A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Woodstock vs. Columbia River Gorge for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge?

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

Should I visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge? 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.

Where Should I go: Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge?

Woodstock

While this town does lend its name to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the legendary event was actually held on a dairy farm almost 60 miles away in Bethel, NY. So if you are looking to see the field where it all happened and a museum dedicated to its history, you will need to take a day trip outside of town.

Woodstock, New York, however, does stay true to the spirit of the arts. Since 1903, the place lay home to Byrdcliffe Art Colony, the oldest of its kind in the nation, and even attracted artists of the Hudson River School during the late 1800s. Today, artists from all disciplines-visual, ceramic, music, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and poetry-take up residence at the colony and have works displayed in galleries open in the main part of town.

Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road are lined with a mix of restaurants and shops all teeming with the essence of hippie living, arts, and spirituality. From shops selling Woodstock paraphernalia, incense, and Himalayan products, to yoga studios, vegan restaurants, and local art galleries-the town of Woodstock is one dedicated to keeping the spirit of the Woodstock Festival and the arts alive.

Columbia River Gorge

Columbia River Gorge is a popular destination in the Cascade Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. The region's close proximity to Portland, which is just 30 minutes away, makes it a popular weekend destination.

The gorge is formed by the Columbia River, with an 80 mile stretch designated as a National Scenic Area. The area has many beautiful cliffs with a number of tall waterfalls and its protected status means that most new development must occur within one of the already established towns.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America, The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge?

Columbia River Gorge has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Woodstock. When comparing the sizes of Woodstock and Columbia River Gorge, 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 Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge in the Summer?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Woodstock are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Columbia River Gorge in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

Woodstock is a little warmer than Columbia River Gorge in the summer. The daily temperature in Woodstock averages around 74°F (24°C) in July, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 68°F (20°C).

It's quite sunny in Columbia River Gorge. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Woodstock. Woodstock usually receives less sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during summer. Woodstock gets 293 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Woodstock usually receives more rain than Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 0.7 inches (18 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge in the Autumn?

Both Columbia River Gorge and Woodstock during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Columbia River Gorge for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Woodstock is around the same temperature as Columbia River Gorge. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Woodstock in October average around 53°F (12°C), and Columbia River Gorge averages at about 55°F (13°C).

In the autumn, Woodstock often gets more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 197 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 155 hours of full sun.

Woodstock usually gets more rain in October than Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 3 inches (77 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.6 inches (67 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Woodstock and Columbia River Gorge. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Columbia River Gorge because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Columbia River Gorge can be very cold. Woodstock can be very cold during winter. In January, Woodstock is generally much colder than Columbia River Gorge. Daily temperatures in Woodstock average around 25°F (-4°C), and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 40°F (4°C).

Woodstock usually receives more sunshine than Columbia River Gorge during winter. Woodstock gets 167 hours of sunny skies, while Columbia River Gorge receives 86 hours of full sun in the winter.

Columbia River Gorge receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Woodstock usually receives less rain than Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 5.2 inches (132 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Woodstock or Columbia River Gorge in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Woodstock as well as Columbia River Gorge. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Columbia River Gorge this time of year.

Woodstock is around the same temperature as Columbia River Gorge in the spring. The daily temperature in Woodstock averages around 49°F (10°C) in April, and Columbia River Gorge fluctuates around 51°F (11°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Columbia River Gorge. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Woodstock this time of the year. In the spring, Woodstock often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 227 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Columbia River Gorge receives 231 hours of full sun.

Woodstock usually gets more rain in April than Columbia River Gorge. Woodstock gets 3.7 inches (95 mm) of rain, while Columbia River Gorge receives 2.4 inches (61 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Columbia River Gorge and Woodstock