A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Reno vs. Kamloops for Nightlife, Families, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Reno or Kamloops?

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

Should I visit Reno or Kamloops? 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 vibrant, energetic, and growing city. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Reno travel costs.

Kamloops

Kamloops is a laid-back, outdoorsy, and nature-filled city. It's also popular because of the food, hiking, and shopping. See Kamloops travel costs.

Reno and Kamloops: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Kamloops?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Kamloops than Reno. While Reno is larger than Kamloops, Kamloops has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Kamloops is more popular for its skiing and hiking, while Reno is known for its museums and attractions and nightlife. Reno is more touristy than Kamloops and is known for its casinos and nightlife scene. Kamloops is popular for its hiking trails, bike paths, and golf courses. It is also home to Sun Peaks Resort.

How is Reno different from Kamloops?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Reno or Kamloops Better for Skiing?

Kamloops is an excellent place to visit for skiing and snowboarding. However, Reno is not a skiing destination.

Kamloops draws a large crowd in the winter for its impressive snow skiing opportunities. There's a long ski season that runs from mid-November to mid-April. The region has two major ski resorts - Sun Peaks Resorts and Harper Mountain.

Reno is not a skiing destination.

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

Reno is a city with good options for its museums and history. However, Kamloops is lacking in options for its museums and landmarks.

Reno offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

Kamloops offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that highlight the local culture and the region's heritage.

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

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Reno and Kamloops.

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.

Kamloops offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. You'll find restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. There are also international options like Jamaican, Indian, or Chinese.

Is Reno or Kamloops Better for Nightlife?

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

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.

Kamloops has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find pubs, bars, breweries and night clubs around town that range in personality and style.

Is Reno or Kamloops Better for Hiking?

Kamloops is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

Kamloops is a good destination for hiking. The area is filled with hiking trails that pass through grasslands, desert landscapes, and pine forests. There is something for every skill level.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Kamloops?

Shoppers can find a variety of good stores in both Reno and Kamloops.

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.

Kamloops is a great destination for shopping. Downtown you'll find local boutiques and eclectic shops. You could also head to Aberdeen Mall for all of the major brands and recognizable stores.

Is Reno or Kamloops Better for Families?

Kamloops is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Kamloops. There are great parks and outdoor spaces for kids as well as the Deep Creek Tool Museum, Westsyde Centennial Park and Petting Zoo, and Hells Gate Air Tram. You can also take a ride on the Kettle Valley Railway Steam Engine. Animal lovers will enjoy a visit to either Kamloops Wildlife Park or Kangaroo Creek Farm.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. 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.

Is Reno or Kamloops Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Reno and Kamloops make for a good place to visit.

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.

Kamloops is a nice destination for couples. The area is filled with great hikes and nice parks. There are also great restaurants that make for a good date night.

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

Visitors will find decent public transit in both Reno and Kamloops.

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

Public transit is generally limited in Kamloops. There is a bus system through the city.

Is Reno or Kamloops a more walkable city?

Reno and Kamloops are decent 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.

Kamloops is generally not very walkable. The downtown is the most walkable part of town.

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

Should I spend more time in Kamloops or Reno?

How long in Reno or Kamloops?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Reno or Kamloops to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Reno than Kamloops 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 Kamloops.

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

One day in Reno or Kamloops?

The city of Reno offers food and shopping. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

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

A weekend in Reno or Kamloops?

Reno is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Reno, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Kamloops 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 Kamloops?

Reno is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find shopping and skiing around the nature-filled destination of Kamloops. 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 Kamloops?

Reno is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city offers something for everyone.

The laid-back city of Kamloops offers skiing 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 Train & Rail Tours in Canada, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Reno or Kamloops?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kamloops. When comparing the sizes of Reno and Kamloops, 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.