A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Death Valley National Park vs. Denali National Park for Backpackers, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Death Valley National Park and Denali National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is a dramatic, striking, and vast national park. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the hiking.

Denali National Park

Denali National Park is a vast, rugged, and spectacular park. You'll find world class beauty here as well. Other popular activities here include hiking.

Death Valley National Park and Denali National Park: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

Both Denali National Park and Death Valley National Park have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Death Valley National Park is more popular for its hiking, while Denali National Park is known for its resorts and shopping. Death Valley National Park is popular for being the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the U.S. Denali National Park is popular for its vast wilderness and iconic Alaskan wildlife.

How is Death Valley National Park different from Denali National Park?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Denali National Park and Death Valley National Park. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park.

Death Valley National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are ghost towns and visitor centers with informational exhibits, but visitors spend most of their time exploring the outdoor environment.

While most people don't head to Denali National Park specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. Denali's Museum Collection includes more than 25,000 different items that reflect the region's history, culture, and geology.

Is the Food Better in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at decent restaurants in both Death Valley National Park and Denali National Park.

Death Valley National Park may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. There are restaurants at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs, but most visitors prefer to bring their own food so that they can enjoy picnicking in a beautiful setting.

Denali National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. During the summer months there are restaurants open along Highway 3 as well as the Morino Grill near the Denali Visitor Center.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Nightlife?

Neither Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park offer decent nightlife.

People don't go to Death Valley National Park for the nightlife. Beyond stargazing and relaxing around a campfire, there is no real nightlife in the area.

Denali National Park doesn't offer many options. Visitors come to the park to see the nature, not for the nightlife.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Resorts?

Denali National Park is very good for its resorts. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for its luxury resorts.

Denali National Park has a few great resort options. Most visitors stay nearby the Denali Park Entrance. It has the most affordable hotels and lodges, some of which have a lot of personality. Alternatively, you could stay in the more remote area of Kantishna. These lodges are more expensive and all-inclusive, but they are also far away from most conveniences.

Death Valley National Park has a few resort options worth checking out. There are historical inns and lodges in and around the park. The privately owned Inn at Death Valley is a popular option in Furnace Creek. If you stay outside the park, you can expect long drives to get most places.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Hiking?

Death Valley National Park is a great national park for hiking. Also, Denali National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice park for the nearby hiking options.

Many visitors go to Death Valley National Park for the hiking trails. Hikes will take you past desert landscapes, through canyons, and along sand dunes. The views are spectacular and the setting is other-worldly. Hiking is best between the months of November and March, as temperatures can be high other times of the year, particularly during the summer months.

Denali National Park has hiking trails worth exploring. If you're looking for a marked trail, there are limited options within the park. Those that do exist are located near the park entrance and are usually just a couple of miles long. Off-trail hiking is what makes for the most memorable experience. Make sure you stop off at the visitor center for information and knowledge before you venture into the wilderness without a trail. For obvious reasons, you should fully understand what this entails before beginning your adventure.

Is the Shopping Better in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

Denali National Park is a moderate park for its shopping areas. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for shopping.

Denali National Park has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. There are several park stores and shops in and near the park where you can pick up gifts, books, and souvenirs.

Shopping in Death Valley National Park can be found for those interested. There are a couple of general stores where you can pick up items that you may need.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Families?

Death Valley National Park is a great national park for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Denali National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice park for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Death Valley National Park is very family-friendly. Kids will love hiking and exploring the vast desert. There are also ghost towns and abandoned mines that will fascinate kids and adults alike. Junior programs, operated by the National Park Service, also offer interesting and educational programming for kids.

Denali National Park is a family-friendly place to visit. Most people visit the park as part of a tour, so it's important to book a tour that is designed with families in mind. This will help ensure the kids stay entertained even during long bus rides.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Couples?

Both Death Valley National Park and Denali National Park are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Death Valley National Park is a very popular place to visit for couples. The stunning desert landscape will take your breathe away, particularly during sunrise and sunset, when the colors are dramatic and striking. In the evening, the sky fills with stars and couples can enjoy a bit of stargazing.

Denali National Park makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy outdoor adventures and stunning scenery will find the ultimate romance in this impressive park.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Death Valley National Park and Denali National Park are fantastic destinations for backpackers.

Death Valley National Park is a very popular national park to visit for backpackers. Backpackers will enjoy hiking and camping in a unique desert environment. There are several campgrounds in the area that range from primitive to developed.

Many backpackers frequent Denali National Park. There are millions of acres in the park as well as campgrounds, hostels, and vast backcountry (which requires a permit).

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Denali National Park is a moderate park for its public transit. However, Death Valley National Park is not a good national park for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Denali National Park. There are free shuttle buses that leave from the entrance area, but many visitors organize a tour to get around.

Public transit is quite limited in Death Valley National Park. There is no public transportation within the park.

Is Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park a more walkable city?

Neither Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park are walkable places.

Death Valley National Park is not a walkable national park. This is a huge national park that requires a car to get around.

Denali National Park is not a very walkable national park. The park is vast and you need some form of transportation to get around, whether it's a private vehicle or a pre-arranged tour.

For even more information, also check out Is Death Valley National Park Worth Visiting? and Is Denali National Park Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Denali National Park or Death Valley National Park?

How long in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

It's fun to spend time in either Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park. In our opinion, Denali National Park has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Denali National Park than Death Valley National Park. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Death Valley National Park than Denali National Park. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Death Valley National Park, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Denali National Park than Death Valley National Park. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Denali National Park that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Denali National Park than Death Valley National Park 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 Denali National Park.

One day in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

Many travelers enjoy the when visiting the beautiful destination of Death Valley National Park. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

In Denali National Park, many people enjoy the that this epic destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

Death Valley National Park is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this national park has to offer. This national park offers a variety of activities to choose from.

In Denali National Park, many people enjoy the that this beautiful destination offers. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many people spend a weekend here. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

Five days in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

Many people visit Death Valley National Park for five days. You'll find around the beautiful national park of Death Valley National Park. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Many people enjoy the when visiting Denali National Park. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This park offers something for everyone.

A week in Death Valley National Park or Denali National Park?

The striking destination of Death Valley National Park offers . Hikers are also drawn to this area. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the beautiful park of Denali National Park. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, and The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America.

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

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