A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Santa Monica vs. Moab for Families, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Santa Monica or Moab?

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

Should I visit Santa Monica 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.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a energetic, active, and lively town. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Santa Monica travel costs.

Moab

Moab is a active, scenic, and adventurous town. You'll find world class beauty in Moab as well. And you can't forget about the hiking and shopping. See Moab travel costs.

Santa Monica and Moab: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Monica or Moab?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Santa Monica. Although Santa Monica and Moab are popular destinations, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Moab attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Santa Monica is famous for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also well known for the Santa Monica Pier. Moab is famous for its desert landscapes and the iconic arches found at Arches National Park.

How is Santa Monica different from Moab?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Santa Monica or Moab?

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

Santa Monica is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History Museum.

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 Santa Monica or Moab? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Monica is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Moab is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Santa Monica. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

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 Santa Monica or Moab Better for Nightlife?

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

Many people head to Santa Monica for the nightlife scene. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

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 Santa Monica or Moab Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is very popular for its beaches. However, Moab is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Santa Monica. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Moab is not a beach destination.

Is Santa Monica or Moab Better for Hiking?

Moab is an amazing town to visit for the nearby hiking options. However, Santa Monica 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.

Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Monica or Moab?

Santa Monica is great for shopping. Also, Moab is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

Moab offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Santa Monica or Moab More Beautiful?

Moab is an amazing town to visit for its scenery and beauty. However, Santa Monica is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Moab as well. 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.

Santa Monica is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Santa Monica or Moab Better for Families?

Santa Monica is very popular for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Moab is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

As it has a large number of activities for kids, Santa Monica is a very family-friendly destination. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

Moab is a very kid-friendly town. 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.

Is Santa Monica or Moab Better for Couples?

With fun activities for couples, both Santa Monica and Moab make for a high quality place to visit.

Santa Monica is a very popular place to visit for couples. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

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.

Is Santa Monica or Moab Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Moab is notable for backpackers. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Moab is a great town to visit for backpackers. 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.

Santa Monica is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

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

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

Visitors to Santa Monica can move around easily with public transportation. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

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 Santa Monica or Moab a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is great for its walkability. However, Moab is not a good destination for its high level of walkability.

Santa Monica is very walkable. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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 Santa Monica Worth Visiting? and Is Moab Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Moab or Santa Monica?

How long in Santa Monica or Moab?

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

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

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

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

One day in Santa Monica or Moab?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Santa Monica. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Moab, many people enjoy the shopping that this adventurous town offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Santa Monica or Moab?

Santa Monica is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the beaches. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. 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. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. Lots of people come for the hiking. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Santa Monica or Moab?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the lively destination of Santa Monica. This town offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

In Moab, many people enjoy the shopping that this adventurous destination offers. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Lots of people come for the hiking. So, five days is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A week in Santa Monica or Moab?

The lively town of Santa Monica offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. 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.

Moab is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Santa Monica and Moab, we can see that Moab is more expensive. And not only is Santa Monica much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Santa Monica would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica.

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

Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Moab?

Santa Monica has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Moab. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica 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.