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

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Should you visit Joshua Tree National Park or Zion National Park?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Joshua Tree National Park and Zion National Park can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Joshua Tree National Park

California's high desert has a unique landscape and has become synonymous with Joshua Tree, located in southeastern California. Joshua Tree National Park gained its namesake from its spiky, evergreen, and unusually shaped trees native to the Mojave Desert area, which only grow in arid soils on plains, slopes and mesas. Legend has it that Mormons in the 19th century came across the trees and thought they resembled Joshua from the Bible, with outstretched arms, beckoning them to the promised land. Well, they do kind of look like people.

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 Joshua Tree National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Joshua Tree National Park is $122, 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 Joshua Tree National Park and Zion National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Joshua Tree National Park $70
    Zion National Park $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Joshua Tree National Park $140
    Zion National Park $96

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Joshua Tree National Park $37
    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 Joshua Tree National Park or Zion National Park?

Prices for flights to both Zion National Park and Joshua Tree 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
    Joshua Tree National Park $28
    Zion National Park $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Joshua Tree National Park $22
    Zion National Park $21

Tours and Activities in Joshua Tree National Park

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

  • Self-Driving Audio Tour: $10
  • Earthquake Canyon Express Downhill Bicycle Adventure: $120

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
    Joshua Tree National Park $3.94
    Zion National Park $6.62

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Joshua Tree National Park and Zion National Park, we can see that Joshua Tree 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 Joshua Tree National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Joshua Tree National Park than you might in Zion National Park.

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Joshua Tree National Park vs. Zion National Park Travel Comparison

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