Which place is cheaper, Glacier National Park or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Glacier National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Glacier 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: Hot Springs or Glacier National Park?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, and The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $182Glacier National Park $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $182, while the average daily cost in Glacier National Park is $127. 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 Hot Springs and Glacier National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Glacier National Park $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Glacier National Park $112
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Glacier National Park
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Glacier 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.
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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Glacier National Park $69
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Private Departure Transfer from Hot Springs Resort to Little Rock: $71
- Hot Springs Resorts to Memphis Airport (MEM) Departure Transfer: $142
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Glacier National Park?
Prices for flights to both Glacier National Park and Hot Springs 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
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Food Meals for one dayHot Springs $52Glacier National Park $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Glacier National Park
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Glacier National Park.
- Half Day Whitewater Rafting with Riverside Dinner: $113
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Glacier National Park $34
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs, AR: Magic Springs Theme & Water Park Ticket: $44
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
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-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Self Guided Bike Tour in Glacier National Park : $65
- Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure: $87
- Full Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure - With Lunch!: $152
- Full Day Whitewater Adventure Trip with Included Lunch: $157
- Half Day Bike and Hike Tour in around Whitefish: $175
- Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $220
- Combo Tour: Driving and Snowshoe Trek of Glacier National Park: $220
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Glacier National Park $8.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Hot Springs and Glacier National Park, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Hot Springs than you might in Glacier National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Glacier National Park Expensive?.
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.