A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Olympic National Park vs. Victoria for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Olympic National Park or Victoria?

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

Should I visit Olympic National Park or Victoria? 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: Olympic National Park or Victoria?

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is in Washington State and was originally established as a national monument in 1909. The area is known for its large Sitka spice and Douglas fir trees, which can be found in the Hoh and Queets rainforest valleys on the western side of the park. The area's temperate rainforest climate creates lush thick moss and dense vegetation that gives the setting a fairytale quality.

Victoria

The capital city of British Columbia, Canada, Victoria is positioned near the southern edge of Vancouver Island. It's a wonderfully pleasant city and has been nicknamed the Garden City because of its vast green space and public gardens. There is a population of just over 80,000 in the city proper and almost 350,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Dating back to 1843, it's also one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. As such, it has many historic buildings and beautiful architecture. It also has the second oldest Chinatown in North America, following San Francisco's.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, The Best Adventure Tours to Canada, and The Best Eco Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Victoria or Olympic National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Olympic National Park is $124, while the average daily cost in Victoria is $182. 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 Olympic National Park and Victoria in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Olympic National Park $49
    Victoria $113
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Olympic National Park $98
    Victoria $226
Compare Hotels in Olympic National Park and Victoria

Looking for a hotel in Olympic National Park or Victoria? 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.

Hotels in Olympic National Park


Hotels in Victoria


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: Victoria Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Olympic National Park $68
    Victoria $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Victoria

Also for Victoria, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Victoria to Vancouver Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Coach Bus Transfer: $74
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Hotel Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
  • Victoria to Vancouver - Vancouver Airport (YVR) Drop Off - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
  • Vancouver: Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Victoria: $206
  • Seaplane Transfer between Victoria and Whistler: $219

Is it cheaper to fly into Olympic National Park or Victoria?

Prices for flights to both Victoria and Olympic 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
    Olympic National Park $35
    Victoria $27

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Victoria

For Victoria, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Chocolate Lovers Food Tour: $44
  • Chinatown and Old Town Food Tour with Tastings: $58
  • Hip & Hidden Chinatown + Old Town Food Tour Victoria: $59
  • Victoria Delicious Donut Adventure & Walking Food Tour: $73
  • Sip, Savor, Stroll Evening Food Tour: $146

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Olympic National Park $26
    Victoria $45

Tours and Activities in Olympic National Park

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Olympic National Park are as follows:

  • Olympic Audio Driving Tour: $15
  • Olympic Full Day Small Group Tour: $299

Tours and Activities in Victoria

For Victoria, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Victoria self-guided tour App - multilingual AudioGuide: $4.28
  • Victoria Harbor: Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $5.11
  • 2.5-hour Tips-Based City Walking Tour: $6.58
  • Victoria, BC: Murder Mystery Detective Experience: $11
  • Scavenger Hunt and City Highlights Walking Tour: $13
  • Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Experience Victoria by Foot Walking Tour: $15
  • Butterfly Gardens Admission Ticket: $15
  • Ghostly Walking Tour in Victoria: $16
  • Cultural & Historical Victoria Walking Tour: $16
  • Malahat SkyWalk General Admission Tickets: $29
  • Experience Victoria City Tour: $37

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Olympic National Park $5.57
    Victoria $16

Sample the Local Flavors in Victoria

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Victoria:

  • Guided Pub Crawl with Ferry Rides and Appetizers: $48
  • 3-Hour Street Art & Craft Beer Tour of Victoria, Brewery Tour & Tasting included: $101
  • Victoria Wine Tour with Wine Tastings and Charcuterie: $134
  • Cowichan Valley Premium Wine Tour: $439


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Olympic National Park and Victoria, we can see that Victoria is more expensive. And not only is Olympic National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Olympic National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Olympic 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 Victoria would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Victoria than you might in Olympic National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Olympic National Park Expensive? and Is Victoria Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Olympic National Park or Victoria?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Olympic National Park or Victoria in the Summer?

Both Victoria and Olympic National Park during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Olympic National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Olympic National Park is around the same temperature as Victoria. Typically, the summer temperatures in Olympic National Park in July average around 60°F (15°C), and Victoria averages at about 16°C (60°F).

Olympic National Park usually gets more rain in July than Victoria. Olympic National Park gets 2.8 inches (70 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 13 mm (0.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Olympic National Park 60°F (15°C) 
    Victoria 16°C (60°F)

Should I visit Olympic National Park or Victoria in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Olympic National Park and Victoria. The autumn months attract visitors to Olympic National Park because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Olympic National Park is generally around the same temperature as Victoria. Daily temperatures in Olympic National Park average around 51°F (10°C), and Victoria fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

Olympic National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Olympic National Park usually receives more rain than Victoria. Olympic National Park gets 10.4 inches (263 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Olympic National Park 51°F (10°C) 
    Victoria 11°C (52°F)

Should I visit Olympic National Park or Victoria in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Olympic National Park as well as Victoria. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Olympic National Park this time of year.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Victoria. It's quite cold in Olympic National Park in the winter. Olympic National Park is around the same temperature as Victoria in the winter. The daily temperature in Olympic National Park averages around 41°F (5°C) in January, and Victoria fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

It's quite rainy in Victoria. Olympic National Park receives a lot of rain in the winter. Olympic National Park usually gets more rain in January than Victoria. Olympic National Park gets 13.7 inches (349 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Olympic National Park 41°F (5°C) 
    Victoria 5°C (41°F)

Should I visit Olympic National Park or Victoria in the Spring?

Both Victoria and Olympic National Park are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Olympic National Park for the natural beauty.

In the spring, Olympic National Park is cooler than Victoria. Typically, the spring temperatures in Olympic National Park in April average around 47°F (8°C), and Victoria averages at about 10°C (49°F).

It's quite rainy in Olympic National Park. In April, Olympic National Park usually receives more rain than Victoria. Olympic National Park gets 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain, while Victoria receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain each month for the spring.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Olympic National Park 47°F (8°C) 
    Victoria 10°C (49°F)

Typical Weather for Victoria and Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park Victoria
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 41°F (5°C) 13.7 inches (349 mm) 5°C (41°F) 138 mm (5.4 in)
Feb 43°F (6°C) 12.2 inches (311 mm) 7°C (44°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Mar 44°F (7°C) 11.6 inches (294 mm) 8°C (46°F) 67 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 47°F (8°C) 7.4 inches (189 mm) 10°C (49°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
May 52°F (11°C) 5.6 inches (142 mm) 12°C (54°F) 29 mm (1.1 in)
Jun 56°F (13°C) 3.3 inches (85 mm) 14°C (58°F) 24 mm (0.9 in)
Jul 60°F (15°C) 2.8 inches (70 mm) 16°C (60°F) 13 mm (0.5 in)
Aug 60°F (16°C) 2.4 inches (60 mm) 16°C (61°F) 19 mm (0.8 in)
Sep 58°F (14°C) 5 inches (126 mm) 15°C (58°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Oct 51°F (10°C) 10.4 inches (263 mm) 11°C (52°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Nov 45°F (7°C) 14 inches (355 mm) 8°C (46°F) 140 mm (5.5 in)
Dec 41°F (5°C) 15 inches (380 mm) 5°C (42°F) 153 mm (6 in)