A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Bangor for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit New Bern or Bangor?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Bangor? 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. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See New Bern travel costs.

Bangor

Bangor is a laid back, welcoming, and friendly town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums. See Bangor travel costs.

New Bern and Bangor: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Bangor?

Visitors will usually find more to do in New Bern than Bangor, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. New Bern is more touristy than Bangor and is known for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Also, New Bern is famous for the Tryon Palace. Bangor is well known for its history as a lumber town.

How is New Bern different from Bangor?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Bangor 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 Bangor?

Both New Bern and Bangor have notable landmarks and museums for visitors.

New Bern is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Bangor offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are a couple of museums around town that focus on culture and daily life in Maine.

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

Dining out at restaurants in both New Bern and Bangor can be an enjoyable experience.

New Bern offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Bangor has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. For a small town, there are a range of dining options in the area such as seafood, international cuisine, and quick eats.

Is New Bern or Bangor Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in New Bern and Bangor.

New Bern is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. There are a couple of pubs and breweries around town.

Bangor doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. There are breweries and bars with laid back vibes and a casual atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Bangor?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Bangor 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 Bangor. Head downtown for the widest selection of locally own shops and boutiques.

Is New Bern or Bangor Better for Families?

Bangor 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 Bangor. You'll find a number of parks and walking trails nearby. There's also fruit picking and playgrounds to explore.

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 Bangor Better for Couples?

New Bern is a town with good options for couples. However, Bangor is not a good town for romance.

New Bern is a good town for couples to visit. 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.

Bangor is not the best destination for a couple to visit. There are local restaurants and several museums in town that couples will enjoy.

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

Bangor is a town with a few options for its public transit. However, New Bern is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Bangor. There's a bus system, but visitors usually use their own car to get around.

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

Is New Bern or Bangor a more walkable city?

New Bern and Bangor both are notable when exploring on foot.

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

Bangor is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown is compact and easy to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Bangor or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Bangor?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in New Bern or Bangor to fill your time. In our opinion, Bangor has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bangor than New Bern. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bangor 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 Bangor.

One day in New Bern or Bangor?

New Bern might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

The town of Bangor offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in New Bern or Bangor?

New Bern 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.

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

Five days in New Bern or Bangor?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Bern. 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.

Bangor 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 Bangor?

New Bern is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Bangor?

Bangor has a larger population, and is about 33% larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Bangor, 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 Bangor?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit New Bern or Bangor in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Bangor. Many visitors come to New Bern in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Bangor for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, New Bern is generally a little warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, New Bern usually receives more rain than Bangor. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Bangor in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Bangor. Most visitors come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Bangor because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere.

New Bern is much warmer than Bangor in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Bangor fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

New Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in October as Bangor. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Bangor in the Winter?

Both Bangor and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to New Bern because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Bangor this time of year.

It's quite cold in Bangor in the winter. In the winter, New Bern is much warmer than Bangor. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Bangor averages at about 18°F (-8°C).

It's quite rainy in New Bern. In January, New Bern usually receives more rain than Bangor. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Bangor in the Spring?

Both Bangor and New Bern during the spring are popular places to visit. The small town charm are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bangor for the small town charm.

In April, New Bern is generally much warmer than Bangor. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Bangor fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

New Bern usually gets less rain in April than Bangor. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Bangor receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bangor and New Bern