A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Reno vs. Boise for Nightlife, Attractions, Food, and Families

Should you visit Reno or Boise?

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

Should I visit Reno or Boise? 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.

Reno

Reno is a energetic, growing, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums. See Reno travel costs.

Boise

Boise is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and shopping. See Boise travel costs.

Reno and Boise: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Boise?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Reno than Boise. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Reno is more touristy than Boise and is known for its casinos and nightlife scene. It is also well known for the National Automobile Museum. Boise is famous for its many outdoor and recreational activities.

How is Reno different from Boise?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Reno or Boise?

You'll find a number of nice museums and attractions in both Boise and Reno.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Reno. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.

Boise is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. As the state capital, there's a nice selection of local museums around town. Favorites include the Boise Art Museum, the Basque Museum & Cultural Center, the Idaho Black History Museum, and Discovery Center.

Is the Food Better in Reno or Boise? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Reno is a popular place for its restaurants. However, Boise is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Reno is becoming an appealing option for foodies. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Boise offers some easy restaurants to choose from. While Idaho has long been associated with the potato, the locals usually think of "finger steaks" when describing local food. These are deep-friend beef strips that are as good as they sound.

Is Reno or Boise Better for Nightlife?

Reno is an excellent place to visit for its evening party scene. Also, Boise is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.

Reno has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.

Boise has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. In downtown Boise you'll find a selection of bars, lounges, and breweries. There's enough around town to keep the nightlife scene interesting.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Boise?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Reno and Boise.

Reno has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.

Boise is a great destination for shopping. You'll find a mix of local boutiques, independent vendors, and suburban shopping centers where you'll find anything that you might need.

Is Reno or Boise Better for Families?

Reno is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Boise is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Reno is a family-friendly city. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.

Boise doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. You'll find parks, playgrounds, and the Discovery Center which will help keep kids entertained.

Is Reno or Boise Better for Couples?

Reno is a popular place for couples. However, Boise is lacking in options for romance.

Reno is a good city for couples to visit. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.

Boise is not the best destination for a couple to visit. Date night activities include dining at a nice restaurants and seeing a show at the theater.

Is Reno or Boise Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find reasonable public transit in both Reno and Boise.

Public transit is mostly limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Public transit is generally limited in Boise. There are infrequent buses around town, but visitors usually have a car to get around town efficiently.

Is Reno or Boise a more walkable city?

Reno and Boise are reasonable when it comes to walkability.

Reno is generally not a very walkable city. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

Boise is generally not very walkable. There are a couple of walkable neighborhoods but, in general, the town isn't very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Reno Worth Visiting? and Is Boise Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Boise or Reno?

How long in Reno or Boise?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Reno or Boise to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Reno than Boise because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Reno, and 1-2 days is enough time in Boise.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reno than Boise 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 Reno.

One day in Reno or Boise?

In Reno, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this energetic destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Boise. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Reno or Boise?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Boise is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Reno or Boise?

Reno is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Reno. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find shopping and museums around the friendly destination of Boise. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Reno or Boise?

You'll find food and shopping around the vibrant destination of Reno. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

The authentic city of Boise offers museums and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in United States of America, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in United States of America, and The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Reno and Boise, we can see that Reno is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Reno or Boise?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Boise. When comparing the sizes of Reno and Boise, 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.