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

Should you visit Yosemite National Park or Zion National Park?

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

Should I visit Yosemite National Park or Zion 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 Zion 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.

Zion National Park

Grab your backpack, water bottle and protein bar and prepare yourself for the most humbling and awe-inspiring sights you'll likely ever see. Zion National Park in southern Utah is a favorite for hikers, backpackers and climbers around the world. With the red and white cliffs of Zion Canyon rising high over the Virgin River, meadows of wildflowers, hanging gardens and high plateaus, you'll be hard pressed to find more breathtaking views in the US.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Zion 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 Zion National Park is $119. 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 Zion National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yosemite National Park $64
    Zion National Park $60
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yosemite National Park $128
    Zion National Park $120
Compare Hotels in Yosemite National Park and Zion National Park

Looking for a hotel in Yosemite National Park or Zion 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 Zion 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 and Zion National Park Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yosemite National Park $41
    Zion National Park $30

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

Prices for flights to both Zion 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
    Zion National Park $37

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yosemite National Park $19
    Zion National Park $26

Tours and Activities in Yosemite National Park

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

  • Yosemite Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Yosemite National Park Audio Driving Tour: $14
  • Yosemite: Audio Driving Tour: $15
  • Yosemite: Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: $15
  • Yosemite Panorama Trail Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Yosemite Valley Tour with Transport from Oakhurst: $130
  • Full-Day Small Group Yosemite & Glacier Point Tour Including Hotel Pickup: $169
  • Big Trees Hike & Riverside Cookout Adventure: $180
  • El Capitan, Yosemite: A Rock Climber's Odyssey - Private Tour: $180
  • Yosemite’s High Country Adaptive Tour: $180
  • Yosemite Valley & Glacier Point Adaptive Tour: $180
  • Yosemite Winter Highlights Small Group Tour: $190

Tours and Activities in Zion National Park

Here are a few actual costs in Zion National Park for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • East Zion Dark Sky Stargazing Tour: $19
  • East Zion East Rim Jeep Tour: $49
  • Campfire S'mores and Stars Tour in Kanab: $65
  • Zion Sunset Jeep Tour: $69
  • Virgin: Zion National Park Off-Road Vehicle Tour & Hike: $89
  • UTV Dune Cruise and Surf at Coral Pink Sand Dunes: $91
  • Award Winning UTV Slot Canyon Tour: $98
  • East Zion Crimson Canyon Hike & UTV Adventure: $99
  • Peekaboo Slot Canyon UTV and Hiking Adventure: $99
  • Peekaboo Slot Canyon Jeep Tour: $104
  • Peek-A-Boo Slot Canyon UTV Adventure : $115
  • East Zion 2 Hour Slot Canyon Canyoneering UTV Tour: $119

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yosemite National Park $11
    Zion National Park $8.28


When comparing the travel costs between Yosemite National Park and Zion National Park, we can see that Yosemite National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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