A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers San Juan vs. Acadia National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit San Juan or Acadia National Park?

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

Should I visit San Juan or Acadia 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: San Juan or Acadia National Park?

San Juan

If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.

As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.

As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.

Acadia National Park

Located in the U.S. state of Maine, Acadia National Park encompasses much of Mount Desert Island, including smaller islands just off the Atlantic Coast. Once inhabited by the Wabanaki people, the region was a hub for seasonal fishing, hunting, and gathering berries, clams, and other shellfish on the coast. Acadia officially became a National Park in 1919, though it wasn't named Acadia until 1929 in honor of the former French colony.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.


Which place is cheaper, Acadia National Park or San Juan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • San Juan Prices
    Puerto Rico Prices
    Acadia National Park Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    San Juan $218
    Acadia National Park $206

The average daily cost (per person) in San Juan is $218, while the average daily cost in Acadia National Park is $206. 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 San Juan and Acadia National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    San Juan $124
    Acadia National Park $96
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    San Juan $248
    Acadia National Park $192
Compare Hotels in San Juan and Acadia National Park

Looking for a hotel in San Juan or Acadia 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 San Juan


Hotels in Acadia 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: San Juan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    San Juan $14
    Acadia National Park $46

Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan

Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer in Puerto Rico with Minivan from Airport: $280
  • Transfer from San Juan to Ponce or Ponce to San Juan: $125
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Ponce and Juana Diaz. Hotels and Airbnb Vice Versa 1 Way: $260
  • Transfer SJU Airport to Dorado. Hotels and Airbnb. Vice Versa One Way Trip.: $140
  • Single ATV Adventure: Private Hacienda Experience with Transfer: $195
  • San juan Puerto Rico PrivateTransfers Airport,Hotels,Cruise Ports: $66
  • San Juan hotels to San Juan PR Cruise Port - Departure Transfer: $30
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Private Transfers: $105
  • San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port to San Juan hotels - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $120
  • San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU) - Departure Private Transfer: $60
  • San Juan One-way Transfer - Cruise, SJU, Hotels, Airbnb: $30
  • San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into San Juan or Acadia National Park?

Prices for flights to both Acadia National Park and San Juan 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
    San Juan $62
    Acadia National Park $78

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $165
  • FlyDining: Sunset & City Lights Dinner Over Old San Juan: $165
  • Morning Old San Juan Food Tour: $169
  • Cooking and Connecting with a Local in Puerto Rico: $173
  • Savor the Sunset: Old San Juan Walking Food Tour: $179

Typical Food Prices in Acadia National Park

For Acadia National Park, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for 2
    $32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    San Juan $49
    Acadia National Park $33
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan

For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Horseback Riding Tour
    $40
  • Full Day Snorkeling Trip
    $100
  • 1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson
    $75

Tours and Activities in San Juan

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.

  • Culebra Swim with Turtles Adventure and Flamenco Beach by Ferry: $130
  • El Yunque Rainforest Tour Half Day Earlybird/ Small Groups: $85
  • Full-Day Tour: El Yunque, Luquillo Beach, Bio Bay Night Kayaking: $155
  • Puerto Rican Food Experience: $99
  • "Exclusive Tour": VIP Rum Tasting at San Juan Artisan Distillers: $150
  • "Yo Soy de PfknR" Bad Bunny Party Bus Experience: $145
  • 1 Hour Historical UTV Tour in San Juan: $200
  • 2 Tours in 1 Day: Rainforest Waterslides & Beach Tour w/Transport: $60
  • 3 Tours in 1 Day: Old San Juan, Rainforest, Beach with Transport: $75
  • 30-Minute Freestyle Jet Ski Adventure in the Bay: $100
  • ATV Double Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $221
  • ATV Single Rider Adventure Near San Juan - Hacienda Campo Rico: $149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    San Juan $12
    Acadia National Park $11

Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:

  • Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
  • The Pinones Pub crawl Bar crawl : $70
  • Local Puerto Rican Rum Distillery Tour - Ron Pepon: $90
  • Puerto Rico's First and Only Craft Beer Brewery Tour! : $99


When comparing the travel costs between San Juan and Acadia National Park, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan is in Caribbean Islands and Acadia 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 San Juan Expensive? and Is Acadia National Park Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit San Juan or Acadia National Park?

Acadia National Park has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but San Juan experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit San Juan or Acadia National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both San Juan and Acadia National Park. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to San Juan year-round. Also, many visitors come to Acadia National Park in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, San Juan is generally a little warmer than Acadia National Park. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 28°C (83°F), and Acadia National Park fluctuates around 69°F (21°C).

In July, San Juan usually receives more rain than Acadia National Park. San Juan gets 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain, while Acadia National Park receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    San Juan 28°C (83°F) 
    Acadia National Park 69°F (21°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Acadia National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to San Juan as well as Acadia National Park. San Juan attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, most visitors come to Acadia National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

San Juan is much warmer than Acadia National Park in the autumn. The daily temperature in San Juan averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Acadia National Park fluctuates around 48°F (9°C).

San Juan receives a lot of rain in the autumn. San Juan usually gets more rain in October than Acadia National Park. San Juan gets 135 mm (5.3 in) of rain, while Acadia National Park receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    San Juan 28°C (82°F) 
    Acadia National Park 48°F (9°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Acadia National Park in the Winter?

Both Acadia National Park and San Juan are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to San Juan throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Acadia National Park because of the museums and the cuisine.

The weather in Acadia National Park can be very cold. In the winter, San Juan is much warmer than Acadia National Park. Typically, the winter temperatures in San Juan in January average around 25°C (77°F), and Acadia National Park averages at about 18°F (-8°C).

In January, San Juan usually receives less rain than Acadia National Park. San Juan gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Acadia National Park receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    San Juan 25°C (77°F) 
    Acadia National Park 18°F (-8°C)

Should I visit San Juan or Acadia National Park in the Spring?

Both Acadia National Park and San Juan during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to San Juan because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, the beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Acadia National Park this time of year.

In April, San Juan is generally much warmer than Acadia National Park. Daily temperatures in San Juan average around 26°C (79°F), and Acadia National Park fluctuates around 43°F (6°C).

San Juan usually gets less rain in April than Acadia National Park. San Juan gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Acadia National Park receives 3.3 inches (84 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    San Juan 26°C (79°F) 
    Acadia National Park 43°F (6°C)

Typical Weather for Acadia National Park and San Juan

San Juan Acadia National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 25°C (77°F) 58 mm (2.3 in) 18°F (-8°C) 3 inches (77 mm)
Feb 25°C (77°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 20°F (-6°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Mar 26°C (78°F) 45 mm (1.8 in) 31°F (-1°C) 3.1 inches (80 mm)
Apr 26°C (79°F) 69 mm (2.7 in) 43°F (6°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
May 27°C (81°F) 120 mm (4.7 in) 54°F (12°C) 3.6 inches (91 mm)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 82 mm (3.2 in) 64°F (18°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)
Jul 28°C (83°F) 95 mm (3.7 in) 69°F (21°C) 3.3 inches (84 mm)
Aug 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 67°F (20°C) 3.4 inches (85 mm)
Sep 28°C (83°F) 130 mm (5.1 in) 59°F (15°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Oct 28°C (82°F) 135 mm (5.3 in) 48°F (9°C) 3.4 inches (87 mm)
Nov 27°C (80°F) 132 mm (5.2 in) 37°F (3°C) 4.6 inches (116 mm)
Dec 26°C (78°F) 92 mm (3.6 in) 24°F (-5°C) 4 inches (100 mm)


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