Which place is cheaper, Yosemite National Park or Tucson?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Tucson or Yosemite National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Yosemite National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or Yosemite National Park?
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is the second largest city in the state and sits at an elevation of 2,400 feet. It's temperature is slightly milder than Phoenix and it is a pleasant place to visit. Most people arrive in the city by car, but Amtrak does travel through Tucson, as does Greyhound. The area is also served by the Tucson International Airport. Once in the city, you'll likely want to have access to a car, as the city is not very pedestrian friendly and public transportation is very much lacking. Many popular and beautiful sights are also outside of town in the surrounding desert, so having access to a vehicle is paramount if you hope to visit any of the places.
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's one of the most famous and popular parks in the country and is known for its breathtaking granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, clear streams, and giant sequoia groves. The park covers 750,000 acres, or 1,200 square miles, and includes thousands of lakes and ponds and an impressive range of biodiversity. There are 800 miles of hiking trails within the park as well. Yosemite National Park is the third most visited park within the United States with an average annual visitation of almost 4 million people.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTucson $157Yosemite National Park $129
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $157, while the average daily cost in Yosemite National Park is $129. 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 Tucson and Yosemite National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93Yosemite National Park $64
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186Yosemite National Park $128
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Yosemite National Park
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Yosemite 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: Tucson Hotel Prices and Yosemite National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27Yosemite National Park $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Yosemite National Park?
Prices for flights to both Yosemite National Park and Tucson 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 dayTucson $36Yosemite National Park $40
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16Yosemite National Park $19
Tours and Activities in Yosemite National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Yosemite National Park are as follows:
- Big Trees Hike & Riverside Cookout Adventure: $180
- Family Fun Private Half Day Fly Fishing Adventure: $215
- Full-Day Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour Including Hotel Pickup: $169
- Private Guided Hiking Tour in Yosemite: $293
- Semi Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch and Hotel Pickup: $250
- Waterfalls of Yosemite: Customizable Private Tour: $495
- Yosemite Full Day Small Group High Country / Mariposa Tour: $299
- Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour: $200
- Yosemite National Park Audio Driving Tour: $11
- Yosemite Panorama Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
- Yosemite Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Yosemite Valley & Glacier Point Adaptive Tour: $180
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16Yosemite National Park $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and Yosemite National Park, we can see that Tucson is more expensive. And not only is Yosemite National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Yosemite National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yosemite 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 Tucson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tucson than you might in Yosemite National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is Yosemite 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.