Which place is cheaper, Glacier National Park or Houston?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Houston and Glacier 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.
Houston is a sprawling, southern, and one-of-a-kind city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. It's also known for food, shopping, and museums.
Glacier National Park is a breathtaking, gorgeous, and stunning park. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the hiking.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Houston. Although Houston and Glacier National Park are popular destinations, Houston has more sights and attractions for tourists. Houston is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, shopping, and big city activities, while Glacier National Park attracts visitors for its resorts, hiking, and impressive beauty. Glacier National Park is more touristy than Houston and is known for its miles of hiking trails, impressive glaciers, and pristine lakes. Houston is famous for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also well known for The Space Center Houston.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Glacier National Park and Houston. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Houston is notable for its sights and museums. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its museums and history.
Houston offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.
If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Glacier National Park. There are a couple of local museums in the area, but most people head straight for the park.
Houston is a popular place for its local cuisine and restaurants. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its restaurants.
Houston offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.
You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Glacier National Park. You'll find several restaurants and cafes both within and near the park, but this is an incredibly crowded park so you'll want to make reservations well in advance.
Houston is notable for nightlife. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for nightlife and partying.
Houston has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.
Glacier National Park doesn't offer many options. People visit for the scenery, not the nightlife scene.
Houston is a popular place for live music. However, Glacier National Park is not a live music destination.
The music scene in Houston is active and vibrant. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.
Glacier National Park is not a live music destination.
Glacier National Park is a good destination for its resorts. However, Houston is not a resort destination.
With a selection of resorts, Glacier National Park makes a nice vacation spot. There are several lodges, cabins, and inns near or within the park, but reservations are recommended well in advance.
Houston is not a resort destination.
Glacier National Park is well known for its hiking experiences. However, Houston is not a hiking destination.
You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Glacier National Park. There are more than 700 miles of trails in the park. For the best experience, you should purchase a permit and explore the parks backcountry. Other popular trails include Highline Trail, Grinnell Glacier Trail, and Avalanche Lake Trail. It's best to start in the early morning as this is a popular park and the trails get busier as the day progresses.
Houston is not a hiking destination.
Houston is a popular place for shopping. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its shopping opportunities.
Houston is a great destination for shopping. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.
If you're looking to go shopping, Glacier National Park has some nice offerings. There are park stores where you can pick up books, souvenirs, and gifts.
Houston is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Glacier National Park is not as famous, but is still a good park to visit for its kid-friendly activities.
Houston is a very family-friendly place to visit. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.
Glacier National Park is a family-friendly city. The landscapes are spectacular, but the crowds can be intense, which means it can be hard to find places to pull over and park during the peak seasons. Keep this in mind when you're traveling with kids because you may end up spending more time in the car than you'd expected.
Glacier National Park is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.
Couples visit Glacier National Park frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Drive along the scenic Going-to-the-Sun-Road and take in the truly breathtaking scenery. Many people consider this to be a top destination for a honeymoon and couples will appreciate the impressive hikes, dramatic waterfalls, and adventure-filled activities.
Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.
Glacier National Park is a world-class destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Backpackers and budget travelers come from all over the world to visit Glacier National Park. The backcountry is truly pristine, and obtaining a Wilderness Permit and getting off-the-beaten-path will help you escape some of the crowds that the park is known for.
Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.
Houston is a popular place for students. However, Glacier National Park is not popular with students.
Houston is a good city to visit for students. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.
Glacier National Park is not popular with students.
You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Houston and Glacier National Park.
Public transit is generally limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.
Public transit is mostly limited in Glacier National Park. There's a free shuttle along Going-to-the-Sun Road that's available on a first-come, first-served basis, but expect crowds. The road can get quite congested during peak times. There are also tours that take you along the road so you can enjoy the scenery without having to focus on driving.
Houston is a moderate city for its walkability. However, Glacier National Park is a mediocre park for its high level of walkability.
Houston is generally not very walkable. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.
Glacier National Park is not a very walkable city. You'll need a car to get almost anywhere in the park.
For even more information, also check out Is Houston Worth Visiting? and Is Glacier National Park Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Houston and Glacier National Park. In our opinion, Houston has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Houston than Glacier National Park. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.
Families should spend more time in Houston than Glacier National Park. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Houston, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Houston than Glacier National Park if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Houston.
Because Houston is a large city, there are a variety of ways to spend your time. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
In Glacier National Park, you'll find . Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This park offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Houston. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city. It offers something for everyone.
In Glacier National Park, you'll find . The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Glacier National Park has to offer.
Houston is a fun place to experience. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. Your budget might influence how long you stay.
Glacier National Park is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.
You'll find nightlife and live music around the one-of-a-kind big city of Houston. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Glacier National Park. Many people enjoy the when visiting Glacier National Park. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Houston is $262, 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 Houston and Glacier National Park in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Houston 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.
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Houston:
Prices for flights to both Glacier National Park and Houston 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.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Houston.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Glacier National Park.
Here are a few actual costs in Houston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:
Also in Houston, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Houston and Glacier National Park, we can see that Houston 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 Houston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Houston 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 Houston Expensive? and Is Glacier National Park Expensive?.