A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Ocean City vs. Phoenix for Families, Nightlife, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Ocean City or Phoenix?

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

Should I visit Ocean City or Phoenix? 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.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a energetic, fun-filled, and laid back city. It's also popular because of the beaches, nightlife, and food. See Ocean City travel costs.

Phoenix

Phoenix is a laid back, sprawling, and desert city. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Phoenix travel costs.

Ocean City and Phoenix: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Phoenix?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ocean City. Although Ocean City and Phoenix are popular destinations, Ocean City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ocean City is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches, while Phoenix attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, hiking, and shopping. Ocean City is more touristy than Phoenix and is popular for its miles of sandy beach, fun-filled activities, and thrilling water sports. It is also well known for the Ocean City boardwalk. Phoenix is famous for its desert landscapes, high number of golf courses, and year round warm weather.

How is Ocean City different from Phoenix?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Phoenix and Ocean City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Ocean City or Phoenix?

Phoenix is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its museums and history.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Phoenix. You'll find art, science, and cultural museums around town. Favorites include the Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, S'edav Va'aki Museum, and the Arizona Science Museum.

While most people don't head to Ocean City specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Most people spend their time on the beach, but for the rainy days you can check out the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum or the Art League of Ocean City.

Is the Food Better in Ocean City or Phoenix? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Ocean City and Phoenix both to be nice destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Ocean City area. Themed restaurants are popular in the area. You'll also find all-you-can-eat seafood buffets and casual diners with pancakes and waffles. Pizza, burgers, and other fast food options are also abundant.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Phoenix. There are many mom-and-pop shops around town that serve everything from casual meals to quality steaks. There's also a huge selection of Mexican restaurants, as well as other international options such as sushi, dim sum, and Italian.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Nightlife?

Ocean City is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife.

The nightlife in Ocean City has something for everybody. Happy hours are popular at the bars in the area. You'll also find live music and DJ led parties. Head to the boardwalk, which will overwhelm your senses. There are neon lights, colorful rides, and arcades filled with people and activities.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Phoenix. The best nightlife scene is found in downtown and central Phoenix. There are bars, restaurants, and venues where you can catch a show. North Phoenix also has grown into a popular evening spot with cocktail bars and pubs.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Resorts?

Ocean City is a great city for its luxury resorts. However, Phoenix is not a resort destination.

In Ocean City, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. There are many oceanfront resorts with pools and rooms with ocean views. The hotels along the beach tend to be the most expensive, but if you find a place across from the Coastal Highway, it's very challenging to walk to the beach.

Phoenix is not a resort destination.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Beaches?

Ocean City is a great city for the beach. However, Phoenix is not a beach destination.

The beaches at Ocean City attract visitors from all over. There are ten miles of sandy beach that are lined with hotels and resorts. A festive boardwalk runs along the coastline and has many rides, arcades, restaurants, and more. The beach offers waves and warm water during the summer months.

Phoenix is not a beach destination.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Hiking?

Phoenix is a popular place for the nearby hiking options. However, Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Phoenix is a good destination for hiking. You don't have to head far out of town for impressive hiking opportunities. You'll find trails that range from easy to challenging, and many pass through other-worldly landscapes. You'll find popular trails in Usery Mountain Regional Park, Papago Park, White Tank Mountain Regional Park, South Mountain Park and many others.

Ocean City is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Phoenix?

Phoenix is a popular place for its shopping areas. However, Ocean City is not a good city for shopping.

Many visitors go to Phoenix to go shopping. There are plenty of shopping centers, outlets, and malls where you'll find the standard chain stores. You'll also find farmer's markets around town.

Ocean City is a good destination for shopping. You'll find surf stores and souvenir shops along the three mile boardwalk. There are also many vendors and shopping centers along the Coastal Highway. For something a little more interesting you can head to the Inlet Village.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Families?

Ocean City is an unbeatable place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

Ocean City is an extremely popular city to visit for families. Beyond the family-friendly beach, there's also minigolf, dolphin tours, and themed-restaurants that are perfect for kids. Head to the Jolly Roger amusement park for a thrilling afternoon or spend some time visiting Ripley's Believe It or Not. The boardwalk is lined with activities for both kids and adults. There are also candy shops, ice cream parlors, and pizza joints where you can grab a bite to eat.

Phoenix is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will love the Phoenix Zoo, the Arizona Science Center, the SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium, and the Bearizona Wildlife Park. There's also a number of parks and gardens as well as a children's museum and several other interactive museums for kids.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Couples?

Ocean City is a great city for couples. Also, Phoenix is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

Ocean City is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Hotels line the beach, many with beautiful views and nice pools. You can take long romantic walks along the coastline or head to one of the many seafood restaurants in town.

Phoenix is a nice destination for couples. There are many parks and gardens in town as well as beautiful hikes and outdoor activities that couples will enjoy. In the evening, there's theater, shows, and many romantic restaurants.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Ocean City and Phoenix offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Ocean City. There are boardwalk trams as well as shuttle buses, but most people have their own vehicle, and its recommended you have a private car to get around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Phoenix. There's a bus and light rail system, but you really need your own vehicle to get around.

Is Ocean City or Phoenix a more walkable city?

Ocean City and Phoenix both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Ocean City is generally not very walkable. If you stay at an oceanfront hotel or on the ocean block, it's possible to walk to the beach. If you stay further back, you'll have to cross the Coastal Highway, which is eight lanes of busy traffic.

Phoenix is generally not a very walkable city. It's a sprawling city and the only real area that's walkable is the downtown.

For even more information, also check out Is Ocean City Worth Visiting? and Is Phoenix Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Phoenix or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Phoenix?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ocean City and Phoenix. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ocean City than in Phoenix. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Phoenix.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Phoenix than Ocean City 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 Phoenix.

One day in Ocean City or Phoenix?

In Ocean City, you'll find nightlife and food. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With museums and nightlife around the laid back city of Phoenix, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Phoenix, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Ocean City or Phoenix?

In Ocean City, you'll find food and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people come for the beaches. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Phoenix, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Ocean City or Phoenix?

Ocean City is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Ocean City has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Phoenix, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Ocean City or Phoenix?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Ocean City. In Ocean City, you'll find food and nightlife. It's also a relaxing resort destination. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one week here.

Phoenix is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.

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

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ocean City Expensive? and Is Phoenix Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Phoenix?

Phoenix has a larger population, and is about 180 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Phoenix, 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 Ocean City or Phoenix?

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 Ocean City or Phoenix in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Phoenix. Many visitors come to Ocean City in the summer for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Additionally, most visitors come to Phoenix for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

The heat can be very extreme in Phoenix. Ocean City is cooler than Phoenix in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Phoenix fluctuates around 98°F (36°C).

Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Phoenix. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Phoenix in the Autumn?

Both Phoenix and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the shopping scene during these months. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Phoenix because of the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Ocean City is much colder than Phoenix. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocean City in October average around 58°F (14°C), and Phoenix averages at about 79°F (26°C).

In October, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ocean City or Phoenix in the Winter?

Both Phoenix and Ocean City during the winter are popular places to visit. The winter months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Phoenix this time of year.

The weather in Ocean City can be very cold. In January, Ocean City is generally much colder than Phoenix. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 35°F (2°C), and Phoenix fluctuates around 58°F (14°C).

Ocean City usually gets more rain in January than Phoenix. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Phoenix in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Phoenix. The beaches are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year.

Ocean City is much colder than Phoenix in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Phoenix fluctuates around 74°F (23°C).

In April, Ocean City usually receives more rain than Phoenix. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Phoenix receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Phoenix and Ocean City