks. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Arlington offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Arlington National Cemetery is where you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the tomb of John F. Kennedy Jr. There are many memorials around town, with the most famous being the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial. There are also several museums like the DEA Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

New Bern offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Many visitors check out the Tryon Palace while they're in town. Other museums include the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Carolina Creations Fine Art & Contemporary Craft Gallery, and the New Bern Academy Museum.

Is the Food Better in New Bern or Arlington? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Arlington is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Arlington makes for a great culinary experience. It's a global city, and the restaurants reflect that. You'll find amazing Thai, Japanese, and Mexican restaurants. There are also less common cuisines to choose from such as Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Peruvian.

New Bern has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are a number of local eateries, bistros, and cafes in town. You can sample southern favorites or something international. Popular dishes include fresh caught fish, crab cakes, and even tacos.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Nightlife?

Arlington is well known for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Arlington is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has a huge young population that drives the nightlife scene. There are clubs, bars, and lounges in many neighborhoods. There are also comedy clubs and plenty of live music.

New Bern doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Arlington?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Arlington and New Bern.

New Bern is a great destination for shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Arlington. Many neighborhoods have local shops or farmer's markets. There are also shopping centers and malls such as Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, and The Village at Shirlington.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Families?

Arlington is a popular place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Arlington. Kids will enjoy seeing the planes talk off from Gravelly Point park. There are also plenty of outdoor spaces and educational opportunities in the area, including world class museums.

For families, New Bern is not always the best place to visit. Stand up paddle boarding and other outdoor activities are a fun way to experience the area with kids. You could also visit the New Bern Fireman's Museum, the Tryon Palace, or one of the parks around town.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Arlington make for a notable place to visit.

New Bern is a nice destination for couples. The town's charm and quaint parks make this a nice weekend getaway. There are outdoor activities and the Tryon Palace which is nice to visit. There are also local restaurants around town.

Arlington makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There's a vibrant cultural scene and many international restaurants that couples can enjoy. It's also a great place to take in a show or concert.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Arlington is well known for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Arlington. There are a couple of hostels and many free activities nearby. There's also great public transportation that makes for a convenient backpacker destination.

New Bern is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not popular with backpackers in part because it's a small town that most people breeze through on their way to the beach.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Students?

Arlington is well known for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Arlington is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There are a huge number of colleges and museums in the area as well as many great internship and educational opportunities.

New Bern is not popular with students.

Is New Bern or Arlington Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Arlington is an unbeatable place for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Visitors in Arlington can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. There is a reliable bus system around town as well as many metro connections.

Public transit is quite limited in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Is New Bern or Arlington a more walkable city?

Arlington is well known for its walkability. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Arlington is very walkable. There are many pedestrian-friendly areas around town, particularly in the neighborhoods that are concentrated around metro stations.

New Bern is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable and nice to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is New Bern Worth Visiting? and Is Arlington Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Arlington or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Arlington?

It's fun to spend time in either New Bern or Arlington. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Arlington due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-4 days is enough time in Arlington.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Arlington than New Bern 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 Arlington.

One day in New Bern or Arlington?

Even though New Bern is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Bern has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The city of Arlington offers food and shopping. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Arlington?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. 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.

Arlington is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Arlington, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Arlington?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Arlington is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Arlington?

New Bern is a popular choice for travelers. 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.

Arlington is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Arlington?

Arlington has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Arlington, 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 New Bern or Arlington?

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 New Bern or Arlington in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Arlington. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Arlington in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Arlington. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Arlington fluctuates around 79°F (26°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Arlington. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Arlington in the Autumn?

Both Arlington and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to New Bern in the autumn for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, most visitors come to Arlington for the shopping scene during these months.

New Bern is a little warmer than Arlington in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Arlington fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Arlington. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Arlington in the Winter?

Both Arlington and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Furthermore, the winter months attract visitors to Arlington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Arlington can be very cold. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Arlington. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Arlington averages at about 35°F (1°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than Arlington. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Arlington in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Arlington. The spring months attract visitors to New Bern because of the small town charm.

In April, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Arlington. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Arlington fluctuates around 56°F (14°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Arlington. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Arlington receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Arlington and New Bern