A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Sarasota vs. Durham for Families, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Sarasota or Durham?

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 Durham. 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 shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Sarasota travel costs.

Durham

Durham is a sports oriented, diverse, and student-filled city. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See Durham travel costs.

Sarasota and Durham: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Sarasota or Durham?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Sarasota than Durham. While Durham is larger than Sarasota, Sarasota has more sights and attractions for tourists. Sarasota is more touristy than Durham and is popular for its sandy beaches and its fun activities. It is also home to the John and Mable Ringling Museum. Durham is popular for its college town vibe as well as being the home of the famous Blue Devil basketball team.

How is Sarasota different from Durham?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Sarasota and Durham.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around 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.

Durham offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Duke University is one of the most popular destinations in town. There are several museums on campus as well as the famous Duke Chapel. Elsewhere in Durham there's the Durham Museum of Life and Science.

Is the Food Better in Sarasota or Durham? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at good restaurants in both Sarasota and Durham.

Sarasota has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. You'll find plenty of seafood around town, but there are also international restaurants and quirky local joints.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Durham area. Barbecue is a favorite around town. You'll also find plenty of restaurants that cater to the student population, particularly along Nineth Street near Duke's campus.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Sarasota and Durham.

If you're looking for night time activities Sarasota has a few options to choose from. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Durham. The younger population tends to hang out near campus and along Nineth Street. If you're looking for something less student oriented, head to downtown Durham.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Resorts?

Sarasota is very good for its resorts. However, Durham is not a resort destination.

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

Durham is not a resort destination.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Beaches?

Sarasota is very good for the beach. However, Durham is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Sarasota to enjoy the beach. 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.

Durham is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Sarasota or Durham?

If you're looking to go shopping, Sarasota and Durham both offer plenty of good spots.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Sarasota. 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.

Many visitors go to Durham to go shopping. The Streets of Southpoint is the best mall in the area. Other shopping areas include Brightleaf Square and Nineth Street.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Families?

Sarasota is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Durham is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Sarasota is one of the most popular family destinations. 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.

Durham is a family-friendly city. A highlight for kids is a visit to the Durham Museum of Life and Science. It has both an indoor and an outdoor section and brings science to life for families. There's also an impressive playground and climbing area. Other activities in town include the Notasium and Eno River State Park. If you plan ahead you could also organize a trip to the Duke Lemur Center.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Couples?

Sarasota and Durham both good destinations for a couple.

Sarasota makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. 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.

Durham is a good city for couples to visit. Have a picnic at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens or spend the day hiking at Eno River State Park. In the evening there's a wonderful selection of restaurants around town. Then you can check out a show at the Durham Performing Arts Center or see a Durham Bulls game.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Students?

Durham is great for its student-friendly activities. However, Sarasota is not popular with students.

Many students visit Durham. Duke University has a stunning campus with a world class garden. There's also nearby Nineth Street, which has shops, restaurants, and bars that are geared toward the student population.

Sarasota is not popular with students.

Is Sarasota or Durham Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Sarasota and Durham 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 Durham. There are buses around town, but you really need a car to explore the area.

Is Sarasota or Durham a more walkable city?

Sarasota and Durham are decent when it comes to walkability.

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

Durham is generally not very walkable. Downtown Durham and a few areas near Duke University are the most walkable areas.

For even more information, also check out Is Sarasota Worth Visiting? and Is Durham Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Durham or Sarasota?

How long in Sarasota or Durham?

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

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

One day in Sarasota or Durham?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Sarasota. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

The city of Durham offers food and shopping. 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 Durham?

Sarasota is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Durham is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Durham, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Sarasota or Durham?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Sarasota. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Durham 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 Durham?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the underrated destination of Sarasota. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Durham is a great place to explore. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This city 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 Durham, we can see that Sarasota is more expensive. And not only is Durham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Durham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Durham 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 Durham.

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

Which is Bigger, Sarasota or Durham?

Durham has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sarasota. When comparing the sizes of Sarasota and Durham, 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 Durham?

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 Durham in the Summer?

Both Durham and Sarasota during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Sarasota for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Durham in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Sarasota is around the same temperature as Durham. Typically, the summer temperatures in Sarasota in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Durham averages at about 79°F (26°C).

In Durham, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Sarasota. In the summer, Sarasota often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Durham. Sarasota gets 265 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 259 hours of full sun.

Durham gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. Sarasota usually gets more rain in July than Durham. Sarasota gets 8.4 inches (214 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sarasota or Durham in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Sarasota and Durham. Many visitors come to Sarasota in the autumn for the shopping scene. Furthermore, most visitors come to Durham for the shopping scene during these months.

In October, Sarasota is generally a little warmer than Durham. Daily temperatures in Sarasota average around 76°F (24°C), and Durham fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Durham this time of the year. In Sarasota, it's very sunny this time of the year. Sarasota usually receives more sunshine than Durham during autumn. Sarasota gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 211 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Sarasota usually receives less rain than Durham. Sarasota gets 2.6 inches (65 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 2.8 inches (71 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Sarasota.

Should I visit Sarasota or Durham in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Sarasota as well as Durham. Most visitors come to Sarasota for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Durham because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Durham can be very cold. Sarasota is much warmer than Durham in the winter. The daily temperature in Sarasota averages around 59°F (15°C) in January, and Durham fluctuates around 40°F (5°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Sarasota this time of the year. In the winter, Sarasota often gets more sunshine than Durham. Sarasota gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Durham receives 162 hours of full sun.

Sarasota usually gets less rain in January than Durham. Sarasota gets 2.3 inches (59 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.2 inches (82 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Sarasota or Durham in the Spring?

Both Durham and Sarasota are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Sarasota because of the beaches.

In the spring, Sarasota is a little warmer than Durham. Typically, the spring temperatures in Sarasota in April average around 73°F (23°C), and Durham averages at about 60°F (16°C).

It's quite sunny in Durham. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sarasota. Sarasota usually receives more sunshine than Durham during spring. Sarasota gets 299 hours of sunny skies, while Durham receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Sarasota usually receives less rain than Durham. Sarasota gets 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain, while Durham receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Sarasota is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Durham and Sarasota