Should you visit Grand Canyon National Park or Olympic National Park?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Grand Canyon National Park and Olympic National Park. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is a national landmark in the United States. It is also one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and the colors, particularly at sunrise and sunset, will never cease to amaze you. The canyon is entirely within the state of Arizona and has been carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It stands at over a mile deep and you can easily see the layers of geology with the Canyon's dramatic colors. The Grand Canyon National Park itself was created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as a national monument. It was later upgraded to a national park in 1919. It currently covers an area of more than 1.2 million acres and is visited yearly by more than four million guests.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is in Washington State and was originally established as a national monument in 1909. The area is known for its large Sitka spice and Douglas fir trees, which can be found in the Hoh and Queets rainforest valleys on the western side of the park. The area's temperate rainforest climate creates lush thick moss and dense vegetation that gives the setting a fairytale quality.
Which city is cheaper, Olympic National Park or Grand Canyon National Park?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Average Daily Cost
Per person, per day
Grand Canyon National Park
$130
Olympic National Park
$99
The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Canyon National Park is $130, while the average daily cost in Olympic National Park is $99. 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 Grand Canyon National Park and Olympic National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Grand Canyon National Park, $142 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Grand Canyon National Park, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $71, such as in a hostel.
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around $39. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Olympic National Park the cost is $78 on average.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Grand Canyon National Park $71
Olympic National Park $39
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Grand Canyon National Park
$142
Olympic National Park
$78
Food
The price of a meal in Grand Canyon National Park can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $39 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $16 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
Olympic National Park food costs typically run travelers around $28 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
To get around in Grand Canyon National Park, the average visitor spends $30 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.
The average price of local transportation around Olympic National Park is $54 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Grand Canyon National Park $30
Olympic National Park $54
Entertainment
In Grand Canyon National Park, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $21 per person, per day.
Olympic National Park's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $21 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Grand Canyon National Park $21
Olympic National Park $21
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Grand Canyon National Park spend on average $8.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
The average person spends about $4.46 on alcoholic beverages in Olympic National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
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Alcohol
Drinks for one day
Grand Canyon National Park $8.57
Olympic National Park $4.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Grand Canyon National Park and Olympic National Park, we can see that Grand Canyon National Park is more expensive. And not only is Olympic National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Olympic National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Olympic 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 Canyon National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Grand Canyon National Park than you might in Olympic National Park.
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