Should you visit Grand Canyon National Park or Zion National Park?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare 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. 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. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Grand Canyon National Park and Zion 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.
A hotel room in Zion National Park is about $96 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
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Accommodation
Hotel or hostel for one person
Grand Canyon National Park $71
Zion National Park $48
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Accommodation
Typical double-occupancy room
Grand Canyon National Park
$142
Zion National Park
$96
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.
Zion National Park food costs typically run travelers around $30 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 cost of a taxi ride in Zion National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $24 per person, per day, on local transportation in Zion National Park.
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Local Transportation
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
Grand Canyon National Park $30
Zion National Park $24
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.
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.
Entertainment and activities in Zion National Park typically cost an average of $21 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
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Entertainment
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
Grand Canyon National Park $21
Zion National Park $21
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Grand Canyon National Park spend on average $8.57 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Zion National Park may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.62 per day on alcoholic beverages.
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.
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