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

Should you visit Redwood National Park or Banff?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Redwood National Park and Banff. 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.

Where Should I go: Redwood National Park or Banff?

Redwood National Park

Without a doubt, the Redwoods region of California is known for its trees, some of the tallest and most massive growing trees in the world, many reaching over 300 feet tall. Redwood National Park was established in 1968, but the surrounding State Parks of which it is comprised date back to the 1920s. In addition to the famous trees, these old-growth forests are home to indigenous flora, fauna, grassland prairie, cultural resources, portions of rivers and streams, and 37 miles of Pacific coastline.

Banff

Nestled in the pristine and gorgeous mountains of the Alberta Rockies is the popular town of Banff. This town sits right in Canada's Banff National Park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

While the surrounding nature may give the impression of a quiet, little town, Banff is typically crowded with tourists. The beauty of this area is irresistible for travelers from all over the world. This may not be the place for solitude or even an authentic, country experience, you'll still find an unforgettable vacation.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Canada, and The Best Camping Tours in Canada.


Which place is cheaper, Banff or Redwood National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Redwood National Park is $111, while the average daily cost in Banff is $84. 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 Redwood National Park and Banff in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Redwood National Park $44
    Banff $38
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Redwood National Park $88
    Banff $76
Compare Hotels in Redwood National Park and Banff

Looking for a hotel in Redwood National Park or Banff? 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 Redwood National Park


Hotels in Banff


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: Banff Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Redwood National Park $53
    Banff $5.18

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Banff

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Banff:

  • Private Banff National Park Tour with Hotel Transfers: $876
  • From 1-Way Private Transfer to Calgary Airport (YYC): $511
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Calgary: $365
  • Private Airport Transfer to Banff: $289
  • Private Transfer - Between YYC Calgary Airport and Banff: $234

Is it cheaper to fly into Redwood National Park or Banff?

Prices for flights to both Banff and Redwood 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
    Redwood National Park $33
    Banff $29

Typical Food Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of dining costs in Banff are as follows:


  • Tea House Lunch for Two
    $33
  • Hostel Breakfast
    $27
  • McDonalds
    $4.63

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Banff

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Banff.

  • Banff Food Tour: Eat the Castle: $153

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Redwood National Park $33
    Banff $12

Typical Entertainment Prices in Banff

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Banff are as follows:


  • Hot Springs
    $5.31

Tours and Activities in Banff

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Banff are as follows:

  • Banff self-guided tour App with multi-language audio guide: $2.14
  • Tunnel Mountain Trail: Nature Tour with Audio Guide: $5.11
  • Tunnel Mountain Trail: a Smartphone Audio Nature Tour : $5.19
  • Calgary & Lake Louise: Smartphone Audio Driving Tour: $6.21
  • The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.21
  • The Sights of Canmore: a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
  • Smartphone Audio Driving Tour between Banff and Calgary: $6.31
  • The Sights of a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour: $6.31
  • Historic Cave & Basin Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $8.49
  • Banff National Park: Self-Guided Scenic Driving Tour: $13
  • Listen to a Tour Guide as You Drive & Walk with our Discover the Rockies Package: $15
  • Banff National Park Self-Guided Driving Tour: $17

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Redwood National Park $11
    Banff $9.34


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

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