A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Grand Canyon National Park vs. Zion National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Grand Canyon National Park or Zion National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Grand Canyon National Park and Zion 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, schedule, and interests. 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.

Zion National Park

Grab your backpack, water bottle and protein bar and prepare yourself for the most humbling and awe-inspiring sights you'll likely ever see. Zion National Park in southern Utah is a favorite for hikers, backpackers and climbers around the world. With the red and white cliffs of Zion Canyon rising high over the Virgin River, meadows of wildflowers, hanging gardens and high plateaus, you'll be hard pressed to find more breathtaking views in the US.

Which city is cheaper, Zion National Park or Grand Canyon National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Grand Canyon National Park is $130, while the average daily cost in Zion National Park is $95. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Grand Canyon National Park $71
    Zion National Park $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Grand Canyon National Park $142
    Zion National Park $96

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Grand Canyon National Park $30
    Zion National Park $24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zion National Park

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zion National Park:

  • From Las Vegas: Private Transfer to Zion National Park: $1,100

Is it cheaper to fly into Grand Canyon National Park or Zion National Park?

Prices for flights to both Zion National Park and Grand Canyon 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
    Grand Canyon National Park $39
    Zion National Park $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Grand Canyon National Park $21
    Zion National Park $21

Tours and Activities in Grand Canyon National Park

For Grand Canyon National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Grand Canyon: IMAX Hidden Secrets Movie Experience: $14
  • Grand Canyon: IMAX Movie Experience with Boxed Lunch: $29
  • Las Vegas: Grand Canyon West Rim Tour with Optional Skywalk: $79
  • 2-Hour Small-Group Hummer Tour: $107
  • From Flagstaff: Grand Canyon National Park Tour: $189
  • Las Vegas: Grand Canyon West Rim and Hoover Dam Tour: $199
  • Las Vegas: Grand Canyon Small-Group South Rim Sunset Tour: $205
  • Las Vegas: Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon Overnight Tour: $235
  • Sedona/Flagstaff: Grand Canyon Tour & First-Class Train Ride: $350
  • South Rim Private Group Tour: $1,085
  • From Las Vegas: 7-Day National Parks Small Group Tour: $1,540

Tours and Activities in Zion National Park

Here are a few actual costs in Zion National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • From Las Vegas: Zion National Park Full-Day Adventure: $149
  • From Springdale: 4-hour Zion Canyon Bike and Hike Tour: $197
  • Las Vegas: Zion and Bryce Canyons Small Group Tour: $239
  • Private Day Tour from Las Vegas: $1,500

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Grand Canyon National Park $8.57
    Zion National Park $6.62

About these numbers

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

Budget Your Trip

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Grand Canyon National Park vs. Zion National Park Travel Comparison

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