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

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Should you visit Glacier National Park or Denali National Park?

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

Should I visit Glacier National Park or Denali National Park? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Glacier National Park or Denali National Park?

Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is a large park situated in the far north of Montana, bordering Canada. The park borders the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and both share UNESCO World Heritage Site and are biosphere reserves. Glacier National Park offers over 700 miles of trails and countless activities, including hiking, biking, canoeing, and fishing. As the park is split by the Continental Divide, the east and west sides of the park experience fairly different weather. The western side of the park gets the most rainfall while the eastern side offers more sunshine, but also more wind. During summer months, temperatures can get into the 90's Fahrenheit during the day while winter sees temperatures in the 20's and plenty of snowfall. The high season for the park is June-September, which is also when the majority of hiking trails, hotels, and shops are open.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Denali National Park or Glacier National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Glacier National Park is $127, 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 Glacier National Park and Denali National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Glacier National Park $56
    Denali National Park $116
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Glacier National Park $112
    Denali National Park $232
Compare Hotels in Glacier National Park and Denali National Park

Looking for a hotel in Glacier National Park 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 Glacier National Park


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Glacier National Park $69
    Denali National Park $76

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

Prices for flights to both Denali National Park and Glacier 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Glacier National Park $28
    Denali National Park $57

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Glacier National Park $34
    Denali National Park $30

Tours and Activities in Glacier National Park

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:

  • Glacier National Park Self-Guide Driving Audio Tour: $15
  • Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure: $95
  • Private Guided Hiking Tour: $375
  • Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $12
  • West Glacier & Polebridge Scenic Driving Tour: $434

Tours and Activities in Denali National Park

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

  • 3 Hour Naturalist Walking Tour in Denali National Park: $110
  • 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour: $112
  • Denali National Park Walking Tour: $125
  • Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure: $140
  • Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour : $140
  • Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining: $150
  • Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal: $150
  • 5-Hour Mountain Hiking Tour in Denali: $160
  • Denali Park Zipline Adventure: $165
  • 5 Hour Foraging and Cultural History Tour in Denali: $190
  • Denali Self-Guided Jeep Adventure: $245
  • Denali Peak Sightseeing by Plane: $466

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Glacier National Park $8.41
    Denali National Park $12

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Glacier National Park and Denali National Park, we can see that Denali National Park is more expensive. And not only is Glacier National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Glacier National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Glacier 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 Glacier 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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Glacier National Park vs. Denali National Park Travel Comparison

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