A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Barbara vs. Columbia River Gorge for Hiking, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

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

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge? 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.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a wealthy, opulent, and pristine coastal town. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. You'll find world class beauty in Santa Barbara as well. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for nightlife, food, and beaches. See Santa Barbara travel costs.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a beautiful, scenic, and natural region. With stunning beauty, Columbia River Gorge attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and hiking. See Columbia River Gorge travel costs.

Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Santa Barbara than Columbia River Gorge, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Santa Barbara is well known for its historic missions, pristine beaches, world-class surfing, and scenic hikes that are full of coastal views. Also, Santa Barbara is famous for The Old Mission Santa Barbara. Columbia River Gorge is well known for its hiking, biking, and high number of waterfalls.

How is Santa Barbara different from Columbia River Gorge?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Columbia River Gorge and Santa Barbara. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a good region for its museums and history.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Santa Barbara can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is famous for its missions, with Mission Santa Barbara being the most iconic. Also visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History and Sea Center.

While most people don't head to Columbia River Gorge specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of local museums in the area, but most visitors spend their time exploring the region's natural beauty.

Is the Food Better in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at very good restaurants in both Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge.

Dining out in Santa Barbara is an experience not to be missed. The city is best known for its fine dining, particularly if you enjoy seafood. The scallops, oysters, clam chowder, and sea urchin (when available) are all world class. Head for a waterfront setting for the best views and some of the freshest seafood.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Columbia River Gorge. You'll find many great restaurants in the area that serve local dishes that make use of the region's agricultural scene.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Nightlife?

Both Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge are notable when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Santa Barbara. For the best nightlife in the city, head downtown to State Street. This is where you'll find the most active bars and biggest crowds. There's a large student population in town, so you'll find much of the nightlife scene is focused on the younger population.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Columbia River Gorge. Local breweries, wineries, and bars offer a relaxing setting with a local vibe.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Resorts?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its resorts. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a resort destination.

Santa Barbara is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Many people enjoy the luxurious vacation rentals around Santa Barbara, but there are also a number of high end resorts including the Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, and Hotel Californian.

Columbia River Gorge is not a resort destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Santa Barbara is a moderate coastal town for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Snorkeling is an option in Santa Barbara. Snorkeling areas not far from town include Refugio State Beach and Tajiguas. You'll see a few fish, beautiful rocks, and anemones that are unique and impressive.

Columbia River Gorge is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Beaches?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a beach destination.

The beaches in Santa Barbara are among the best in the world. The city is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches. Whether you want to enjoy world class surfing or enjoy a gentle ocean setting, Santa Barbara has many options.

Columbia River Gorge is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for its Old Town?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its historic old town. However, Columbia River Gorge does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors go to Santa Barbara to see the historical old town. The city's downtown "Old Town" is a high end, pedestrian-friendly area with plenty of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Columbia River Gorge does not have a historic old town.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Hiking?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Columbia River Gorge is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its hiking trails.

Known for its hiking, Santa Barbara draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. Just outside of town are countless hiking opportunities that offer spectacular ocean views. Popular hikes include Inspiration Point, San Ysidro Trail, and Cold Spring East Fork.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Columbia River Gorge. There are world-class hikes that take you to iconic waterfalls, breathtaking viewpoints, and along scenic waterways.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for shopping. Also, Columbia River Gorge is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Santa Barbara is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. The city is famous as a high end shopping destination. Head to State Street for a palm tree lined street with local boutiques.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Columbia River Gorge. Art galleries feature local artwork and artisan crafts. There are photography shops and other venues that sell items highlighting the region's beauty.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge More Beautiful?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for its scenery and beauty. Also, Columbia River Gorge is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its scenery and beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Santa Barbara as well. The city is beautifully situated right by the ocean and offers stunning views and and an amazing setting. It is also filled with opulent houses and grand estates, giving it an air of grandeur.

The beauty of Columbia River Gorge is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Impressive waterfalls and breathtaking mountain vistas make this a truly beautiful place to visit.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Families?

Kids will enjoy a visit to either Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge.

Santa Barbara is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has some nice family-friendly activities including a zoo, some cool museums, and even whale watching. There are also many beautiful beaches where everyone can run around and play, as well as parks and other outdoor settings. For animal-lovers, there are wildlife centers and sea life opportunities.

Columbia River Gorge is a very family-friendly destination. Kids will love exploring the waterfalls and mountains as much as the adults do. There are kid-friendly hikes as well as bakeries and restaurants with many kid options.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Couples?

Santa Barbara is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Columbia River Gorge is not as famous, but is still a good region to visit for its romantic activities.

Santa Barbara has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. The town is a stunningly beautiful destination with beautiful beaches, excellent shopping, and nice resorts that make for a great honeymoon or romantic trip.

Columbia River Gorge makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples will love the romantic hikes and waterfalls. There are also beautiful scenic viewpoints and wonderful restaurants.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Columbia River Gorge is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Santa Barbara is not a good coastal town for backpackers and budget travelers.

Columbia River Gorge is a very popular region for backpackers and budget travelers. You'll find hostels and campgrounds in the area that are perfect for backpackers and budget travelers.

Santa Barbara is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city isn't really known as a budget friendly destination, but there are a couple of hostels in the area. There's also a large student population with a fun nightlife scene.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Students?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for students. However, Columbia River Gorge is not popular with students.

Santa Barbara is a great coastal town to visit as a student. With a major university right in town, there's plenty of student life that international students or locals can enjoy.

Columbia River Gorge is not popular with students.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Santa Barbara is a nice place to visit for its public transit. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a good region for times when you don't have a car.

Santa Barbara has a few public transit options. Transit options include buses, trolleys and water taxis.

Public transit is mostly limited in Columbia River Gorge. There are some buses, but don't rely on them to efficiently explore.

Is Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge a more walkable city?

Santa Barbara is a well-known place for its walkability. However, Columbia River Gorge is not a good region for its high level of walkability.

Santa Barbara is very walkable. The downtown area is very pedestrian-friendly and best explored on foot.

Columbia River Gorge is not a very walkable coastal town. You really need a car to explore the area, but some visitors rely on a bike.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Barbara Worth Visiting? and Is Columbia River Gorge Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Columbia River Gorge or Santa Barbara?

How long in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge. In our opinion, Santa Barbara has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Barbara than Columbia River Gorge. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Barbara than Columbia River Gorge 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 Santa Barbara.

One day in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful destination of Santa Barbara. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the scenic destination of Columbia River Gorge. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Santa Barbara is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this coastal town has to offer. This coastal town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbia River Gorge. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Many people visit Santa Barbara for five days. You'll find museums and nightlife around the beautiful coastal town of Santa Barbara. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the natural destination of Columbia River Gorge. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This region offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

The scenic destination of Santa Barbara offers nightlife and food. Hikers are also drawn to this area. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the beautiful region of Columbia River Gorge. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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 Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge, we can see that Columbia River Gorge 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 Santa Barbara Expensive? and Is Columbia River Gorge Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Santa Barbara has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Columbia River Gorge. When comparing the sizes of Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Santa Barbara are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Santa Barbara for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Santa Barbara is around the same temperature as Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the summer temperatures in Santa Barbara in July average around 65°F (19°C), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 68°F (20°C).

In July, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Santa Barbara gets 0 inches (1 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Santa Barbara during the autumn are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Santa Barbara in the autumn for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Santa Barbara is generally a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Santa Barbara average around 62°F (17°C), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 55°F (13°C).

Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in October than Columbia River Gorge. Santa Barbara gets 0.5 inches (13 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Santa Barbara and Columbia River Gorge. Most visitors come to Santa Barbara for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Columbia River Gorge can be very cold. Santa Barbara is much warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the winter. The daily temperature in Santa Barbara averages around 52°F (11°C) in January, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Columbia River Gorge receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Santa Barbara usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Santa Barbara gets 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Santa Barbara or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Santa Barbara as well as Columbia River Gorge. The spring months attract visitors to Santa Barbara because of the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.

In the spring, Santa Barbara is a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the spring temperatures in Santa Barbara in April average around 57°F (14°C), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 51°F (11°C).

Santa Barbara usually gets less rain in April than Columbia River Gorge. Santa Barbara gets 1.1 inches (27 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and Santa Barbara