Which place is cheaper, Glacier National Park or Kansas City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kansas City or Glacier National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Kansas City 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: Kansas City or Glacier National Park?
Kansas City
A large, mid western city that sits on the border between Missouri and Kansa, Kansas City has a population of about 450,000. It's not exactly a tourist destination, but it is a surprisingly beautiful city with more boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any other city in the world with the exception of Rome. Most of the city's suburbs are concentrated in the south but the city is beginning to grow to the north as well. The climate in Kansas City can vary dramatically, in large part because it is so far from any form of water. Winters can range from mild to extremely cold and snow is not uncommon. Spring and fall and quite comfortable but summer months can be incredibly hot and humid.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to United States of America, and The Best Train & Rail Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKansas City $161Glacier National Park $127
The average daily cost (per person) in Kansas City is $161, 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 Kansas City and Glacier National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKansas City $88Glacier National Park $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKansas City $176Glacier National Park $112
Compare Hotels in Kansas City and Glacier National Park
Looking for a hotel in Kansas City 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: Kansas City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kansas City $44Glacier National Park $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Kansas City or Glacier National Park?
Prices for flights to both Glacier National Park and Kansas City 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 dayKansas City $47Glacier 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.Kansas City $11Glacier National Park $34
Tours and Activities in Glacier National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:
- Combo Tour: Driving and Snowshoe Trek of Glacier National Park: $220
- Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $220
- Full Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure - With Lunch!: $152
- Full Day Whitewater Adventure Trip with Included Lunch: $157
- Glacier National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Half Day Bike and Hike Tour in around Whitefish: $175
- Half-Day Glacier National Park Whitewater Rafting Adventure: $87
- Self Guided Bike Tour in Glacier National Park : $65
- Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKansas City $12Glacier National Park $8.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kansas City and Glacier National Park, we can see that Kansas City 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 Kansas City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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.