Should you visit Death Valley National Park or Grand Teton National Park?
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 Grand Teton National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Death Valley National Park
With over 3.4 million acres of desert and mountains, the sights of Death Valley encompass sweeping viewpoints, scenic drives, dunes, craters, and colors that change with the course of the sun. Historically, a few Native American cultures are known to have lived in the area, mostly nomadic. The first Europeans to stumble upon the area were a group drawn by the California Gold Rush. Forced to abandon their wagons, they were eventually able to hike out of the valley. Upon leaving, one traveler called it Death Valley and the name stuck.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a gorgeous park situated in the Rocky Mountain Range in northwest Wyoming. The park offers something for everyone: difficult hiking paths, walking trails built by American Indians, and a wealth of cultural history from American Indians to homesteads and cattle ranches. Grand Teton features a huge variety of landscapes, from mountains to lakes to valley and rivers that all provide you with gorgeous views of the natural beauty. For winter sports in the park, November-March is the best time to go since this is when the area gets the most amount of snow and temperatures range from 5-25° Fahrenheit. For hiking and water sports, June-August is the best time to go, as temperatures stay around 75° F throughout the day.
Which city is cheaper, Grand Teton National Park or Death Valley National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Average Daily Cost
Per person, per day
Death Valley National Park
$69
Grand Teton National Park
$95
The average daily cost (per person) in Death Valley National Park is $69, while the average daily cost in Grand Teton National Park is $95. 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 Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
Death Valley National Park's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $58. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $29.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $86 in Grand Teton National Park For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Death Valley National Park $29
Grand Teton National Park $43
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Death Valley National Park
$58
Grand Teton National Park
$86
Food
The price of a meal in Death Valley National Park can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $16 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $6.40 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Grand Teton National Park food costs typically run travelers around $27 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $33 per day to get around in Death Valley National Park.
To get around in Grand Teton National Park, the average visitor spends $33 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Death Valley National Park $33
Grand Teton National Park $33
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $29 per person, per day in Death Valley National Park. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
In Grand Teton National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $32 per person, per day.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Death Valley National Park $29
Grand Teton National Park $32
Alcohol
The average person spends about $6.86 on alcoholic beverages in Death Valley National Park 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 Grand Teton National Park, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $7.34.
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Alcohol
Drinks for one day
Death Valley National Park $6.86
Grand Teton National Park $7.34
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Death Valley National Park and Grand Teton National Park, we can see that Grand Teton 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 Grand Teton National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Teton National Park than you might in Death Valley National Park.
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