A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Reno vs. Moab for Nightlife, Families, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Reno or Moab?

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

Should I visit Reno or Moab? 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 growing, vibrant, and energetic city. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food. See Reno travel costs.

Moab

Moab is a scenic, adventurous, and active town. Moab is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the hiking and shopping. See Moab travel costs.

Reno and Moab: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reno or Moab?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Moab than Reno, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Moab is better known for its hiking and impressive beauty, while Reno is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, and nightlife. Moab is more touristy than Reno and is known for its desert landscapes and the iconic arches found at Arches National Park. Also, Moab is famous for Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Reno different from Moab?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Moab 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 Moab?

Reno is a popular place for its historical sights. However, Moab is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. 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.

Moab offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of museums in the area that will teach you about the geology and history. You can pop in the Moab Museum or the Film Museum at Red Cliffs Ranch, as well as the galleries around town.

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

Reno is a popular place for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Moab is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Reno. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Moab. The town has grown over the years and now you'll find a diverse selection of restaurants that serve decent food. There are steakhouses, pizzerias, and even a couple ice cream shops.

Is Reno or Moab Better for Nightlife?

Reno is great for nightlife. However, Moab is not a good destination for nightlife and partying.

Many people head to Reno for the nightlife scene. 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.

Most people don't head to Moab specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The town has grown significantly and you'll find bars, taverns, and breweries where you can hang out in the evening, but it's still a quiet place with a laid back atmosphere.

Is Reno or Moab Better for Hiking?

Moab is renowned for its hiking trails. However, Reno is not a hiking destination.

People visit Moab specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. The area is filled with hiking trails, both inside the nearby national parks as well as outside. Canyonlands National Park is large with impressive overlooks, while Arches National Park has fun hikes that take you by diverse arches and include many opportunities for scrambling. Outside of the park, hikers can visit Corona Arch or search for dinosaur footprints at Dinosaur Tracks Trail.

Reno is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reno or Moab?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Reno and Moab.

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.

Moab is a great destination for shopping. There are gift shops, places to buy outdoor equipment, and convenient stores around town. There are also a number of art galleries that sell local items or impressive photography.

Is Reno or Moab More Beautiful?

Moab is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Reno is not a destination known for its beauty.

Moab is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The desert landscapes and unique geological features make this a fascinating and beautiful area to explore. The dramatic arches in Arches National Park tell a unique story of how the geology of the area has changed.

Reno is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Reno or Moab Better for Families?

Moab 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 Moab. It's a world of outdoor adventures. You'll find river rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and many kid-friendly trails. There's also the Tracks Museum, where kids can learn about dinosaurs as well as swimming pools or swimming holes in the area.

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 Moab Better for Couples?

Moab is an excellent place to visit for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

Moab makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area is filled with adventurous fun, with everything from world-class hikes to impressive rafting trips. The dramatic landscape provides the backdrop for a truly spectacular trip.

Reno is a nice destination for couples. 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.

Is Reno or Moab Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Moab is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Moab. The town has many campgrounds and even a few hostels. Arches National Park has only a few backcountry overnight camping sites. Terrain is rough and most areas aren't accessible by trail.

Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.

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

Reno is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Moab is not a good destination for its public transit.

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

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Moab. There are efforts to create a transportation program within town, but there are limited transportation options available. If you book a tour, they usually provide transportation.

Is Reno or Moab a more walkable city?

Reno and Moab are respectable 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.

Moab is generally not very walkable. While it's possible to walk around within the town, most visitors don't come to visit they town, they come to explore the area. You'll need a car to access most points of interest in the area.

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

Should I spend more time in Moab or Reno?

How long in Reno or Moab?

In either Reno or Moab, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Moab than Reno because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Reno, and 2-5 days is enough time in Moab.

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

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

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

One day in Reno or Moab?

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

Visitors enjoy the shopping when visiting the destination of Moab. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Reno or Moab?

Reno 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.

Moab is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. 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 Moab?

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

Visitors enjoy the shopping when visiting the scenic destination of Moab. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.

A week in Reno or Moab?

The energetic city of Reno offers nightlife and food. 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.

The active town of Moab offers shopping. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. 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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Reno and Moab, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Moab would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Moab than you might in Reno.

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

Which is Bigger, Reno or Moab?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Reno and Moab, 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.