A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Dayton vs. Denali National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Dayton or Denali National Park?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Dayton or Denali National Park, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Dayton or Denali National Park?

Dayton

Located in southwest Ohio, Dayton is known as the "Gem City." It's the original home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who designed the first airplane. You'll also find the Dayton Aviation Heritage Park here, which is one of the only multi-site National Parks in the United States. The cities climate has four different seasons, winter, spring, summer and fall. The winter months are quite cold and you can expect a decent amount of snow in the area. Spring remains cool and there are infrequent showers. This is also the peak time for tornadoes in the area. Summer is hot and humid and can be unpleasant at times, but fall is crisp and refreshing with occasional storms and infrequent tornadoes.

Denali National Park

There is a place in Alaska, 240 miles wide, where you can be a part of the wild frontier. The expansive and untouched area of Denali National Park welcomes thousands of visitors ever year with stunning natural wonders and incredible wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and more.

As home to North America's tallest peak, Denali has attracted nature adventurers from all over the world. Established in 1917 as wildlife refuge, Denali National Park contains areas of tundra and taiga. Taiga zones are covered in evergreen, spruce and aspen trees, while tundra zones are full of miniaturized versions of the plants including flowers, mosses and shrubs.

Remember that the weather changes without warning in Denali. It is a well known to the locals that you can expect sun, wind, rain and clouds in the same day. Pack accordingly.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Denali National Park or Dayton?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dayton is $323, while the average daily cost in Denali National Park is $218. 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 Dayton and Denali National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dayton $250
    Denali National Park $116
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dayton $500
    Denali National Park $232
Compare Hotels in Dayton and Denali National Park

Looking for a hotel in Dayton or Denali 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.

Hotels in Dayton


Hotels in Denali National Park


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dayton Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dayton $25
    Denali National Park $76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Denali National Park

Also for Denali National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Shuttle Transfer: Anchorage ↔ Denali National Park: $150

Is it cheaper to fly into Dayton or Denali National Park?

Prices for flights to both Denali National Park and Dayton 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dayton $61
    Denali National Park $57
Typical Food Prices in Dayton

Some typical examples of dining costs in Dayton are as follows:


  • Noodle Company Lunch (for 2)
    $17
  • Indian Food Dinner (for 2)
    $34

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dayton -
    Denali National Park $30

Tours and Activities in Dayton

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Dayton are as follows:

  • Daytona Beach: Guided Kayaking or Standup Paddling Tour: $65

Tours and Activities in Denali National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Denali National Park.

  • 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour: $79
  • Midnight Sun ATV Adventure 2.5 Hour Tour: $79
  • Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour : $114
  • 3 Hour Naturalist Walking Tour in Denali National Park: $119
  • Denali National Park Walking Tour: $125
  • Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure: $140
  • Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining: $150
  • Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal: $150
  • Denali Park Zipline Adventure: $165
  • 5-Hour Mountain Hiking Tour in Denali: $169
  • Half-Day Sled Dog Experience: $175
  • 4 Hour Off-Trail Hiking Tour in Denali: $199

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dayton -
    Denali National Park $12

Sample the Local Flavors in Dayton

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dayton:

  • Dive Bar Bus Crawl: $38


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

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



When is the best time to visit Dayton or Denali National Park?

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 Dayton or Denali National Park in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Dayton as well as Denali National Park. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Denali National Park because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Dayton is generally much warmer than Denali National Park. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 78°F (26°C), and Denali National Park fluctuates around 60°F (15°C).

Dayton usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Denali National Park. Dayton gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Dayton 78°F (26°C) 
    Denali National Park 60°F (15°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Denali National Park in the Autumn?

Both Denali National Park and Dayton are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Denali National Park this time of year.

It's quite cold in Denali National Park in the autumn. Dayton is much warmer than Denali National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in Dayton averages around 57°F (14°C) in October, and Denali National Park fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).

In October, Dayton usually receives less rain than Denali National Park. Dayton gets 2.5 inches (64 mm) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Dayton 57°F (14°C) 
    Denali National Park 32°F (0°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Denali National Park in the Winter?

Both Denali National Park and Dayton during the winter are popular places to visit. Furthermore, many travelers come to Denali National Park for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Denali National Park. It's quite cold in Dayton in the winter. In the winter, Dayton is much warmer than Denali National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in Dayton in January average around 30°F (-1°C), and Denali National Park averages at about 11°F (-12°C).

Dayton usually gets more rain in January than Denali National Park. Dayton gets 2.1 inches (54 mm) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Dayton 30°F (-1°C) 
    Denali National Park 11°F (-12°C)

Should I visit Dayton or Denali National Park in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Dayton and Denali National Park. Furthermore, many visitors come to Denali National Park in the spring for the natural beauty.

Denali National Park can get quite cold in the spring. In April, Dayton is generally much warmer than Denali National Park. Daily temperatures in Dayton average around 55°F (13°C), and Denali National Park fluctuates around 34°F (1°C).

In April, Dayton usually receives more rain than Denali National Park. Dayton gets 3.5 inches (88 mm) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Dayton 55°F (13°C) 
    Denali National Park 34°F (1°C)

Typical Weather for Denali National Park and Dayton

Dayton Denali National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 30°F (-1°C) 2.1 inches (54 mm) 11°F (-12°C) 1.3 inches (33 mm)
Feb 33°F (1°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 16°F (-9°C) 1.4 inches (37 mm)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 23°F (-5°C) 1.5 inches (37 mm)
Apr 55°F (13°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm) 34°F (1°C) 1.6 inches (41 mm)
May 65°F (18°C) 4 inches (102 mm) 46°F (8°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm)
Jun 74°F (23°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm) 56°F (13°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm)
Jul 78°F (26°C) 3.4 inches (86 mm) 60°F (15°C) 3.6 inches (92 mm)
Aug 76°F (25°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 56°F (14°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)
Sep 69°F (21°C) 2.6 inches (65 mm) 47°F (9°C) 4.2 inches (108 mm)
Oct 57°F (14°C) 2.5 inches (64 mm) 32°F (0°C) 3.1 inches (79 mm)
Nov 47°F (8°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm) 18°F (-8°C) 1.8 inches (45 mm)
Dec 35°F (2°C) 3 inches (75 mm) 13°F (-11°C) 1.9 inches (49 mm)