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

Should you visit New Bern or Portland?

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

Should I visit New Bern or Portland? 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. It offers plenty of small town charm along with sights and activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See New Bern travel costs.

Portland

Portland is a tree-lined, nature-filled, and scenic city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Portland is a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Portland travel costs.

New Bern and Portland: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or Portland?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Portland. Although New Bern and Portland are both popular with visitors, Portland has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Portland is more popular for its nightlife, music, hiking, and impressive beauty, while New Bern is known for its museums and attractions, food, and small town charm. Portland is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its independent and vintage shops, thriving art scene, lush parks and gardens, progressive and quirky personality, and easy access to amazing natural beauty. It is also home to Washington Park. New Bern is popular for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from Portland?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

New Bern is a town with good options for its museums and history. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

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.

Portland offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. Visitors usually come for the city's outdoor recreation and eclectic personality more than the landmarks and museums. There are a few places to visit on a rainy day though including Pittock Mansion, the Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

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

New Bern is a town with good options for its restaurants. However, Portland is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

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 Portland. The town is more famous for it's craft beer than it's food, but there are still a number of local restaurants that offer unique Oregon dishes. You'll find no shortage of vegetarian and vegan options on most menus. There is also a big farm-to-table scene with many farmers markets around town as well.

Is New Bern or Portland Better for Nightlife?

Portland is a popular place for nightlife. However, New Bern is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Portland has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Famously, this town's nightlife is all about the craft beer and local breweries. Make sure you check out Bailey's Taproom, The Big Legrowlski, and The Commons Brewery.

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

Is New Bern or Portland Better for Music?

Portland is a popular place for live music. However, New Bern is not a live music destination.

The music scene in Portland is active and vibrant. The town has a thriving live music and international folk dancing scene.

New Bern is not a live music destination.

Is New Bern or Portland Better for Hiking?

Portland 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 Portland. Just outside of town you'll find amazing hikes and stunning natural beauty. In town there are many urban hikes through parks and gardens, but in just a short drive you also have access to Mount Hood and many of the region's most beautiful hikes around the Columbia River Gorge.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or Portland?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Portland 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 Portland. To fully experience shopping in town, head to the local vendors and thrift shops. There are many vintage clothing shops, book stores, and independent sellers around town. The city is also full of farmers markets. For some of the most interesting shopping, check out the Pearl District, Pioneer Place, Union Way, and Downtown neighborhoods.

Is New Bern or Portland More Beautiful?

Portland is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Portland is a gorgeous place to visit. Surrounded by mountains and filled with parks and greenspace, many people find this town to be quite beautiful.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or Portland Better for Families?

Portland 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 Portland. This is an outdoor city by nature, so families will appreciate the many parks and outdoor recreational activities around town. It's easy to fill a couple of days exploring and having fun with the kids. Kid-friendly activities include the zoo, the aerial tram, and several great 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 Portland Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both New Bern and Portland make for a good 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.

Portland makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The laid-back, alternative vibe is fun to explore as a couple. There are independent bookstores, nice parks, and plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. Couples who enjoy an eclectic city, breweries, and nature, will find a lot to do in town.

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

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

Backpackers come from all over to visit Portland. The town has drawn young explorers for years, and backpackers who like to step away from the mainstream will feel right at home here.

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 Portland Better for Students?

Portland is a popular place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Portland is popular with students. It's a young and relaxed city that attracts independent thinkers. There are many bookstores and breweries around town. The cost of living can be a bit high though.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

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

You'll find some public transit in Portland, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The town has a bus and light rail system as well the Aerial tram.

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

Is New Bern or Portland a more walkable city?

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

Portland is very walkable. It is quite walkable, particularly in the tourist areas such as Downtown, Pearl, and Old Town Chinatown.

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 Portland Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Portland or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or Portland?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New Bern and Portland. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Portland 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 Portland.

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

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

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

One day in New Bern or Portland?

New Bern is a small town where visitors enjoy the 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.

The city of Portland offers nightlife and live music. 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 Portland?

New Bern 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 New Bern, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

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

Five days in New Bern or Portland?

New Bern 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.

Portland 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 Portland?

New Bern 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.

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

Which is Bigger, New Bern or Portland?

Portland has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and Portland, 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 Portland?

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 Portland in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to New Bern as well as Portland. Many visitors come to New Bern in the summer for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Portland for the hiking, the small town charm, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

New Bern is a little warmer than Portland in the summer. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 80°F (27°C) in July, and Portland fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the summer. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than Portland. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Portland in the Autumn?

Both Portland and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to New Bern for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Portland because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the music scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, New Bern is a little warmer than Portland. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New Bern in October average around 65°F (18°C), and Portland averages at about 55°F (13°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than Portland. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or Portland in the Winter?

Both Portland and New Bern during the winter are popular places to visit. 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 Portland this time of year.

It's quite cold in Portland in the winter. In January, New Bern is generally much warmer than Portland. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 44°F (7°C), and Portland fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Portland gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets less rain in January than Portland. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or Portland in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and Portland. The small town charm are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Portland for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

New Bern is much warmer than Portland in the spring. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 62°F (16°C) in April, and Portland fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than Portland. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while Portland receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Portland and New Bern