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

Should you visit Santa Monica or Reno?

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

Should I visit Santa Monica or Reno? 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 lively, funfilled, and energetic town. It's also popular because of the beaches, shopping, and museums. See Santa Monica travel costs.

Reno

Reno is a vibrant, energetic, and growing city. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping. See Reno travel costs.

Santa Monica and Reno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Santa Monica or Reno?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Santa Monica than Reno. While Reno is larger than Santa Monica, Santa Monica has more sights and attractions for tourists. Santa Monica is more touristy than Reno and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also home to the Santa Monica Pier. Reno is popular for its casinos and nightlife scene.

How is Santa Monica different from Reno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Plenty of people visit the good sights and museums in both Santa Monica and Reno.

Santa Monica offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. 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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Reno. 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.

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

Santa Monica is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Santa Monica has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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.

Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.

Is Santa Monica or Reno Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are high quality in both Santa Monica and Reno.

Santa Monica has plenty to do after the sun goes down. 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.

Reno has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. 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.

Is Santa Monica or Reno Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is renowned for the beach. However, Reno 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.

Reno is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Santa Monica or Reno?

Santa Monica is an excellent place to visit for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in 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.

Reno is a great destination for shopping. 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.

Is Santa Monica or Reno Better for Families?

Santa Monica is renowned for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good 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.

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 Santa Monica or Reno Better for Couples?

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

Santa Monica makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

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 Santa Monica or Reno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Santa Monica is a popular place for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Santa Monica. 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.

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

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

The public transit in Santa Monica can get you to most places easily. 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 generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.

Is Santa Monica or Reno a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is an excellent place to visit for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.

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

Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.

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

Should I spend more time in Reno or Santa Monica?

How long in Santa Monica or Reno?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Santa Monica and Reno. In our opinion, Santa Monica has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Santa Monica than Reno. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Santa Monica than Reno. 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 Reno. 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 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 Santa Monica.

One day in Santa Monica or Reno?

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 Reno, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this energetic city offers. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. In one day, you should have a good grasp of this city.

A weekend in Santa Monica or Reno?

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.

Reno is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Santa Monica or Reno?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the energetic 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.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the growing destination of Reno. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Santa Monica or Reno?

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.

Reno is a popular place to visit. 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 Reno, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Santa Monica or Reno?

Reno has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Santa Monica. When comparing the sizes of Santa Monica and Reno, 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.