A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers New Bern vs. Hope for Families, Couples, Backpackers, and Attractions

Should you visit New Bern or Hope?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Hope? 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 laid back, quaint, and charming town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See New Bern travel costs.

Hope

Hope is a small, friendly, and local town. It's also known for hiking. See Hope travel costs.

New Bern and Hope: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Hope?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Hope. Although New Bern and Hope are both popular with visitors, Hope has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Hope is more popular for its hiking, while New Bern is known for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and small town charm. New Bern is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi. Hope is popular for its chainsaw carvings and being the filming location of "Rambo." It is also home to Othello Tunnels.

How is New Bern different from Hope?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern is very good for its historical sights. However, Hope is not known for its sights and museums.

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.

Hope offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. You can check out Hopes Art Gallery, The Sunshine Valley Tashme Museum, or the Hope Museum.

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

New Bern is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Hope is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around New Bern. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Hope. There's a decent selection of casual restaurants with basic dishes and local cuisine.

Is New Bern or Hope Better for Nightlife?

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

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

Hope doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a small town but there are some local pubs and bars.

Is New Bern or Hope Better for Hiking?

Hope is well known for its hiking experiences. However, New Bern is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Hope. There are a range of hikes in the area, like more challenging routes such as Hope Mountain and Wells Peak. For a more casual hike you can check out Rotary Trail, Thacker Marsh Trail, and the Othello Tunnels.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Hope?

New Bern is very good for shopping. However, Hope is not known for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in New Bern. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

If you're looking to go shopping, Hope has some nice offerings. It's a small town, but there are places to peak up anything you may have forgotten.

Is New Bern or Hope Better for Families?

Hope is well known for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

Hope is a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love enjoying the outdoors just as much as the adults. You can also visit the Hope Museum or the Coquihalla Gorge.

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 Hope Better for Couples?

Hope is well known for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Hope frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy adventures and nature will love a few days in this beautiful area.

New Bern makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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

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

Backpackers come from all over to visit Hope. There are many camping and backpacking opportunities in the area.

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 Hope Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Neither New Bern or Hope offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in New Bern. There's no real public transit in the area.

Public transit is quite limited in Hope. There is no public transit in town.

Is New Bern or Hope a more walkable city?

New Bern is very good for its walkability. However, Hope is not known for its high level of walkability.

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

Hope is generally not very walkable. The town is relatively walkable, but you'll likely want to get into the surrounding area where most of the activities are.

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

Should I spend more time in Hope or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Hope?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Hope. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Hope than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-3 days is enough time in Hope.

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Hope?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and food. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

The town of Hope offers . Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Hope?

New Bern is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Hope 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Hope, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or Hope?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Hope 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 Hope?

Because New Bern is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

Hope is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.

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

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 Hope Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Hope?

New Bern has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Hope. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Hope, 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 Hope?

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 Hope in the Summer?

Both Hope and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Hope for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

New Bern is much warmer than Hope in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Hope fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Hope. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hope in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Hope. Many travelers come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, many visitors come to Hope in the autumn for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, New Bern is much warmer than Hope. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Hope averages at about 10°C (51°F).

Hope receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, New Bern usually receives less rain than Hope. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 156 mm (6.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Hope in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Hope. Many visitors come to New Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Hope for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Hope can be very cold during winter. In January, New Bern is generally much warmer than Hope. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Hope fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

It's quite rainy in Hope. New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets less rain in January than Hope. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 201 mm (7.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Hope in the Spring?

Both Hope and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm during these months.

New Bern is much warmer than Hope in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Hope fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Hope. In April, New Bern usually receives less rain than Hope. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Hope receives 114 mm (4.5 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Hope and New Bern