Find Out How Much These 10 Popular National Park Vacations Will Cost

Known as America’s crown jewels, the most popular U.S. national parks draw hundreds of thousands to millions of visitors every summer. The federally managed lands contain some of the country’s most breathtaking sites, including mountain ranges, hoodoos, waterfalls, winding rivers, rocky beaches, rain forests and volcanic landscapes. And the best part is that many of these national parks make for affordable summer vacation destinations.

To find out how much 10 of the most popular national park’s vacations will cost, GOBankingRates referenced the total average spend per visitor and a breakdown of individual costs from a study by HawaiianIslands.com: “The 2023 National Parks Index: Ranking U.S. National Parks by Visitor Density, Duration and Spend.”

From camping to grocery expenses and recreation to transportation costs, here’s how much you’ll spend per person on these 10 popular national park vacations.

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 261,075

Total average spend per visitor: $132.44

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $2.67
• Gas: $10.98
• Groceries: $9.27
• Lodging: $56.27
• Recreation: $8.31
• Restaurants: $19.81
• Retail: $10.63
• Transportation: $14.49

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 1,097,491

Total average spend per visitor: $119.45

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $4.89
• Gas: $7.07
• Groceries $8.77
• Lodging: $53.44
• Recreation: $6.41
• Restaurants: $26.67
• Retail: $6.85
• Transportation: $3.78

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 660,354

Total average spend per visitor: $92.57

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $2.38
• Gas: $11.57
• Groceries: $5.88
• Lodging: $30.21
• Recreation: $8.25
• Restaurants: $17.39
• Retail: $8.53
• Transportation: $8.38

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 204,031

Total average spend per visitor: $91.29

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor: 

• Camping: $2.30
• Gas: $11.54
• Groceries: $5.83
• Lodging: $29.53
• Recreation: $8.18
• Restaurants: $17.07
• Retail: $8.45
• Transportation: $8.39

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 231,191

Total average spend per visitor:$85.62

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $3.85
• Gas: $9.18
• Groceries: $5.53
• Lodging: $32.76
• Recreation: $5.45
• Restaurants: $15.60
• Retail: $7.35
• Transportation: $5.90

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 228,540

Total average spend per visitor: $71.52

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor: 

• Camping: $1.38
• Gas: $12.37
• Groceries: $4.77 
• Lodging: $24.13
• Recreation: $5.09
• Restaurants: $14.00
• Retail: $6.32
• Transportation: $3.45

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 2,934,498

Total average spend per visitor: $71.43

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $1.39
• Gas: $12.37
• Groceries: $4.77
• Lodging: $24.07
• Recreation: $5.08
• Restaurants: $13.98
• Retail: $6.32
• Transportation: $3.46

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 2,390,309

Total average spend per visitor: $49.19

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $1.66
• Gas: $8.74
• Groceries: $6.97
• Lodging: $13.38
• Recreation: $3.21
• Restaurants: $10.95
• Retail: $3.53
• Transportation: $0.75

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 2,437,627

Total average spend per visitor: $49.10

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor: 

• Camping: $1.70
• Gas: $8.73
• Groceries: $7.00
• Lodging: $13.27
• Recreation: $3.21
• Restaurants: $10.91
• Retail: $3.54
• Transportation: $0.75

Annual summer visitors per 38.6 mi²: 799,408

Total average spend per visitor: $18.92

Breakdown of total average spend per visitor:

• Camping: $0.43
• Gas: $3.14
• Groceries: $1.63
• Lodging: $5.49
• Recreation: $2.24
• Restaurants: $4.67
• Retail: $1.09
• Transportation: $0.23

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All figures and costs from The 2023 National Parks Index: Ranking U.S. National Parks by Visitor Density, Duration and Spend.