2024 National Parks Student Travel Pricing Guide (Costs / Pricing) 

Trip leaders and parents need to know the pricing and value of National Park trips. How much does an educational tour to National Parks cost?

We get it. Trip leaders want their educational tour to a National Park to have the best value for their students and their families. Trip leaders shouldn’t feel like they do not have enough information to price their trip fairly. 

Our trips go beyond typical sightseeing tours. On a GL Travel trip, teachers and their students are immersed in ecosystems of Natural beauty and have life-changing experiences. Take your students on an action-packed field trip to one of our majestic U.S. National Parks. 

The top standard and add-ons that calculate the price for custom educational trips:

• Departure City

• Airport Transfer to and from school

• Location(s) of Tour

• Travel Dates

• Number of days and nights traveling 

• Is your group traveling by air, bus, or both?

• Checked Luggage 

• Refund policy for all travelers

• Chaperone to student ratio

• Single Occupancy rooms

• Size of the group

• Hotel proximity to the National Park

• Hotel star rating

• Full-time guides 

• Special Dinners and meals inclusions 

• Trip Swag

• Special Activities

National Park Student Tours in detail below:

Departure City - 

Trips that originate from a further distance cost more in air and motorcoach. A group traveling by air from California to Phoenix or Flagstaff (Grand Canyon)  will often cost less than a group traveling by air from Boston.

The same is true for groups traveling by bus. A group traveling by bus from Northern California to the Grand Canyon will cost more than a group traveling by bus from Southern California to the Grand Canyon.

Traveling into a smaller regional airport is typically more expensive. A student travel trip from Sacramento Airport (SMF) will cost more than a group leaving from San Francisco Airport (SFO). The same is true for arrivals. Flying into a large airport like Phoenix or Las Vegas is typically less expensive than flying into a smaller regional airport like Billings or Flagstaff. 

Airport Transfer to and from school -

Will your group require a round-trip bus transfer between your school and the airport?

Location(s) of Tour - 

The top 5 places destination cities in order of most expensive to least expensive are:

• Yellowstone National Park (the Word’s First National Park)

• Yosemite National Park

• Grand Canyon National Park

• Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks (Utah)

• Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys

There is very little price difference between these five trips. The primary expenses are transportation and hotel accommodation. The gateway and destination cities contribute to cost. The proximity of the destination airport and National Parks makes a big difference in pricing. For example, a bus ride from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is between 3 and 4 hours, whereas a bus ride from Miami to the Everglades is 35 minutes. Bus-only itineraries are generally less expensive. 

Travel Dates

Travel dates impact your trip price. The busy season for  National Parks trips varies based on weather. The most budget-friendly time for student groups to travel is during the school year. 

• Yellowstone National Park - The Park roads are most accessible in the late springtime and summer. The summer months have the highest demand and the highest pricing. Spring and fall have cooler weather, fewer services, and lower demand and pricing. Add the Grand Tetons! 

• Yosemite National Park - National Park Service roads are most accessible in the late spring, summer, and early fall. The summer months have the highest demand and the highest pricing. Spring, fall, and winter have cooler weather, fewer services, and lower demand and pricing.

• Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys - December through late April is the peak time to visit the Everglades. 

• Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Parks - April through October are peak demand months for Bryce and Zion. Spring, summer, and fall are more crowded than winter. Don’t miss the Hoodoo rock formations at Bryce! 

• Grand Canyon National Park - Temperatures are lower, and there are fewer crowds in the spring and fall at the Grand Canyon. If you decide to visit during the summer (the park's peak season), be prepared for hordes of scorching temperatures in the Arizona Summer. There is so much more to the grand canyon than the spectacular South Rim!

Why does a student tour to a National Park cost so much?

The number of days and nights traveling. 

The length of your trip adds hotel nights, meals, fees, gratuities, etc., to trip costs. 

Is your group traveling by air, bus, or both?

Air is typically more expensive than traveling by bus. There are some cases where a school is a few states away from the National Parks where air and bus travel costs are comparable. 

Checked Luggage 

Will your group require checked luggage? 

Refund policy for all travelers

Some group leaders elect to include cancellation coverage in the trip program fees. Trip cancellation gives families the flexibility to cancel at any time before departure. 

Complimentary chaperones 

Typical ratios for students to chaperones are anywhere from 5:1 to 15:1. 

Size of the group

The critical factor in trip pricing is the number of travelers. Base your number on the average number of passengers in prior years. 

Hotel quality and proximity to the National Park

Full-time guides 

Will your group require a full-time Tour director that leads all of your guided tours and stays at the hotel or a guide that works for a few hours each day? 

Special Meals 

There is a relatively large spectrum of dining experiences for educational tour groups. What is your group's meal requirement? Are all meals included in your tour package?

Trip Swag

Does your group want trip swag? 

Special Activities

Specialized local guides, events in destination cities, rafting on the Colorado River,  Alpine sledding in Jackson, tracking wolves, boat rides, etc., can be added to an itinerary. We recommend rank-ordering this list to create a cost-effective trip. Before a trip leader receives a quote from our company, we listen closely and ask questions that will deliver the most value for their journey. We then create the trip leader's dream itinerary. The result is a trip that teachers and their students love. 

How much does an “air” trip to the  National Parks cost?

The average price of an “air trip” (airfare included in trip price) to the National Parks is $1,100–$4,000. If other parks are added to your National Park Trip, pricing should fall in the ranges below. As stated above, pricing will depend on many variables. 

Most trips will fall into these categories. 

• 3 days/2 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “air” costs $1,600 to $2,600

• 3 days/2 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “air” costs $1,600 to $2,600

• 3 days/2 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “air” costs $1,600 to $2,600

• 3 days/2 nights in Yosemite National Park “air” costs $1,600 to $2,600. 

• 3 days/2 nights in Yellowstone National Park “air” costs $1,300-$2,300. 

   

• 5 days/4 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “air” costs $2,300–$3,300. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “air” costs $2,300–$3,300. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “air” costs $2,300-$3,300. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Yosemite National Park “air” costs $2,500–$3,500. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Yellowstone National Park “air” costs $2,500-$3,500.

• 7 days/6 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “air” costs $3,000–$4,000.

• 7 days/6 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “air” costs $3,000–$4,000.

• 7 days/6 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “air” costs $3,000–$4,000. 

• 7 days/6 nights in Yosemite National Park “air” costs $3,200–$4,200.

• 7 days/6 nights in Yellowstone National Park “air” costs $3,200-$4,200.

The most significant factors that go into a trip price are the departure cities, the number of travelers, travel dates, hotels, and activities. Double-check to make sure the tour company you work with has all of your inclusions in your tour agreement. Keep your agreement handy and check off all of your inclusions when you receive your final itinerary. You want to deliver the trip you agreed to and promised to your students. 

How much does a “bus” trip to the  National Parks cost?

The average price of a “bus trip” (this means the school group is taking a motor coach) to the National Parks is $1,800–$3,300. As stated above, price will depend on many variables. 

Most trips will fall into these categories. 

• 3 days/2 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “bus” costs $1,400 to $2,400

• 3 days/2 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “bus” costs $1,400 to $2,400

• 3 days/2 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “bus” costs $1,400 to $2,400

• 3 days/2 nights in Yosemite National Park “bus” costs $1,600 to $2,600. 

• 3 days/2 nights in Yellowstone National Park “bus” costs $1,600 to $2,600. 

   

• 5 days/4 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “bus” costs $2,100–$3,100. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “bus” costs $2,100–$3,100. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “bus” costs $2,100–$3,100. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Yosemite National Park “bus” costs $2,300–$3,300. 

• 5 days/4 nights in Yellowstone National Park “bus” costs $2,300–$3,300.

• 7 days/6 nights in Everglades National Park / Florida Keys “bus” costs $2,800 to $3,800

• 7 days/6 nights in Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks “bus” cost $2,800 to $3,800

• 7 days/6 nights in Grand Canyon National Park “bus” costs $2,800 to $3,800

• 7 days/6 nights in Yosemite National Park “bus” costs $3,000–$4,000.

• 7 days/6 nights in Yellowstone National Park “bus” costs $3,000–$4,000.

Price ranges vary quite a bit. Every trip leader has different tastes, goals, and budgets when it comes to building their trip. Many educators survey their current students to understand their preferred activities. 

The average five-day school tour to the National Parks ranges from $1400 and $4,200, with the price based mainly on departure cities, number of travelers, travel dates, hotels, and activities.

**See our extensive  National Parks comparison library, including various videos

5 Best National Parks for Students

East Coast vs. National Parks Trips