Which place is cheaper, Yellowstone National Park or Death Valley National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Death Valley National Park vs. Yellowstone National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Death Valley National Park or Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Death Valley National Park or Yellowstone National Park?
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.
Yellowstone National Park
The world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872. The area is famous for its many geysers, hot springs, and thermal areas. It also has a wide diversity of wildlife and stunning beauty, making it one of the most impressive places you can visit in the United States. The national park takes up an area of about 3,472 square miles and is mostly located within the state of Wyoming. It also touches the states of Idaho and Montana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeath Valley National Park $87Yellowstone National Park $147
The average daily cost (per person) in Death Valley National Park is $87, while the average daily cost in Yellowstone National Park is $147. 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 Death Valley National Park and Yellowstone National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeath Valley National Park $37Yellowstone National Park $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeath Valley National Park $74Yellowstone National Park $148
Compare Hotels in Death Valley National Park and Yellowstone National Park
Looking for a hotel in Death Valley National Park or Yellowstone 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Yellowstone National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Death Valley National Park $41Yellowstone National Park $37
Is it cheaper to fly into Death Valley National Park or Yellowstone National Park?
Prices for flights to both Yellowstone National Park and Death Valley National Park 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
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Food Meals for one dayDeath Valley National Park $20Yellowstone National Park $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Death Valley National Park $36Yellowstone National Park $34
Tours and Activities in Yellowstone National Park
Here are a few actual costs in Yellowstone National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Yellowstone's Upper Geyser Basin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $7.99
- West Thumb Geysers Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $7.99
- Yellowstone Old Faithful Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.99
- Grand Prismatic Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yellowstone National Park Self Driving Audio Tour: $13
- Lake Yellowstone Half Day Kayak Tours Past Geothermal Features : $135
- Small-Group Sunset Kayaking Tour on Lake Yellowstone : $155
- 6-Mile Geyser Hiking Tour in Yellowstone with Lunch: $182
- Lamar Valley Safari Hiking Tour with Lunch: $182
- E-Bike Tours in Yellowstone National Park: $200
- Full-Day Guided Yellowstone Day Tour: $299
- Fairy Falls Day Hike Tour: $315
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeath Valley National Park $8.57Yellowstone National Park $19
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Death Valley National Park and Yellowstone National Park, we can see that Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yellowstone National Park than you might in Death Valley National Park.
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Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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