Which place is cheaper, Rapid City or North Conway?
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 North Conway or Rapid City?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit North Conway or Rapid City? 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: North Conway or Rapid City?
North Conway
North Conway is a small town in New Hampshire in the Mount Washington Valley (MWV). The entire valley is a popular vacation area year-round due to the multiple ski resorts and summer activities including amusement parks, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.
Rapid City
Rapid City is a large city in western South Dakota that is considered the gateway to the Black Hills National Forest. Rapid City is often used as a base for all types of outdoor activities, including tours to the infamous Mount Rushmore and surrounding parks. The city has a budding art scene and offers the perfect combination of a metropolitan city surrounded by stunning natural scenery. Rapid City experiences the best weather from June-September with temperatures in the 70's and 80's Fahrenheit. Temperatures drop to the low 20's F in the winter and the area receives the most rain pour in April and May.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Camping Tours in United States of America, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in United States of America, The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in United States of America, and The Best Walking Tours in United States of America.
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North Conway Prices
USA PricesRapid City Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNorth Conway $270Rapid City $133
The average daily cost (per person) in North Conway is $270, while the average daily cost in Rapid City is $133. 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 North Conway and Rapid City in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNorth Conway $125Rapid City $60
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNorth Conway $250Rapid City $120
Compare Hotels in North Conway and Rapid City
Looking for a hotel in North Conway or Rapid City? 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: North Conway Hotel Prices and Rapid City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.North Conway $52Rapid City $53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in North Conway
Also for North Conway, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Pittsburgh City to Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) - Departure Private Transfer: $100
- Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh hotel/address - Arrival Private Transfer: $100
- Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) to Pittsburgh City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into North Conway or Rapid City?
Prices for flights to both Rapid City and North Conway 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 dayNorth Conway $110Rapid City $41
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Roller Coaster Tickets with Dinner and Show in Rapid City: $81
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.North Conway $38Rapid City $26
Tours and Activities in North Conway
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for North Conway.
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour Guide: $15
- Kancamagus highway GPS Smartphone Audio Driving Tour App : $9.50
- Meet the Cider Makers with Rhythm Cidery Lincoln Tour: $40
- Meet the Winemakers - Seven Birches Winery Tour: $40
Tours and Activities in Rapid City
For Rapid City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Northern Black Hills - Deadwood, Lead, Spearfish Canyon Tour: $275
- Badlands National Park: Premiere Day Tour: $375
- Black Hills Self Guided Driving Audio Tour: $20
- Buffalo Jeep Safari & Mammoth Site Tour: $700
- Custer State Park Wildlife Loop and Needles Highway Shared Tour: $264
- From 1880 Train Guided Tour: $291
- From Badlands and Wall Drug Store Tour: $291
- From Black Hills, Deadwood, and Lead Day Tour: $275
- From Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup Tour: $185
- From Custer State Park and Needles Highway Tour: $264
- From Epic Badlands Tour and Legendary Wall Drug: $1,399
- From Mt. Rushmore Memorial Tour: $148
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNorth Conway $33Rapid City $6.93
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between North Conway and Rapid City, we can see that North Conway is more expensive. And not only is Rapid City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rapid City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rapid City 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 North Conway would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in North Conway than you might in Rapid City.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is North Conway Expensive? and Is Rapid City Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, North Conway or Rapid City?
Rapid City has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of North Conway. When comparing the sizes of North Conway and Rapid City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
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.