Which place is cheaper, Glacier National Park or Tucson?
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 Tucson or Glacier National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Tucson and Glacier National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Tucson or Glacier National Park?
Tucson
Tucson, Arizona, is a vibrant city nestled in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, renowned for its dramatic mountain landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and sunny, dry climate. As a gateway to the American Southwest, Tucson blends a laid-back atmosphere with strong Mexican and Native American influences, creating a unique desert city experience. Its historic neighborhoods feature colorful adobe architecture, lively murals, and a thriving arts scene. Nature lovers are drawn to Tucson for its easy access to saguaro-studded national parks, hiking trails, and breathtaking sunsets. With a strong university presence, the city pulses with youthful energy, affordable entertainment, and a dynamic culinary scene. Budget travelers will appreciate Tucson’s range of low-cost attractions and accessible public spaces, making it an excellent base for exploring both city sights and the nearby wilderness. Whether you’re interested in history, outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up desert vibes, Tucson offers something for every traveler.
Glacier National Park
Glacier National Park is a large park situated in the far north of Montana, bordering Canada. The park borders the Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and both share UNESCO World Heritage Site and are biosphere reserves. Glacier National Park offers over 700 miles of trails and countless activities, including hiking, biking, canoeing, and fishing. As the park is split by the Continental Divide, the east and west sides of the park experience fairly different weather. The western side of the park gets the most rainfall while the eastern side offers more sunshine, but also more wind. During summer months, temperatures can get into the 90's Fahrenheit during the day while winter sees temperatures in the 20's and plenty of snowfall. The high season for the park is June-September, which is also when the majority of hiking trails, hotels, and shops are open.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Anchorage, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City, and The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City.
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Tucson Prices
USA PricesGlacier National Park Prices
USA Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTucson $184Glacier National Park $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Tucson is $184, while the average daily cost in Glacier National Park is $148. 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 Tucson and Glacier National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTucson $93Glacier National Park $56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTucson $186Glacier National Park $112
Compare Hotels in Tucson and Glacier National Park
Looking for a hotel in Tucson or Glacier 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: Tucson Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tucson $27Glacier National Park $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Tucson or Glacier National Park?
Prices for flights to both Glacier National Park and Tucson 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 dayTucson $63Glacier National Park $49
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tucson $16Glacier National Park $34
Tours and Activities in Glacier National Park
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Glacier National Park are as follows:
- Combo Tour: Driving and Snowshoe Trek of Glacier National Park: $250
- Doris Lake Hike and Pack Raft Adventure: $219
- Driving Tour West Glacier National Park (excludes Sun Road): $245
- Driving Tour in Glacier National Park: $250
- E Bike Tour in Glacier National Park Cammas Road: $229
- Full Day Whitewater Adventure Trip with Included Lunch: $159
- Fun and Romantic Pottery Experience for Couples: $275
- Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road Self-Guided Tour: $9.99
- Glacier National Park North Fork Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Glacier National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour Bundle: $16
- Glacier National Park Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: $17
- Many Glacier Self-Guided Audio Tour in Glacier National Park: $9.99
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTucson $16Glacier National Park $8.41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tucson and Glacier National Park, we can see that Tucson is more expensive. And not only is Glacier National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Glacier National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Glacier National Park 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 Tucson would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tucson than you might in Glacier National Park.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tucson Expensive? and Is Glacier 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.