A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Saint Louis vs. Mystic for Attractions, Families, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Saint Louis or Mystic?

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 Saint Louis and Mystic. 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.

Saint Louis

Saint Louis is a under rated, unexpected, and fascinating city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Saint Louis travel costs.

Mystic

Mystic is a charming, quaint, and laid back town. It's also known for food, beaches, and shopping. See Mystic travel costs.

Saint Louis and Mystic: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Mystic. Although Saint Louis and Mystic are both popular with visitors, Mystic has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Mystic is more popular for its beaches, while Saint Louis is known for its museums and attractions. Mystic is more touristy than Saint Louis and is popular for its New England charm and local character. It is also home to the Mystic Seaport Museum. Saint Louis is popular for its blues and live music scene, its authentic personality, and its position as the Gateway to the West.

How is Saint Louis different from Mystic?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Saint Louis is an amazing city to visit for its museums and history. Also, Mystic is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.

Travelers visit Saint Louis from around the world to see its many world-famous attractions. There are a surprising number of museums around town. For art museums you should visit the Contemporary Art Museum, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. For history, the Griot Museum of Black History, the Jefferson Barracks Telephone Museum, and the Lewis & Clark Museum and Boathouse are all interesting. There are also science, educational, and children's museums. And of course, there's the iconic Gateway Arch.

Mystic offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

Is the Food Better in Saint Louis or Mystic? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Saint Louis and Mystic can be difficult as they are each good in their own way.

Saint Louis offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There are some local dishes that originated here. Toasted ravioli had its start in St. Louis. There's also a St. Louis style pizza. Diners, cafes, and sandwiches are all part of the food scene and be prepared for cheese, meaty, and satisfying.

Mystic has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Saint Louis and Mystic.

Saint Louis has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. Visitors often hang out in the downtown area, particularly around Washington Avenue, for the nightlife scene. Live music is popular, especially the blues, and there are many local venues worth checking out.

If you're looking for night time activities Mystic has a few options to choose from. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic Better for Beaches?

Mystic is well known for its beaches. However, Saint Louis is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Mystic for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Saint Louis is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Mystic and Saint Louis.

Saint Louis is an extremely popular place for shoppers. There are vintage stores, boutiques, and suburban strip malls around town. There are also farmer's markets and art galleries.

Mystic is well-known for its shopping. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic Better for Families?

Both Saint Louis and Mystic are excellent family-friendly destinations.

Saint Louis is a very family-friendly place to visit. There's a surprising number of activities for kids around town. There's the St. Louis Zoo and the City Museum with many hands-on exhibits for kids. There's also the Crown Ridge Tiger Sanctuary and several farms with animals and nature. Forest Park is an impressive urban park as well.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Mystic is very family-friendly. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic Better for Couples?

Saint Louis and Mystic both good destinations for a couple.

Saint Louis is a nice destination for couples. Fine dining restaurants and eclectic activities make this city an often overlooked couples destination.

Mystic makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Saint Louis is an excellent place to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its public transit.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Saint Louis. There's a light rail system as well as buses that travel around town.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Saint Louis or Mystic a more walkable city?

Saint Louis is a good destination for its walkability. However, Mystic is lacking in options for its high level of walkability.

Saint Louis is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are walkable, like the downtown area and the sections around the Gateway Arch.

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint Louis Worth Visiting? and Is Mystic Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mystic or Saint Louis?

How long in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Saint Louis and Mystic. In our opinion, Saint Louis has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Saint Louis than Mystic. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Saint Louis, and 2-3 days is enough time in Mystic.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saint Louis than Mystic 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 Saint Louis.

One day in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Saint Louis. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming town of Mystic. It's also a great beach destination, too. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A weekend in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Saint Louis is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the laid back destination of Mystic. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This town offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Saint Louis or Mystic?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint Louis. Don't miss the museums, as that's what most people do. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

The quaint town of Mystic offers shopping and museums. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

A week in Saint Louis or Mystic?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fascinating destination of Saint Louis. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Mystic. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people come for the beaches. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint Louis and Mystic, we can see that Mystic 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 Saint Louis Expensive? and Is Mystic Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint Louis or Mystic?

Saint Louis has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Mystic. When comparing the sizes of Saint Louis and Mystic, 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.

When is the best time to visit Saint Louis or Mystic?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Mystic in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Saint Louis as well as Mystic. The summer months attract visitors to Saint Louis because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

Saint Louis is a little warmer than Mystic in the summer. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 81°F (27°C) in July, and Mystic fluctuates around 73°F (23°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Louis this time of the year. In the summer, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic. Saint Louis gets 309 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 293 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets more rain in July than Mystic. Saint Louis gets 3.8 inches (96 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Mystic in the Autumn?

Both Mystic and Saint Louis are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The shopping scene are the main draw to Saint Louis this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Mystic for the shopping scene.

In the autumn, Saint Louis is a little warmer than Mystic. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Saint Louis in October average around 60°F (16°C), and Mystic averages at about 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Mystic. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Louis. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic during autumn. Saint Louis gets 203 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Saint Louis usually receives less rain than Mystic. Saint Louis gets 2.7 inches (68 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Mystic in the Winter?

Both Mystic and Saint Louis during the winter are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Saint Louis for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, many visitors come to Mystic in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Mystic can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Saint Louis. In January, Saint Louis is generally much warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in Saint Louis average around 31°F (-1°C), and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

In the winter, Saint Louis often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic. Saint Louis gets 160 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 170 hours of full sun.

Saint Louis usually gets less rain in January than Mystic. Saint Louis gets 2 inches (52 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint Louis or Mystic in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint Louis and Mystic. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mystic for the beaches during these months.

Saint Louis is much warmer than Mystic in the spring. The daily temperature in Saint Louis averages around 58°F (15°C) in April, and Mystic fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In Saint Louis, it's very sunny this time of the year. Saint Louis usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic during spring. Saint Louis gets 229 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 225 hours of full sun in the spring.

Saint Louis gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Saint Louis usually receives more rain than Mystic. Saint Louis gets 4.4 inches (111 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Mystic and Saint Louis