A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint John vs. Denali National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Saint John or Denali National Park?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint John and Denali National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Saint John or Denali National Park?

Saint John

With the popularity of the Caribbean rising, many islands have become touristy and expensive – but not St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At only nine miles long and five miles wide, St. John is the smallest of the Virgin Islands, and, many argue, the prettiest. It's the kind of place that has maintained it's cultural identity, but still welcomes visitors from all over the world. With a population of just 5,000, the residents of St. John know everyone and everything happening on the island.

This island is perfect for people who want an undisturbed island getaway at any price. Between resorts and campgrounds there is a spot for everyone on St. John.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in United States of America, and The Best 10-Day Tours in United States of America.

When comparing the travel costs between Saint John and Denali National Park, we can see that Denali 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. Even though Saint John is in Caribbean Islands and Denali National Park is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

When is the best time to visit Saint John or Denali National Park?

Denali National Park has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Saint John experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Denali National Park in the Summer?

Both Denali National Park and Saint John during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Saint John because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Denali National Park in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Saint John is much warmer than Denali National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Saint John in July average around 29°C (83°F), and Denali National Park averages at about 60°F (15°C).

Saint John usually gets less rain in July than Denali National Park. Saint John gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 3.6 inches (92 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Denali National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Saint John and Denali National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Saint John year-round. Also, most visitors come to Denali National Park for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Denali National Park can be very cold during autumn. In October, Saint John is generally much warmer than Denali National Park. Daily temperatures in Saint John average around 28°C (82°F), and Denali National Park fluctuates around 32°F (0°C).

Saint John gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Saint John usually receives more rain than Denali National Park. Saint John gets 146 mm (5.7 in) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 3.1 inches (79 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Saint John or Denali National Park in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Saint John as well as Denali National Park. Saint John attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Denali National Park because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

The weather in Denali National Park can be very cold. Saint John is much warmer than Denali National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Saint John averages around 26°C (78°F) in January, and Denali National Park fluctuates around 11°F (-12°C).

Saint John usually gets more rain in January than Denali National Park. Saint John gets 43 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 1.3 inches (33 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Saint John or Denali National Park in the Spring?

Both Denali National Park and Saint John are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Saint John throughout the year. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Denali National Park this time of year.

It's quite cold in Denali National Park in the spring. In the spring, Saint John is much warmer than Denali National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Saint John in April average around 27°C (80°F), and Denali National Park averages at about 34°F (1°C).

In April, Saint John usually receives more rain than Denali National Park. Saint John gets 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Denali National Park receives 1.6 inches (41 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Denali National Park and Saint John