A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Yosemite National Park vs. Denali National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Yosemite National Park or Denali National Park?

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

Should I visit Yosemite National Park or Denali 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: Yosemite National Park or Denali National Park?

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.

Denali National Park

There is a place in Alaska, 240 miles wide, where you can be a part of the wild frontier. The expansive and untouched area of Denali National Park welcomes thousands of visitors ever year with stunning natural wonders and incredible wildlife like grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou and more.

As home to North America's tallest peak, Denali has attracted nature adventurers from all over the world. Established in 1917 as wildlife refuge, Denali National Park contains areas of tundra and taiga. Taiga zones are covered in evergreen, spruce and aspen trees, while tundra zones are full of miniaturized versions of the plants including flowers, mosses and shrubs.

Remember that the weather changes without warning in Denali. It is a well known to the locals that you can expect sun, wind, rain and clouds in the same day. Pack accordingly.

Which place is cheaper, Denali National Park or Yosemite National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yosemite National Park is $129, while the average daily cost in Denali National Park is $218. 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 Yosemite National Park and Denali National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yosemite National Park $64
    Denali National Park $116
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yosemite National Park $128
    Denali National Park $232
Compare Hotels in Yosemite National Park and Denali National Park

Looking for a hotel in Yosemite National Park or Denali 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.

Hotels in Yosemite National Park


Hotels in Denali National Park


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: Yosemite National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yosemite National Park $41
    Denali National Park $76

Is it cheaper to fly into Yosemite National Park or Denali National Park?

Prices for flights to both Denali National Park and Yosemite 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
    Yosemite National Park $40
    Denali National Park $57

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yosemite National Park $19
    Denali National Park $30

Tours and Activities in Yosemite National Park

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

  • 2 Days Private Tour and Hike in Yosemite National Park: $1,317
  • 4-Day Half Dome Backpacking Adventure: $2,200
  • A Drive through John Muir’s Yosemite Valley: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
  • Big Trees Hike & Riverside Cookout Adventure: $180
  • Devils Peak Yosemite Sunset 4x4 Jeep Tour: $699
  • Experience Yosemite: Beginner or Advanced Photography Lesson: $575
  • Full Day Small Group Hiking Tour of Yosemite Valley: $299
  • Full-Day Private Tour and Hike in Yosemite National Park: $587
  • Full-Day Small Group Hiking Tour of Yosemite High Country and Mariposa Grove: $299
  • Full-Day Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour Including Hotel Pickup: $149
  • Jeep 4 X 4 Yosemite Park Tour with Hotel Pickup: $1,275
  • Off-Road Giant Sequoia 4x4 Tour: $649

Tours and Activities in Denali National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Denali National Park.

  • 2.5-Hour Denali Wilderness ATV Adventure Tour: $79
  • Midnight Sun ATV Adventure 2.5 Hour Tour: $79
  • 3 Hour Naturalist Walking Tour in Denali National Park: $110
  • Denali ATV Trailblazer 3.5 Hour Tour : $114
  • Denali National Park Walking Tour: $125
  • Wilds of Alaska Classic ATV Adventure: $140
  • Classic ATV Adventure with Back Country Dining: $150
  • Alaskan Back Country Side by Side ATV Adventure with Meal: $150
  • 5-Hour Mountain Hiking Tour in Denali: $160
  • Denali Park Zipline Adventure: $165
  • 4 Hour Wilderness Wonders Tour in Denali: $190
  • Denali Peak Sightseeing by Plane: $466

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yosemite National Park $11
    Denali National Park $12

How are these travel costs calculated?

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

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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.
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Yosemite National Park vs. Denali National Park Travel Comparison

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