A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Portland, Maine vs. Salt Lake City for Food, Nightlife, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

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

Should I visit Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City? 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.

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine is a scenic, picturesque, and seaside coastal town. With stunning beauty, Portland, Maine attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the hiking, shopping, and nightlife. See Portland, Maine travel costs.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City is a notable, religious, and architectural city. Other popular activities here include hiking, shopping, and museums. See Salt Lake City travel costs.

Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Salt Lake City than Portland, Maine. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Salt Lake City is very popular for its museums and attractions and scuba diving & snorkeling, while Portland, Maine attracts visitors for its nightlife, beaches, and impressive beauty. Salt Lake City is more touristy than Portland, Maine and is popular for its religious landmarks and its large Mormon population. It is also well known for Temple Square. Portland, Maine is famous for its seafood restaurants, scenic lighthouse, and coastal walks.

How is Portland, Maine different from Salt Lake City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Salt Lake City offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Many of the fascinating sights around town are influenced by the city's Mormon culture. Temple Square is a highlight for most visitors. It spans 35 acres and is beautifully landscaped with several fountains. There are also four main churches - The Temple, the Tabernacle, the Temple Annex, and Assembly Hall. The city also has several museums such as the Natural History Museum and the historic Liberty Park.

Portland, Maine does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City can be difficult as they are each nice in their own way.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Portland, Maine area. The town has grown into a foodie destination that takes advantage of its waterfront setting. Many restaurants make use of the fresh seafood with lobster rolls and oysters on the half shell being popular. You'll also find a lot of dishes that use haddock and whole lobsters.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Salt Lake City. In recent years the food scene has really improved and you'll find a variety of restaurants that serve everything from upscale dishes to more casual fare.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Nightlife?

Portland, Maine is very good for its evening party scene. However, Salt Lake City is lacking in good options for nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Portland, Maine. The city has many microbreweries, wine bars, taverns, and pubs. You'll find many places concentrated in the Old Port, which has a charming and fun atmosphere.

Salt Lake City is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. Known for its large Mormon population, nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Salt Lake City. While it will likely never be a party city, there are a growing number of entertainment options around town.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Salt Lake City is a popular place for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Portland, Maine is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Salt Lake City has a few good snorkeling spots. There are a number of good ski resorts nearby, making this a good base or starting point for a ski vacation.

Portland, Maine is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Beaches?

Portland, Maine is a very popular place for the beach. However, Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Portland, Maine is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. It has many sandy and calm beaches. The water may be too cold to swim, but the beaches are perfect for flying a kite or hanging out with family.

Salt Lake City is not a beach destination.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City both have nice trails.

Portland, Maine is a good destination for hiking. In addition to bike trails, there are several good hikes in the area.

Many people include a hike when visiting Salt Lake City. The city offers easy access to many diverse trails, so if you're a nature enthusiasts, you'll appreciate this destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Salt Lake City and Portland, Maine.

Many visitors go to Portland, Maine to go shopping. The town has many nice local boutiques to explore. Head downtown for the best local venues and the most interesting shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Salt Lake City. The city has sprawling outlet malls as well as local stores and craft shops. City Creek Center is a favorite shopping destination, but there are also several large shopping malls that are worth visiting.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City More Beautiful?

Portland, Maine is a very popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Salt Lake City is not a destination known for its beauty.

With stunning beauty, Portland, Maine attracts visitors from all around. Set against the water's edge, the town offers many beautiful scenes and picturesque settings.

Salt Lake City is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Portland, Maine. It is a charming town with a number of kid-friendly museums, walks, and waterfront activities. You can visit the Portland Observatory, Bug Light Park, or grab ice cream in the Old Port. There are also children's museums such as the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine.

Salt Lake City offers lots of family activities. There are museums that kids will enjoy like the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum. There are also fun-filled activities like a visit to Lagoon Amusement Park. You can learn about history at This Is the Place Heritage Park or learn about the undersea world at Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City make for a nice place to visit.

Portland, Maine is a good coastal town for couples to visit. Couples will enjoy the beautiful waterfront setting, the fine dining restaurants, and everything that the city has to offer. Head to the Old Port for romantic restaurants and a great atmosphere or catch a show at Portland Stage.

Salt Lake City is a nice destination for couples. The city is filled with beautiful gardens like Red Butte Garden. There are also nice restaurants and romantic hotels that will make this a nice place for a couple's getaway.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Salt Lake City is a popular place for its public transit. However, Portland, Maine is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Salt Lake City, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's a surprisingly good public transit system that includes light rail, buses, and commuter trains, but if you want to get out of town you'll need to have a car.

Public transit is quite limited in Portland, Maine. There is a very basic bus system but you really must have a car to explore the city.

Is Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City a more walkable city?

Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City both are reasonable when exploring on foot.

Portland, Maine is generally not very walkable. Downtown is very walkable but if you want to travel to other areas you'll need a car.

Salt Lake City is generally not a very walkable coastal town. While some neighborhoods are walkable, like Temple Square, most visitors prefer to have a car.

For even more information, also check out Is Portland, Maine Worth Visiting? and Is Salt Lake City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Salt Lake City or Portland, Maine?

How long in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City. In our opinion, Portland, Maine has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Portland, Maine than Salt Lake City. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Salt Lake City than Portland, Maine 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 Salt Lake City.

One day in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

In Portland, Maine, you'll find nightlife and food. Most people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The notable destination of Salt Lake City offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Portland, Maine is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

The city of Salt Lake City offers scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Portland, Maine. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. It offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Salt Lake City is a great place to explore. This city offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the coastal town of Portland, Maine. It's also a great beach destination, too. Your budget might influence how long you stay. 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.

Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Salt Lake City. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Portland, Maine or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Portland, Maine. When comparing the sizes of Portland, Maine and Salt Lake City, 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.