A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America New Bern vs. Myrtle Beach for Nightlife, Food, Couples, and Families

Should you visit New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Myrtle Beach? 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. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping. See New Bern travel costs.

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a busy, jam-packed, and high energy beach city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife and beaches. See Myrtle Beach travel costs.

New Bern and Myrtle Beach: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Myrtle Beach than New Bern, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Myrtle Beach is better known for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and big city activities, while New Bern is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, shopping, and small town charm. Myrtle Beach is more touristy than New Bern and is known for its party-hard atmosphere, spring break crowds, and beachfront nightlife scene. Also, Myrtle Beach is famous for the Myrtle Beach boardwalk. New Bern is well known for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

The Myrtle Beach boardwalk

How is New Bern different from Myrtle Beach?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern is very good for its museums and landmarks. However, Myrtle Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around New Bern. 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.

Myrtle Beach does not have museums and landmarks.

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

New Bern is very good for its restaurant scene. However, Myrtle Beach is a beach city with minimal options for its local flavors and cuisine.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the New Bern area. 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.

Myrtle Beach offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Slices of pizza and seafood buffets are the most common options in the area. There are also themed restaurants and dinner shows that make for a fun night, even if the food isn't the highest quality.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Nightlife?

Myrtle Beach is an unbeatable place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Myrtle Beach is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. This beach is famous for its nightlife. From all-night bars and clubs, to music concerts and outdoor venues, there's no shortage of things to do. Bachelor and Bachelorette parties and spring break crowds make this the place to be for a party.

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

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Resorts?

Myrtle Beach is a beach city with a few options for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

Myrtle Beach has a few resort options worth checking out. While there are a handful of resorts in the area, like the popular Marriott Vacation Club, most hotels are crowded and lacking in space.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Beaches?

Myrtle Beach is well known for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Myrtle Beach is considered a top beach destination. Most people head to the center of town and boardwalk for the nightlife and vibrant activities more than the actual beach. The stretches north and south have nice beaches lined with hotels and resorts, and a much more family-friendly atmosphere. If you want a more relaxed beach setting without the huge crowds, check out Myrtle Beach State Park.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

New Bern is very good for its shopping areas. However, Myrtle Beach is a beach city with minimal options for shopping.

Many visitors go to New Bern to go shopping. There are local shops and boutiques that sell clothing, antiques, and gifts.

Myrtle Beach is a good destination for shopping. The town is filled with souvenir shops, t-shirt shops, and candy vendors that make shopping entertaining.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Families?

Most people don't think of either New Bern or Myrtle Beach as a family destination.

New Bern doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. 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.

For families, Myrtle Beach is not always the best place to visit. While this area isn't generally considered a family destination, there are some newer vacation clubs and resorts that cater specifically to families and have become popular. The Marriott Vacation Club is one of the most popular with families in Myrtle Beach.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Myrtle Beach 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.

Myrtle Beach makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The beach area isn't exactly a romantic destination but for couples who enjoy going out and having fun together, there is no shortage of night time activities.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach Better for Students?

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

Myrtle Beach is a very popular beach city for students and younger travelers. University students flock to the area for spring break and end of year celebrations. If you're a student during those times, this is the place to be, otherwise, the area is best avoided.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

Neither New Bern or Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach. There are no real public transit options so you'll need a car to get around.

Is New Bern or Myrtle Beach a more walkable city?

New Bern is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Myrtle Beach is a beach city with minimal options for its walkability.

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

Myrtle Beach is generally not a very walkable town. By the Boardwalk, it's easy to walk around, but traffic can still be congested and once you're out of the main strip, a car is essential.

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

Should I spend more time in Myrtle Beach or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

Both New Bern and Myrtle Beach have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Myrtle Beach than in New Bern. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 2-7 days is enough time in Myrtle Beach.

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

Couples should spend more time in New Bern than Myrtle Beach. 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 New Bern than Myrtle Beach 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 New Bern.

One day in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the shopping and museums. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this town.

The beach city of Myrtle Beach offers nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. 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 Myrtle Beach?

New Bern is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

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

Five days in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

New Bern is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Myrtle Beach is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Myrtle Beach, five days is sufficent for most. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

New Bern is a popular place to visit. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Myrtle Beach is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that nightlife is why people visit. It is common to spend one week here. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Myrtle Beach has to offer. This beach 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 Myrtle Beach, we can see that Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Myrtle Beach, 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 Myrtle Beach?

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 Myrtle Beach in the Summer?

Both Myrtle Beach and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Myrtle Beach for the beaches, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 80°F (27°C), and Myrtle Beach fluctuates around 81°F (27°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Myrtle Beach. It's quite rainy in New Bern. In July, New Bern usually receives less rain than Myrtle Beach. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 8.1 inches (207 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit New Bern or Myrtle Beach in the Autumn?

Both Myrtle Beach and New Bern during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, many visitors come to Myrtle Beach in the autumn for the city's sights and attractions and the shopping scene.

New Bern is around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach in the autumn. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 65°F (18°C) in October, and Myrtle Beach fluctuates around 65°F (18°C).

New Bern usually gets more rain in October than Myrtle Beach. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Myrtle Beach in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Myrtle Beach. Many visitors come to New Bern in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Myrtle Beach for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

In the winter, New Bern is around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Typically, the winter temperatures in New Bern in January average around 44°F (7°C), and Myrtle Beach averages at about 45°F (7°C).

New Bern gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, New Bern usually receives around the same amount of rain as Myrtle Beach. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 3.9 inches (98 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit New Bern or Myrtle Beach in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Myrtle Beach. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm during these months. Additionally, the spring months attract visitors to Myrtle Beach because of the beaches and the activities around the city.

In April, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as Myrtle Beach. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 62°F (16°C), and Myrtle Beach fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

New Bern usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Myrtle Beach. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Myrtle Beach receives 2.9 inches (73 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Myrtle Beach and New Bern