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

Should you visit New Bern or San Diego?

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

Should I visit New Bern or San Diego? 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 quaint, charming, and laid back town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Visitors also love the shopping, museums, and food. See New Bern travel costs.

San Diego

San Diego is a fun-filled, hip, and dynamic coastal city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. San Diego is a gorgeous place to visit. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches. See San Diego travel costs.

New Bern and San Diego: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in New Bern or San Diego?

Travelers will usually find more to do in San Diego. Although New Bern and San Diego are popular destinations, San Diego has more sights and attractions for tourists. San Diego is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, big city activities, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while New Bern attracts visitors for its small town charm. San Diego is more touristy than New Bern and is popular for its relaxed coastal atmosphere, its many kid-friendly sights, and its beautiful beaches with critter-filled tidal pools. It is also well known for The San Diego Zoo. New Bern is famous for being the birthplace of Pepsi.

How is New Bern different from San Diego?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

San Diego offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. While the city is famous for it's beaches, zoos, and aquariums, don't overlook the museums and other landmarks. Popular options include the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, the Old Town State Historic Park, and Point Loma and Cabrillo Monument.

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 San Diego? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Diego 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, San Diego makes for a great culinary experience. The city has great seafood and a diversity of cuisines. There are many casual dining options that serve informal foods like burgers or salads, but there are also award-winning fine dining restaurants with elegant atmospheres. Popular local dishes include fish tacos and California burritos.

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 San Diego Better for Nightlife?

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

San Diego is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The heart of the city's nightlife scene is in the Gaslamp District, which is filled with bars, clubs, and music venues. There's a young student population that keeps the nightlife scene casual and fun.

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

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Music?

San Diego is well known for live music. However, New Bern is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in San Diego. Popular venues include the House of Blues, The Belly Up, and The Shout House.

New Bern is not a live music destination.

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Resorts?

San Diego is a popular place for its resorts. However, New Bern is not a resort destination.

San Diego has a handful of resorts to choose from. Most people prefer to stay in hotels or VRBOs, but several popular resorts include Fairmont Grand Del Mar, Paradise Point, and the famous Hotel del Coronado.

New Bern is not a resort destination.

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

San Diego is a popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, New Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

San Diego has a few good snorkeling spots. Popular snorkeling and diving spots include La Jolla Cove, Mission Bay, and Turtle Town. The water's a bit chili, but it's still worth going for a dive or popping on a mask and snorkeling around for a bit.

New Bern is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Beaches?

San Diego is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, New Bern is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in San Diego. The city has great beaches with tidal pools and interesting sea life at low tide. Adults and kids alike will enjoy hitting the beach when the tides are out and looking for local critters in the tidal pools. Popular beaches in the area include La Jolla Cove Beach, Coronado Beach, and Pacific Beach.

New Bern is not a beach destination.

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Hiking?

San Diego 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 San Diego. The city is filled with parks and has tons of natural beauty. There is plenty of urban hiking in town, or you can visit more natural areas just out of town. Head to Torrey Pines State Park or Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail for some nice hikes.

New Bern is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in New Bern or San Diego?

Shopping is a popular activity in both San Diego 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 San Diego. Head to Fashion Valley or Westfield UTC for some fun shopping. There are suburban shopping malls in the area as well as souvenir shops in the more touristy areas.

Is New Bern or San Diego More Beautiful?

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

San Diego is a gorgeous place to visit. Many people enjoy city's beautiful coastline and surrounding natural beauty.

New Bern is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is New Bern or San Diego Better for Families?

San Diego is an unbeatable place for its family-friendly activities. However, New Bern is not particularly known for its kid-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, San Diego is a very family-friendly destination. The city is filled with kid-friendly activities that everyone can enjoy. There's the world-class zoo, several amusement parks, the beaches, aquariums, and more. The year-round warm weather makes it easy to spend plenty of time outdoors in parks, playgrounds, and beaches where kids can stretch their legs and run around.

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 San Diego Better for Couples?

San Diego is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, New Bern is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

San Diego makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. For adventurous couples, there are many outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. The beaches offer a great playground for adults who enjoy the water and warm weather. There are also restaurants and a great nightlife in San Diego.

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 San Diego Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Diego is a popular place for backpackers. However, New Bern is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit San Diego. Backpackers will enjoy the young vibe of the city. There are a few great hostels near the beach or in town.

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 San Diego Better for Students?

San Diego is an unbeatable place for students. However, New Bern is not popular with students.

Many students frequent San Diego. With its young population and many universities, international students will feel right at home in San Diego. There are also many great outdoor activities for the adventurous.

New Bern is not popular with students.

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

San Diego is a coastal city 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 San Diego. The city has a trolley (light rail system) as well as a bus system. Most people depend on cars to get around, and you'll likely enjoy your trip a bit more if you have your own vehicle.

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

Is New Bern or San Diego a more walkable city?

New Bern and San Diego both are nice when exploring on foot.

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

San Diego is a somewhat walkable place. The downtown area is walkable, but if you want to travel further, you'll need to find a different form of transportation.

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

Should I spend more time in San Diego or New Bern?

How long in New Bern or San Diego?

In either New Bern or San Diego, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in San Diego than New Bern because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for New Bern, and 3-5 days is enough time in San Diego.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Diego 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 San Diego.

One day in New Bern or San Diego?

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 coastal city of San Diego offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. 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 San Diego?

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.

San Diego is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in New Bern or San Diego?

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.

San Diego is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in San Diego, 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 San Diego?

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.

San Diego is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that beaches is why people visit. 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 coastal 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 San Diego, we can see that San Diego 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 San Diego would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Diego 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 San Diego Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, New Bern or San Diego?

San Diego has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of New Bern. When comparing the sizes of New Bern and San Diego, 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 San Diego?

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 San Diego in the Summer?

Both San Diego and New Bern during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to New Bern for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to San Diego because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, New Bern is a little warmer than San Diego. Typically, the summer temperatures in New Bern in July average around 80°F (27°C), and San Diego averages at about 71°F (22°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in New Bern. New Bern usually gets more rain in July than San Diego. New Bern gets 6.6 inches (169 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or San Diego in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both New Bern and San Diego. The autumn months attract visitors to New Bern because of the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to San Diego this time of year.

In October, New Bern is generally around the same temperature as San Diego. Daily temperatures in New Bern average around 65°F (18°C), and San Diego fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

In October, New Bern usually receives more rain than San Diego. New Bern gets 3.4 inches (85 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.4 inches (9 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit New Bern or San Diego in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to New Bern as well as San Diego. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to New Bern this time of year. Also, many travelers come to San Diego for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

New Bern is much colder than San Diego in the winter. The daily temperature in New Bern averages around 44°F (7°C) in January, and San Diego fluctuates around 57°F (14°C).

New Bern receives a lot of rain in the winter. New Bern usually gets more rain in January than San Diego. New Bern gets 4.1 inches (105 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 1.8 inches (46 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit New Bern or San Diego in the Spring?

Both San Diego and New Bern are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New Bern for the small town charm. Also, many visitors come to San Diego in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, New Bern is around the same temperature as San Diego. Typically, the spring temperatures in New Bern in April average around 62°F (16°C), and San Diego averages at about 62°F (17°C).

In April, New Bern usually receives more rain than San Diego. New Bern gets 2.9 inches (74 mm) of rain, while San Diego receives 0.8 inches (20 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for San Diego and New Bern