A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Cruz vs. Roswell, New Mexico for Families, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

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

Should I visit Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico? 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 Cruz

Santa Cruz is a scenic, laid back, and coastal town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking. See Santa Cruz travel costs.

Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell, New Mexico is a quirky, mysterious, and infamous town. It's also known for food and museums. See Roswell, New Mexico travel costs.

Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Cruz. Although Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico are popular destinations, Santa Cruz has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Cruz is more touristy than Roswell, New Mexico and is popular for its dramatic coastline, fun-filled boardwalk, and beautiful beaches. It is also well known for Santa Cruz Wharf. Roswell, New Mexico is famous for being the site of an alleged UFO crash.

How is Santa Cruz different from Roswell, New Mexico?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Roswell, New Mexico and Santa Cruz. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Both Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico have nice landmarks and museums for visitors.

Santa Cruz is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Local museums in town include the Surfing Museum, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, and Santa Cruz Mission.

Roswell, New Mexico offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. Most people stop in town specifically for the International UFO Museum and Research Center. It has a lot of information on the 1947 Roswell Crash and other supposed UFO incidents. Other museums in town include the Roswell UFO Spacewalk, the Roswell Museum, and the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art.

Is the Food Better in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico offer nice local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Cruz offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. Sampling local seafood is a top priority for many visitors. Most restaurants have a casual vibe and serve up high quality dishes in a relaxed setting. You'll find cafes, Mexican food, and Italian eateries among other options.

Roswell, New Mexico has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. It's a good place to grab lunch as there are many casual restaurants that serve everything from burgers to tacos or other Mexican dishes.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Nightlife?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its evening party scene.

Santa Cruz has a large number of nightlife venues. You'll find a range of nighttime options around town that include live entertainment, bars, clubs, and even a casino.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Roswell, New Mexico. There's no real nightlife scene and many visitors stop over in route somewhere else.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Beaches?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for the beach. However, Roswell, New Mexico is not a beach destination.

Many people visit Santa Cruz for it's beautiful beaches. The beaches are beautiful and fun. Head to Main Beach for the most activity. This is where you'll find the town's boardwalk, which has a historic carousel and several classic amusement rides. For a more peaceful and scenic spot, check out Natural Bridges State Beach or Seacliff State Beach.

Roswell, New Mexico is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Hiking?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its hiking trails. However, Roswell, New Mexico is not a hiking destination.

Santa Cruz offers some nice hiking trails. There are several great parks in the area and trails that follow along the rugged coastline or go through the impressive redwood forests.

Roswell, New Mexico is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Cruz. Downtown Santa Cruz is where you'll find some of the best shopping.

Roswell, New Mexico has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find the typical suburban chains where you can pick up essentials or food while you're in town.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Families?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Roswell, New Mexico is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Santa Cruz is very family-friendly. It's filled with beaches, parks, playgrounds, and museums that kids and adults will enjoy. Highlights for many families include visiting the boardwalk, playing around at Seacliff State Beach, entertaining the kids at Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab, and taking in the beauty at Natural Bridges State Beach.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Roswell, New Mexico. Kids who enjoy a mystery will appreciate a visit to the International UFO Museum and Research Center. There's also the Spring River Park and Zoo which has native animals and a carousel.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Couples?

Santa Cruz is a very popular place for its romantic activities. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for couples.

Santa Cruz makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Dining in downtown Santa Cruz, hiking through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and relaxing on the beach at Natural Bridges State Beach all make for a romantic getaway.

Roswell, New Mexico is not always the best place to visit for a couple. It's a bit outside the box as far as destinations go, so couples who enjoy the weird and quirky will enjoy a stop here.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Cruz is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Roswell, New Mexico is lacking in good options for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Santa Cruz. There's a laid back vibe that is fun to experience and there's even a hostel in town.

Roswell, New Mexico is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most people pass through in route to other destinations, and backpackers are no different.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico offer reasonable public transit options.

Public transit is generally limited in Santa Cruz. There are buses that travel around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Roswell, New Mexico. There are buses, but it's easier to have your own car.

Is Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico a more walkable city?

Santa Cruz is very popular for its high level of walkability. Also, Roswell, New Mexico is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Santa Cruz. It's considered to be one of the most walkable cities in California.

Roswell, New Mexico is a somewhat walkable town. The historic district is compact and walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Santa Cruz Worth Visiting? and Is Roswell, New Mexico Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Roswell, New Mexico or Santa Cruz?

How long in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico to fill your time. In our opinion, Santa Cruz has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Cruz than Roswell, New Mexico. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Roswell, New Mexico. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Santa Cruz that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Santa Cruz than Roswell, New Mexico 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 Cruz.

One day in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

In Santa Cruz, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With museums and food around the infamous town of Roswell, New Mexico, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Roswell, New Mexico, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Many people visit Santa Cruz for a weekend. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. Most people come for the beaches. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Santa Cruz, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With food and museums around the destination of Roswell, New Mexico, there's plenty to do. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

The destination of Santa Cruz offers shopping and museums. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Roswell, New Mexico, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Santa Cruz. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This town offers something for everyone. 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.

Roswell, New Mexico is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

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

When comparing the travel costs between Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico, we can see that Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Expensive? and Is Roswell, New Mexico Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Cruz or Roswell, New Mexico?

Santa Cruz has a larger population, and is about 24% larger than the population of Roswell, New Mexico. When comparing the sizes of Santa Cruz and Roswell, New Mexico, 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.