Should you visit Columbia River Gorge or Park City Utah?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Columbia River Gorge or Park City Utah, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
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.
Park City Utah
Located in the eastern portion of the Wasatch Mountains, Park City, Utah is a wonderful year around destination. It's position in the Rocky Mountains gives it a beautiful setting at an altitude of roughly 7,000 feet about sea level. It's a popular destination in the winter months for skiing. Some of the country's best ski resorts are found here including Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons Resort and Deer Valley Resort. The city also hosts the famous Sundance Film Festival every year. During the summer months the city serves as a retreat from the heat for many residents of nearby Salt Lake City. It's high elevation make it a refreshing place to visit during the warmest months.
Which city is cheaper, Park City Utah or Columbia River Gorge?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbia River Gorge is $143, while the average daily cost in Park City Utah is $256. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Columbia River Gorge and Park City Utah in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Columbia River Gorge is about $142 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Park City Utah, $322 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Park City Utah, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $161, such as in a hostel.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Columbia River Gorge $71
Park City Utah $161
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Columbia River Gorge
$142
Park City Utah
$322
Food
The average traveler spends about $37 per day in Columbia River Gorge for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
On average, meal and food prices in Park City Utah cost around $52 per person, per day. While this price can vary widely by location, the type of restaurant, and the amount of food ordered, a typical meal often costs around $21.
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Food
Meals for one day
Columbia River Gorge $37
Park City Utah $52
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Columbia River Gorge is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $62 per person, per day, on local transportation in Columbia River Gorge.
Park City Utah's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $58 per person, per day on transportation in Park City Utah.
Is it cheaper to fly into Columbia River Gorge or Park City Utah?
Prices for flights to both Park City Utah and Columbia River Gorge change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Columbia River Gorge typically cost an average of $16 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Park City Utah can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $55 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Alcohol
The average person spends about $9.49 on alcoholic beverages in Columbia River Gorge per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Park City Utah, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $37.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbia River Gorge and Park City Utah, we can see that Park City Utah is more expensive. And not only is Columbia River Gorge much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Columbia River Gorge would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Columbia River Gorge 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 Park City Utah would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Park City Utah than you might in Columbia River Gorge.
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