Which place is cheaper, Grand Canyon National Park or Hot Springs?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Hot Springs or Grand Canyon National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Hot Springs or Grand Canyon 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: Hot Springs or Grand Canyon National Park?
Hot Springs
Hot Springs is a popular resort city in central Arkansas. It's location in the Ouachita Mountains make it a convenient base for exploring the area's natural hot springs, from which the city gets its name. The city is also home to Hot Springs National Park, which have long been believed to have healing properties. Today many spas have popped up around the hot springs.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon is a national landmark in the United States. It is also one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and the colors, particularly at sunrise and sunset, will never cease to amaze you. The canyon is entirely within the state of Arizona and has been carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It stands at over a mile deep and you can easily see the layers of geology with the Canyon's dramatic colors. The Grand Canyon National Park itself was created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as a national monument. It was later upgraded to a national park in 1919. It currently covers an area of more than 1.2 million acres and is visited yearly by more than four million guests.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in United States of America, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in United States of America.
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Hot Springs Prices
USA PricesGrand Canyon National Park Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHot Springs $220Grand Canyon National Park $203
The average daily cost (per person) in Hot Springs is $220, while the average daily cost in Grand Canyon National Park is $203. 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 Hot Springs and Grand Canyon National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHot Springs $100Grand Canyon National Park $89
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHot Springs $200Grand Canyon National Park $178
Compare Hotels in Hot Springs and Grand Canyon National Park
Looking for a hotel in Hot Springs or Grand Canyon 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: Hot Springs Hotel Prices and Grand Canyon National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Hot Springs $47Grand Canyon National Park $43
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hot Springs
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Hot Springs:
- Hot Springs to Little Rock Airport LIT Departure Private Transfer: $126
Is it cheaper to fly into Hot Springs or Grand Canyon National Park?
Prices for flights to both Grand Canyon National Park and Hot Springs 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 dayHot Springs $90Grand Canyon National Park $84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Grand Canyon National Park
For Grand Canyon National Park, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset Tour with Dinner included: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Hot Springs $30Grand Canyon National Park $35
Tours and Activities in Hot Springs
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Hot Springs are as follows:
- Hot Springs NP Self Guided Driving and Walking Audio Tour: $17
- Small-Group Zipline Tour in Hot Springs: $67
Tours and Activities in Grand Canyon National Park
For Grand Canyon National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour: $17
- Ultimate Arizona Self-Guided Driving and Walking Tour Bundle: $32
- Grand Canyon West: All Access Ticket: $114
- 3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour : $123
- Grand Canyon Signature Hummer Tour with Optional Sunset Views: $127
- Express Grand Canyon Jeep Tour : $136
- 4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim: $149
- 4-Hour Grand Canyon Morning Rim Tour featuring Biblical Creation: $149
- Tusayan: Grand Canyon Desert View & South Rim Pink Jeep Tour: $150
- Grand Entrance Sunset Tour from Tusayan: $155
- Premier Grand Canyon JeepTour: $157
- Private Grand Canyon South Rim VAN tours: $162
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHot Springs $22Grand Canyon National Park $11
When comparing the travel costs between Hot Springs and Grand Canyon National Park, we can see that Hot Springs 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 Hot Springs Expensive? and Is Grand Canyon 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.