A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Pensacola vs. Durham for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Pensacola or Durham?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pensacola and Durham can help you decide which place is right for you.

Pensacola

Pensacola is a entertaining, fun-filled, and active beach town. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Pensacola travel costs.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Durham travel costs.

Pensacola and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pensacola or Durham?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Pensacola than Durham. While Durham is larger than Pensacola, Pensacola has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Pensacola is more popular for its food, resorts, beaches, and hiking, while Durham is known for its museums and attractions. Pensacola is more touristy than Durham and is known for its white sand beaches and long running naval history. It is also home to Gulf Islands National Seashore. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Pensacola different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Pensacola or Durham?

Durham is notable for its sights and museums. Also, Pensacola is not as famous, but is still a good beach town to visit for its museums and history.

Many visitors head to Durham specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Pensacola. On a rainy day there are some nice museums in the area. You can visit the National Naval Aviation Museum, the Historic Pensacola Village, the Pensacola Lighthouse and Museum, or Pensacola Children's Museum.

Is the Food Better in Pensacola or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Dining out in Pensacola is an experience not to be missed. You'll find no shortage of seafood options around town. Oysters, shrimp, and fresh fish are popular on the menus. You'll also find lots of Cajun flavors as well as casual sandwiches and pizza.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Durham. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are good in both Pensacola and Durham.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Pensacola. There's a casual nightlife scene with pubs, live music, and a mellow but fun setting.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Resorts?

Pensacola is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Pensacola. Family-friendly resorts with pools, waterslides, and lazy rivers are common. You'll also find beachfront hotels and more affordable options set back from the beach.

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Beaches?

Pensacola is an amazing beach town to visit for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Pensacola is a very popular vacation destination. White sand beaches with blue water and mild temperatures make this a wonderful beach destination. Some of the best beaches include Casino Beach, Perdido Key Beach, and Opal Beach.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Hiking?

Pensacola is a moderate beach town for the nearby hiking options. However, Durham is not a hiking destination.

Hiking is a fun activity while in Pensacola. Step away from the beachfront development and you'll find some nice nature parks with quiet walking trails.

Durham is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Pensacola or Durham?

Both Pensacola and Durham are good shopping destinations.

Pensacola offers some nice shopping areas. There are sprawling shopping malls and shopping centers as well as local boutiques and quintessential souvenir shops.

Durham has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Families?

Pensacola is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Pensacola is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kid-friendly beaches, minigolf, a zoo, and even a few museums make this a great family destination. There are family-friendly resorts and kid-friendly restaurants that make for an easy vacation that everyone will enjoy.

Durham is a family-friendly beach town. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Couples?

Pensacola is a well-known place for couples. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for romance.

Pensacola is a very popular place to visit for couples. Beautiful beaches and sunset cruises make this a great romantic getaway. You'll find great restaurants for a date night and plenty of activity once the sun goes down. During the day you can lounge on the beach or by the pool, sip drinks, and enjoy a vacation with your loved one.

Durham is a nice destination for couples. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is notable for students. However, Pensacola is not popular with students.

Durham is very popular with students. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Pensacola is not popular with students.

Is Pensacola or Durham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Durham is a moderate city for its public transit. However, Pensacola is a mediocre beach town for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Public transit is quite limited in Pensacola. There's a bus system, but it's not particularly helpful to vacationers.

Is Pensacola or Durham a more walkable city?

Pensacola and Durham both are decent when exploring on foot.

Pensacola is generally not very walkable. It's not a particularly walkable city and you'll want to have a car to fully enjoy your vacation.

Durham is generally not a very walkable beach town. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Pensacola Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Pensacola?

How long in Pensacola or Durham?

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

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

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

One day in Pensacola or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Pensacola. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Durham. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Durham has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Pensacola or Durham?

Pensacola is a great place to explore. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the diverse destination of Durham. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Pensacola or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Pensacola. Don't miss the beaches, as that's what most people do. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the sports oriented city of Durham. 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.

A week in Pensacola or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fun-filled destination of Pensacola. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Durham 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Pensacola or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Pensacola. When comparing the sizes of Pensacola and Durham, 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 Pensacola or Durham?

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 Pensacola or Durham in the Summer?

Both Durham and Pensacola are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Pensacola because of the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Durham this time of year.

In the summer, Pensacola is around the same temperature as Durham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Pensacola in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Durham averages at about 79°F (26°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Durham. It's quite rainy in Pensacola. In July, Pensacola usually receives more rain than Durham. Pensacola gets 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Pensacola or Durham in the Autumn?

Both Durham and Pensacola during the autumn are popular places to visit. The hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Pensacola this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Durham for the shopping scene.

In October, Pensacola is generally a little warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Pensacola average around 69°F (21°C), and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Pensacola. Pensacola usually gets more rain in October than Durham. Pensacola gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Pensacola is the hurricane season.

Should I visit Pensacola or Durham in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Pensacola and Durham. Many travelers come to Pensacola for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Durham in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Durham can get quite cold in the winter. Pensacola is much warmer than Durham in the winter. The daily temperature in Pensacola averages around 51°F (10°C) in January, and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

Pensacola gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Pensacola usually receives more rain than Durham. Pensacola gets 4.6 inches (117 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Pensacola or Durham in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Pensacola as well as Durham. Many visitors come to Pensacola in the spring for the beaches.

In the spring, Pensacola is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Pensacola in April average around 67°F (20°C), and Durham averages at about 60°F (16°C).

Pensacola usually gets more rain in April than Durham. Pensacola gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Pensacola is June to November.

Typical Weather for Durham and Pensacola