Which place is cheaper, Glacier National Park or Columbus?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Should I visit Columbus or Glacier National Park? 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.
Columbus is a authentic, friendly, and welcoming city. It's also known for nightlife, shopping, and museums.
Glacier National Park is a stunning, breathtaking, and gorgeous park. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include hiking.
Tourists will generally find more to do in Glacier National Park. Although Columbus and Glacier National Park are both popular with visitors, Glacier National Park has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Glacier National Park is more popular for its resorts, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Columbus is known for its museums, nightlife, and shopping. Glacier National Park is more touristy than Columbus and is popular for its miles of hiking trails, impressive glaciers, and pristine lakes. It is also home to Going-to-the-Sun Road. Columbus is popular for its youthful energy and its growing arts scene.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Glacier National Park and Columbus. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Columbus is a popular place for its sights and museums. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its museums and history.
Columbus is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Popular museums around town include the Center of Science and Technology, the Franklin Park Conservatory, the Columbus Museum of Art, and the Ohio History Center.
If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Glacier National Park. There are a couple of local museums in the area, but most people head straight for the park.
Foodies will find both Columbus and Glacier National Park both to be decent destinations.
Columbus offers some easy restaurants to choose from. Hearty and heavy comfort food is the mainstay in this town. There's pizza, casseroles, sausage, and milkshakes around town.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Glacier National Park. You'll find several restaurants and cafes both within and near the park, but this is an incredibly crowded park so you'll want to make reservations well in advance.
Columbus is a popular place for nightlife. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for nightlife and partying.
There's a variety of activities in the evening in Columbus. The live music scene is growing. There are also a growing number of breweries around town.
Glacier National Park doesn't offer many options. People visit for the scenery, not the nightlife scene.
Glacier National Park is a popular place for its luxury resorts. However, Columbus is not a resort destination.
Glacier National Park has a handful of resorts to choose from. There are several lodges, cabins, and inns near or within the park, but reservations are recommended well in advance.
Columbus is not a resort destination.
Glacier National Park is a very popular place for its hiking trails. However, Columbus is not a hiking destination.
Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Glacier National Park. There are more than 700 miles of trails in the park. For the best experience, you should purchase a permit and explore the parks backcountry. Other popular trails include Highline Trail, Grinnell Glacier Trail, and Avalanche Lake Trail. It's best to start in the early morning as this is a popular park and the trails get busier as the day progresses.
Columbus is not a hiking destination.
Columbus is a popular place for shopping. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its shopping opportunities.
Columbus is a great destination for shopping. In addition to the standard shopping malls and retail outlets, there are some interesting shops in the Short North Arts District, German Village, and Easton Town Center.
If you're looking to go shopping, Glacier National Park has some nice offerings. There are park stores where you can pick up books, souvenirs, and gifts.
Columbus is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Glacier National Park is not as famous, but is still a good park to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Columbus is a very family-friendly place to visit. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a highlight for many families. Right by it is the Zoombezi Bay Waterpark. For hands-on science-based activities check out the Center of Science and Industry. Kids will also love the Legoland Discovery Center or the Anthony-Thomas Candy Factory. There are also many outdoor parks, greenways, and playgrounds to visit.
Glacier National Park is a family-friendly city. The landscapes are spectacular, but the crowds can be intense, which means it can be hard to find places to pull over and park during the peak seasons. Keep this in mind when you're traveling with kids because you may end up spending more time in the car than you'd expected.
Glacier National Park is a very popular place for romance. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for its romantic activities.
Glacier National Park makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Drive along the scenic Going-to-the-Sun-Road and take in the truly breathtaking scenery. Many people consider this to be a top destination for a honeymoon and couples will appreciate the impressive hikes, dramatic waterfalls, and adventure-filled activities.
Most people don't think of Columbus as a couple's destination. You'll find restaurants and music venues that make for a nice date night. There are also wine tours and other entertainment options.
Glacier National Park is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Columbus is lacking in good options for backpackers.
Many backpackers frequent Glacier National Park. The backcountry is truly pristine, and obtaining a Wilderness Permit and getting off-the-beaten-path will help you escape some of the crowds that the park is known for.
Columbus is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Although it's often overlooked by tourists, there is a hostel in town for backpackers and budget travelers.
Visitors will find decent public transit in both Columbus and Glacier National Park.
Public transit is mostly limited in Columbus. While there's a bus system, you'll really want to have a vehicle to get around town efficiently.
Public transit is generally limited in Glacier National Park. There's a free shuttle along Going-to-the-Sun Road that's available on a first-come, first-served basis, but expect crowds. The road can get quite congested during peak times. There are also tours that take you along the road so you can enjoy the scenery without having to focus on driving.
Columbus is a popular place for its walkability. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its high level of walkability.
Columbus is somewhat walkable. The older neighborhoods are the most walkable, but if you want to get around town, you'll need to have a car.
Glacier National Park is not a very walkable city. You'll need a car to get almost anywhere in the park.
For even more information, also check out Is Columbus Worth Visiting? and Is Glacier National Park Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Columbus and Glacier National Park. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Glacier National Park than in Columbus. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Columbus, and 2-3 days is enough time in Glacier National Park.
Families should spend more time in Columbus than Glacier National Park. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Columbus, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Glacier National Park than Columbus. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Glacier National Park that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Glacier National Park than Columbus 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 Glacier National Park.
In Columbus, you'll find shopping and museums. Anyone can find something fun to do here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Columbus, one day is sufficent for most.
The beautiful park of Glacier National Park offers . Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Columbus. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city. It offers something for everyone.
Glacier National Park is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this park makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Glacier National Park, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.
Columbus is a fun place to experience. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Glacier National Park 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.
You'll find shopping and museums around the friendly destination of Columbus. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
Glacier National Park is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This park offers something for everyone.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, and The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Columbus is $158, while the average daily cost in Glacier National Park is $127. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Columbus and Glacier National Park in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Columbus or Glacier National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Also for Columbus, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Glacier National Park and Columbus 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Glacier National Park.
For Columbus, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Columbus and Glacier National Park, we can see that Columbus is more expensive. And not only is Glacier National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Glacier National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Glacier National Park 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 Columbus would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Columbus than you might in Glacier National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Columbus Expensive? and Is Glacier National Park Expensive?.