Which place is cheaper, Yosemite National Park or Death Valley National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for California Death Valley National Park vs. Yosemite National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Death Valley National Park or Yosemite 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 Yosemite National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Death Valley National Park or Yosemite 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.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's one of the most famous and popular parks in the country and is known for its breathtaking granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, clear streams, and giant sequoia groves. The park covers 750,000 acres, or 1,200 square miles, and includes thousands of lakes and ponds and an impressive range of biodiversity. There are 800 miles of hiking trails within the park as well. Yosemite National Park is the third most visited park within the United States with an average annual visitation of almost 4 million people.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDeath Valley National Park $87Yosemite National Park $130
The average daily cost (per person) in Death Valley National Park is $87, while the average daily cost in Yosemite National Park is $130. 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 Yosemite National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDeath Valley National Park $37Yosemite National Park $65
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDeath Valley National Park $74Yosemite National Park $130
Compare Hotels in Death Valley National Park and Yosemite National Park
Looking for a hotel in Death Valley National Park or Yosemite 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: Yosemite National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Death Valley National Park $41Yosemite National Park $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Death Valley National Park or Yosemite National Park?
Prices for flights to both Yosemite 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 $20Yosemite National Park $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Death Valley National Park $36Yosemite National Park $19
Tours and Activities in Yosemite National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yosemite National Park are as follows:
- A Drive through John Muir’s Yosemite Valley: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Yosemite National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour Guide: $12
- Yosemite Panorama Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Yosemite: Audio Driving Tour: $15
- Yosemite Valley Tour with Transport from Oakhurst: $130
- Full-Day Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour Including Hotel Pickup: $149
- Yosemite Valley & Glacier Point Adaptive Tour: $180
- Big Trees Hike & Riverside Cookout Adventure: $180
- Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour: $200
- Semi Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch - with Hotel Pickup !: $250
- Private Guided Hiking Tour in Yosemite: $293
- Full-Day Small Group Hiking Tour of Yosemite High Country and Mariposa Grove: $299
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDeath Valley National Park $8.57Yosemite National Park $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Death Valley National Park and Yosemite National Park, we can see that Yosemite 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 Yosemite National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yosemite 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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