A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sarasota vs. Carmel-by-the-Sea for Families, Attractions, Food, and Beaches

Should you visit Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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 Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea. 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.

Sarasota

Sarasota is a entertaining, underrated, and relaxing city. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches. See Sarasota travel costs.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque, quaint, and charming town. You'll find plenty of local activities in this small town. The beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, food, and beaches. See Carmel-by-the-Sea travel costs.

Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Although Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea are both popular with visitors, Carmel-by-the-Sea has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Carmel-by-the-Sea is more popular for its food, beaches, shopping, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Sarasota is known for its museums and attractions, nightlife, and resorts. Sarasota is popular for its sandy beaches and its fun activities. Carmel-by-the-Sea is popular for its storybook architecture, its opulent setting, and its popularity with golf enthusiasts. It is also home to Pebble Beach Golf Course.

How is Sarasota different from Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sarasota. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Sarasota is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its museums and history.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Sarasota. There are some decent museums in town such as the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, the Sarasota Classic Car Museum, and the Ca' da'Zan. Another highlight is the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The Carmel Mission is a beautiful and fascinating Spanish mission that dates back to 1770. It's also well worth visiting the nearby Pebble Beach Golf Course. There are also a few fairytale style cottages in the area with some of the most notable being the Hansel cottage, the Gretel cottage, and the Tuck Box cottage.

Is the Food Better in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Sarasota is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Carmel-by-the-Sea has a huge number of terrific restaurants. For such a small town there is a huge number of bistros and local cafes. Seafood is popular, but you'll also find international restaurants and more casual eateries.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Sarasota area. You'll find plenty of seafood around town, but there are also international restaurants and quirky local joints.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Nightlife?

Sarasota is a city with good options for its evening party scene. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a good town for nightlife.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Sarasota. You'll find beach clubs, live entertainment such as drum circles, and plenty of bars around town. There are also evening cruises and late night parties.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Carmel-by-the-Sea. It's not a late night town, but there are a couple of bars and some decent Happy Hours around town.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Resorts?

Sarasota is a city with good options for its resorts. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a resort destination.

Sarasota has a few great resort options. You'll find beachfront resorts with pools and nice views.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a resort destination.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Beaches?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for the beach. Also, Sarasota is not as popular, but is still a nice city for the beach.

Many people visit Carmel-by-the-Sea for it's beautiful beaches. It's easy to walk to the beach from the village center. Just head down Ocean Avenue and you'll be at a beautiful beach with great scenery, surfing, and fun activities.

Sarasota is a good option for a beach vacation. There's no shortage of beaches in the area where you can spend a relaxing day playing the water and lounging in the sun. Siesta Key, Sarasota Gay Beach, Crescent Beach, and Coquina Beach are some of the favorites.

Is the Shopping Better in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for its shopping opportunities. Also, Sarasota is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is well-known for its shopping. It's easy to walk around the heart of town and pop in the many shops and galleries. The highest concentration of shops is found around the Carmel Plaza which has upscale brands as well as local items.

Many visitors go to Sarasota to go shopping. Upscale shopping can be found at St. Armand's Circle. There's also Sarasota Square Mall and the Mall at University Town Center. If you want to pick up some local items you can check out Sarasota Farmers Market.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea More Beautiful?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for its scenery and beauty. However, Sarasota is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It's a beautiful town with nice beaches and a European atmosphere.

Sarasota is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Families?

Sarasota is renowned for its family-friendly activities. However, Carmel-by-the-Sea is not a good town for its kid-friendly activities.

Sarasota is an extremely popular city to visit for families. There's a huge number of hands on activities for kids and families in the area. Many families enjoy a visit to Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. There are also botanical gardens, science museums, and outdoor adventure centers. Animal lovers will appreciate a visit to Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary. The city also has many performing arts and entertainment options for kids. And make sure you check out the museum dedicated to the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is not always a place people visit with their families. Carmel is a good place to let the kids stretch their legs. There are also some good kid-friendly walks in the area.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Couples?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for its romantic activities. Also, Sarasota is not as popular, but is still a nice city for couples.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a charming town with a beautiful coastline and plenty of cute hotels that makes for a great romantic getaway. There's wonderful shopping and many great restaurants where you can enjoy a local meal.

Sarasota is a good city for couples to visit. A night out at St. Armands Circle is a fun way to spend the evening. There are also sunset cruises, nice restaurants, comedy clubs, and more.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Sarasota. There's a bus system around town but most visitors depend on their own car for transportation.

Public transit is generally limited in Carmel-by-the-Sea. There are a couple of buses, but you can't really depend on them to get around.

Is Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea a more walkable city?

Carmel-by-the-Sea is great for its high level of walkability. However, Sarasota is not a good destination for its ease of walking around.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a very walkable town. The village center is very walkable so it's easy to park you car and shop or walk to the beach.

Sarasota is generally not very walkable. While the downtown has some walkable parts, you'll need a car to access most things around town.

For even more information, also check out Is Sarasota Worth Visiting? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea or Sarasota?

How long in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sarasota than in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Sarasota, and 1-3 days is enough time in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

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

Couples should spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea than Sarasota. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Carmel-by-the-Sea that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Carmel-by-the-Sea than Sarasota 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea.

One day in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

With shopping and museums around the destination of Sarasota, there's plenty to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It offers something for everyone.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

With museums and nightlife around the relaxing city of Sarasota, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Carmel-by-the-Sea, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

With nightlife and food around the underrated destination of Sarasota, there's plenty to do. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Sarasota is a popular choice for travelers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is a great place to explore. It's also a great beach destination, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Las Vegas, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea, we can see that Sarasota is more expensive. And not only is Carmel-by-the-Sea much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Carmel-by-the-Sea would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Sarasota would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sarasota than you might in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Sarasota Expensive? and Is Carmel-by-the-Sea Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Sarasota has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Carmel-by-the-Sea. When comparing the sizes of Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea, 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 Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea?

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 Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Summer?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sarasota during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Sarasota for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Carmel-by-the-Sea because of the beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sarasota is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sarasota in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 63°F (17°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. Sarasota usually gets more rain in July than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarasota gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0 inches (1 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sarasota and Carmel-by-the-Sea. The autumn months attract visitors to Sarasota because of the shopping scene. Furthermore, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Carmel-by-the-Sea this time of year.

In October, Sarasota is generally a little warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Daily temperatures in Sarasota average around 76°F (24°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 62°F (17°C).

In October, Sarasota usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarasota gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 0.6 inches (14 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Sarasota.

Should I visit Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sarasota as well as Carmel-by-the-Sea. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Sarasota this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Carmel-by-the-Sea for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Sarasota is a little warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea in the winter. The daily temperature in Sarasota averages around 59°F (15°C) in January, and Carmel-by-the-Sea fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

Sarasota usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarasota gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 2.3 inches (58 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sarasota or Carmel-by-the-Sea in the Spring?

Both Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sarasota are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Sarasota for the beaches. Also, many visitors come to Carmel-by-the-Sea in the spring for the beaches, the small town charm, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Sarasota is much warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sarasota in April average around 73°F (23°C), and Carmel-by-the-Sea averages at about 56°F (13°C).

In April, Sarasota usually receives more rain than Carmel-by-the-Sea. Sarasota gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Carmel-by-the-Sea receives 1.1 inches (29 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Sarasota is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Carmel-by-the-Sea and Sarasota