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

Should you visit Raleigh or Durango?

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

Should I visit Raleigh or Durango? 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.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a friendly, southern, and student-friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and museums. See Raleigh travel costs.

Durango

Durango is a historic, charming, and quaint small town. Because it offers so much small town charm with a variety of activities, it attracts plenty of visitors for a good reason. Durango offers plenty of beauty for visitors. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. Other popular activities here include hiking and museums. See Durango travel costs.

Raleigh and Durango: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Raleigh or Durango?

Both Durango and Raleigh have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Raleigh is better known for its food, nightlife, and big city activities, while Durango is more popular for its skiing, historical sights, hiking, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Durango is more touristy than Raleigh and is popular for its historic narrow gauge railroad, its charming small town atmosphere, and its many family-friendly activities. Raleigh is well known for its many museums and being the home to North Carolina State University.

How is Raleigh different from Durango?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Raleigh or Durango Better for Skiing?

Durango is a small town with a few options for winter skiing. However, Raleigh 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.

Raleigh is not a skiing destination.

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

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Raleigh or Durango.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Raleigh. As the state capital, there are a number of free museums in the area. There are also some kid-friendly options and other activities that are affiliated with the colleges and universities. Popular options include the NC Museum of Natural Sciences (free), the NC Museum of History (free), the NC Museum of Art (free), and Marbles Kids 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 Raleigh or Durango? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Raleigh is a good destination for its restaurants. However, Durango is lacking in good options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Raleigh. In addition to the standard chain restaurants, you'll find a number of local eateries with great southern dishes. Try some southern classics like barbecue, pimento cheese, and fried chicken and waffles. There are also good international options including Nepalese, Laotian, and Ethiopian flavors.

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 Raleigh or Durango Better for Nightlife?

Raleigh 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 Raleigh. Head to downtown Raleigh or the areas around NC State University for some of the best nightlife. Trivia nights and happy hours are popular and you'll find breweries popping up in many places.

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 Raleigh or Durango Better for its Old Town?

Durango is a popular place for its historic old town charm. However, Raleigh does not have a historic old town.

Durango offers a nice historic old town area. 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."

Raleigh does not have a historic old town.

Is Raleigh or Durango Better for Hiking?

Durango is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Raleigh is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Durango. 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.

Raleigh is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Raleigh or Durango?

Durango is a small town with a few options for its shopping areas. However, Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Durango has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. 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.

Raleigh is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Raleigh or Durango More Beautiful?

Durango is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Raleigh is not a destination known for its beauty.

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

Raleigh is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Raleigh or Durango Better for Families?

Durango is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Raleigh is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Durango is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. In the area you'll find ziplining, alpine slides, and plenty of outdoor areas to explore - and of course there's the railroad.

Raleigh offers lots of family activities. For such a small city, Raleigh has a number of unique kid-friendly activities like the popular Pullen Park and Marbles Kids' Museum. Pullen Park has small rides and a playground that are perfect for young kids. There's also the NC Museum of Natural History which is free and fun to explore with kids.

Is Raleigh or Durango Better for Couples?

Most people don't think of either Raleigh or Durango as a couple's destination.

Raleigh is not always the best place to visit for a couple. While it's often overlooked by couples who want a weekend away, there are a number of museums and some nice restaurants to explore.

Durango is not the best destination for a couple to visit. 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 Raleigh or Durango Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Durango is a popular place for backpackers. However, Raleigh is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

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

Raleigh is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Raleigh or Durango Better for Students?

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

Many students visit Raleigh. The city has a diverse student population with many nearby universities and colleges.

Durango is not popular with students.

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

Neither Raleigh or Durango offer decent public transit.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Raleigh. The city's public transportation options are limited to a few bus lines that are mostly used by students.

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

Is Raleigh or Durango a more walkable city?

Raleigh and Durango both are respectable when exploring on foot.

Raleigh is generally not very walkable. The city is somewhat walkable in the downtown area, but everywhere else you'll need a car.

Durango is generally not a very walkable city. 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 Raleigh Worth Visiting? and Is Durango Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durango or Raleigh?

How long in Raleigh or Durango?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Raleigh and Durango. In our opinion, Durango has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Durango than Raleigh. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Durango than Raleigh 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 Raleigh or Durango?

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

Durango is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This small town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Raleigh or Durango?

In Raleigh, you'll find nightlife and food. 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 Raleigh has to offer.

Durango might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Durango has to offer.

Five days in Raleigh or Durango?

Raleigh 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 is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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.

A week in Raleigh or Durango?

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Durango. Since Durango is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Raleigh and Durango, we can see that Raleigh 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 Raleigh would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Raleigh 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 Raleigh Expensive? and Is Durango Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Raleigh or Durango?

Raleigh has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Durango. When comparing the sizes of Raleigh 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.