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

Should you visit Ocean City or Providence?

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

Should I visit Ocean City or Providence? 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.

Providence

Providence is a active, friendly, and fascinating city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping. See Providence travel costs.

Ocean City and Providence: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Ocean City or Providence?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Ocean City. Although Ocean City and Providence are popular destinations, Ocean City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Ocean City is very popular for its nightlife, resorts, and beaches, while Providence attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, and shopping. Ocean City is more touristy than Providence 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. Providence is famous for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Ocean City different from Providence?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Providence 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 Providence. There are several historical museums around town as well as art museums, zoos, a planetarium and natural history museum, and even a children's 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 Providence? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a well-known place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Ocean City is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Dining out in Providence is an experience not to be missed. The food scene around town has grown and diversified in recent years. You'll find a mix of international and local options and for such a small city, it really has a lot to offer.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Ocean City. 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.

Is Ocean City or Providence Better for Nightlife?

Ocean City is a great city for its evening party scene. Also, Providence 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 Providence. Comedy clubs, bars, and clubs keep the energy high during the evening hours. It's not hard to find something to do, particularly on weekend nights.

Is Ocean City or Providence Better for Resorts?

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

There are plenty of resorts in Ocean City to choose from. 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.

Providence is not a resort destination.

Is Ocean City or Providence Better for Beaches?

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

Many people visit Ocean City for it's beautiful beaches. 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.

Providence is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Ocean City or Providence?

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

Many visitors go to Providence to go shopping. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences 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 Providence Better for Families?

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

With a huge array of activities for kids, Ocean City is very family-friendly. 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.

Providence is a family-friendly place to visit. There are opportunities for kids to interact with animals at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, as well as plenty of places for kids to run around like Rocky Point Park or Goddard Memorial State Park. There's also the Providence Children's Museum, go carting, and entertainment centers.

Is Ocean City or Providence Better for Couples?

Ocean City is a great city for couples. Also, Providence 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.

Providence is a nice destination for couples. You can see a show at the Providence Performing Arts Center or visit some of the city's historic buildings and museums. There are also parks and coastal walks as well as many great restaurants.

Is Ocean City or Providence Better for Students?

Providence is a well-known place for students. However, Ocean City is not popular with students.

Providence is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. There's a college town vibe to this small city because it's home to Brown University, which is a member of the Ivy League.

Ocean City is not popular with students.

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

Providence is a popular place for its public transit. However, Ocean City is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Providence has a few public transit options. There are RIPTA buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly 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.

Is Ocean City or Providence a more walkable city?

Providence is a well-known place for its ease of walking around. However, Ocean City is not a good city for its walkability.

Providence is a very walkable destination. It's a walkable city and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

Ocean City is generally not a very walkable city. 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.

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

Should I spend more time in Providence or Ocean City?

How long in Ocean City or Providence?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Ocean City and Providence. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Ocean City than in Providence. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for Ocean City, and 2-3 days is enough time in Providence.

Families should spend more time in Ocean City than Providence. 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 Providence. 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 Providence 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 Providence.

One day in Ocean City or Providence?

With food and nightlife around the fun-filled city of Ocean City, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the active city of Providence, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Ocean City or Providence?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Ocean City, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Providence, 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 Providence?

Ocean City, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Providence, 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 Providence?

Ocean City is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this city makes for a great vacation. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

Which is Bigger, Ocean City or Providence?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Ocean City. When comparing the sizes of Ocean City and Providence, 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 Providence?

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 Providence in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Ocean City as well as Providence. Most visitors come to Ocean City for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Providence because of the family-friendly experiences.

Ocean City is around the same temperature as Providence in the summer. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Providence fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

Ocean City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Ocean City usually gets more rain in July than Providence. Ocean City gets 4.3 inches (110 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Providence in the Autumn?

Both Providence and Ocean City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Ocean City because of the shopping scene. Also, the shopping scene are the main draw to Providence this time of year.

In the autumn, Ocean City is a little warmer than Providence. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Ocean City in October average around 58°F (14°C), and Providence averages at about 53°F (12°C).

In October, Ocean City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Providence. Ocean City gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Ocean City or Providence in the Winter?

Both Providence and Ocean City during the winter are popular places to visit. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Ocean City this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Providence for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Providence. It's quite cold in Ocean City in the winter. In January, Ocean City is generally much warmer than Providence. Daily temperatures in Ocean City average around 35°F (2°C), and Providence fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

Ocean City usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Providence. Ocean City gets 3.6 inches (93 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Ocean City or Providence in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Ocean City and Providence. Many travelers come to Ocean City for the beaches.

Ocean City is a little warmer than Providence in the spring. The daily temperature in Ocean City averages around 54°F (12°C) in April, and Providence fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

In April, Ocean City usually receives less rain than Providence. Ocean City gets 3.2 inches (81 mm) of rain, while Providence receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Providence and Ocean City