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

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Should you visit Glacier National Park or Yellowstone National Park?

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

Should I visit Glacier National Park or Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone 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.

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.

Which place is cheaper, Yellowstone 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 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 Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Glacier National Park $56
    Yellowstone National Park $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Glacier National Park $112
    Yellowstone National Park $148
Compare Hotels in Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park

Looking for a hotel in Glacier 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.

Hotels in Glacier National Park


Hotels in Yellowstone 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.


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Glacier National Park $69
    Yellowstone National Park $37

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

Prices for flights to both Yellowstone 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
    Yellowstone National Park $46

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

Tours and Activities in Glacier National Park

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

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

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 Old Faithful Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Yellowstone National Park Self Driving Audio Tour: $15
  • Yellowstone and Grand Teton Audio Driving Tour: $20
  • Lake Yellowstone Half Day Kayak Tours Past Geothermal Features : $135
  • Early Morning Guided Kayak Tour: $150
  • Yellowstone Lake Twilight Tour: $150
  • 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: $269
  • Fairy Falls Day Hike Tour: $315

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Glacier National Park $8.41
    Yellowstone National Park $19

How are these travel costs calculated?

When comparing the travel costs between Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park, we can see that Yellowstone National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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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. Yellowstone National Park Travel Comparison

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