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

Should you visit Providence or Durango?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Providence and Durango. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Providence

Providence is a friendly, fascinating, and active city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Providence travel costs.

Durango

Durango is a nature-filled, historic, and charming small town. With amazing attractions and sights, it's also a fun small town not to be missed. Durango offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Since it has a quaint atmosphere, you'll want to spend time soaking it all in. It's also popular because of the hiking and museums. See Durango travel costs.

Providence and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Providence or Durango?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Durango than Providence, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Durango is better known for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Providence is more popular for its food, nightlife, and shopping. Durango is more touristy than Providence and is known for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. Also, Durango is famous for The Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. Providence is well known for its outdoor parks, historic atmosphere, and college town vibe.

How is Providence different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Providence or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is adequate for skiing. However, Providence is not a skiing destination.

While in the area, visitors like to go to Durango for snow skiing. Purgatory Ski Resort is about 20 minutes from town and it's a family-friendly mountain with beginner and intermediate runs. It's small, and geared specifically to the beginner and younger crowd.

Providence is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Providence or Durango?

You'll find a number of notable museums and attractions in both Durango and Providence.

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.

Durango is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Most visitors come to town specifically to ride the Silverton & Durango Narrow Gauge Railroad. There's also the D&SNGRR Railroad Museum, and the Fish Hatchery and Wildlife Museum.

Is the Food Better in Providence or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Providence is a very popular place for its restaurants. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Providence. 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Durango. Most of the restaurants are casual and family-friendly, serving up burgers or sandwiches for a reasonable price. You'll also find some coffeeshops and even a few food trucks and international restaurants.

Is Providence or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Providence is a good destination for nightlife. However, Durango is lacking in good options for nightlife and partying.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe 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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Durango. It's a small town that attracts tourists mainly for its train, so you won't find much in the way of a nightlife scene.

Is Providence or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a good destination for its historic old town charm. However, Providence does not have a historic old town.

Durango has an old town worth visiting. Filled with character, the downtown feels like you've stepped into a Western. The town has a long history as a mining and railroad community, which you can see throughout the historic area. It really feels like you're in the "Wild West."

Providence does not have a historic old town.

Is Providence or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is a great small town for hiking. However, Providence is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Durango for the hiking trails. It's surrounded by plenty of natural beautiful and there is an endless supply of hikes in the region. Popular nearby hikes include Animas Mountain Trail, Falls Creek Trail, and Purgatory Trail.

Providence is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Providence or Durango?

Providence is a good destination for shopping. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its shopping opportunities.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Providence. Malls, shopping centers, and boutiques all offer a range of shopping experiences around town.

If you're looking to go shopping, Durango has some nice offerings. The charming town has some boutiques that sell beautifully made Native American jewelry and other interesting items. There are also souvenir shops and other venues that target tourists specifically.

Is Providence or Durango More Beautiful?

Durango is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Durango offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The town is surrounded by plenty of natural beauty.

Providence is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Providence or Durango Better for Families?

Durango is a great small town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Providence is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Durango. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

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 Providence or Durango Better for Couples?

Providence is a good destination for romance. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.

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.

Most people don't think of Durango as a couple's destination. The town may not be the first romantic destination that comes to mind, but the railroad combined with wandering the downtown can make for a great couple's getaway.

Is Providence or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Providence is not known for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Durango. With plenty of parks and outdoor areas nearby, backpackers will have plenty of places to explore.

Providence is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town for those who want an affordable place to stay.

Is Providence or Durango Better for Students?

Providence is a very popular place for its student-friendly activities. However, Durango is not popular with students.

Many students visit Providence. 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.

Durango is not popular with students.

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

Providence is a good destination for times when you don't have a car. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Durango. It's a small town with no real public transit options so a car is a must.

Is Providence or Durango a more walkable city?

Providence is a very popular place for its walkability. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its high level of walkability.

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

Durango is generally not very walkable. While the Main Street through town is walkable, it's not as pedestrian-friendly as some small towns.

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

Should I spend more time in Durango or Providence?

How long in Providence or Durango?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Providence and Durango. You can spend similar amounts of time exploring each one. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durango than Providence 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 Durango.

One day in Providence or Durango?

In Providence, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Providence or Durango?

In Providence, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Providence has to offer.

Even though Durango is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this small town.

Five days in Providence or Durango?

Providence is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Durango, a popular small town, is full of activities for travelers. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 Providence or Durango?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Providence. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Providence. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Durango 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 Photography Tours in United States of America, The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, and The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Providence and Durango, we can see that Providence is more expensive. And not only is Durango much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durango would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durango 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 Durango.

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

Which is Bigger, Providence or Durango?

Providence has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Providence and Durango, 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.