We analyzed 50 attractions in America and Canada to find out which ones offer the best value for money. Discover the best landmarks in North America, here.
North America is home to countless tourist attractions, many of which receive an influx of visitors who are eager to tick items off their bucket lists and create lasting memories. However, before visiting an attraction or landmark, it’s always a good idea to check the entry price and decide whether or not it offers value for money.
To help you do this, the online casino team at Betway has analyzed the entry prices of some of North America’s biggest attractions and compared them with how well-reviewed they are. This allowed us to reveal the landmarks in America and Canada that offer the best value for money!
The best landmarks in the US
We’ll begin by looking at the best landmarks in the USA when it comes to value for money.
Pearl Harbor Memorial (USS Arizona Memorial)
Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor Memorial costs just $1 (1.38 CAD) to enter, which we’re sure you’ll agree is very reasonable. The landmark also has 98.5% positive reviews, resulting in a total score of 9.78 out of 10 and making it the number one attraction in North America in terms of value for money.
Independence Hall (Museum Tours)
Tickets for a tour around Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania also only cost $1 (1.38 CAD) and its positive reviews are only a fraction below those of the Pearl Harbor Memorial at 98.4%. As a result, this attraction is a very close second, with a total score of 9.77 out of 10.
Freedom Trail (Old North Church)
The Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts is actually joint second rather than third. Its entry fee is five times that of the previous two attractions but still very affordable at $5 (6.90 CAD), plus it has a very impressive 99.3% positive reviews. This gives it a total score of 9.77 out of 10 (the same as the Freedom Trail).
Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota comes in at number 5 for North America. Tickets for parking cost $10 (CAD 13.80), which when combined with 98.6% positive reviews give it a total score of 9.46 out of 10.
Arches National Park
The entrance fee for Arches National Park in Utah is $15 (CAD 20.70) each. This large area of natural beauty has 99.4 positive feedback from visitors, which means it has a total score of 9.42 out of 10 and places it firmly at number 6.
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam at the Nevada/Arizona border, which ranks at number 8 for all of North America, costs $10 (CAD 13.80) to behold. Its reviews are 97.8% positive, and its total score is 9.33 out of 10.
Bryce Canyon National Park
At joint number 9 (the other #9 is in Canada), we have Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. The entrance fee is the highest we’ve seen so far at $20 (CAD 27.60) per person. However, the reviews are exceptionally strong (99.7% positive), resulting in a total score of 9.29 out of 10.
Grand Canyon
Living up to its name, the Grand Canyon in Arizona offers truly majestic scenes. Visitors can expect to pay $20 (CAD 27.60), which is worth every penny because it has 99.2% positive reviews. Its total score of 9.19 out of 10 puts it at number 11 in North America.
The Alamo
If you’d like a tour of The Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, tickets cost $14 (CAD 19.32) and it has 97.9 positive reviews. The result is a total score of 9.19 out of 10 and joint 11th place in our rankings.
Gateway Arch
Head over to St Louis, Missouri and spend $15 (CAD 20.70) per ticket, and you can then admire the Gateway Arch. This landmark has 97.3% positive reviews and a total score of 9.05 out of 10. This score makes it number 13 for best value attractions in North America.
Yellowstone National Park
The entrance fee to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho is $20 (CAD 27.60) and visitors have given it 98.2% positive feedback. Its total score is 9.02 out of 10, which places it at number 14 in our rankings.
Mammoth Cave Park
In joint 14th place is Mammoth Cave Park in Kentucky, where a ticket for a tour will cost you $12 (CAD 16.56). Visitors have given this experience 96.4% positive reviews, leading to a total score of 9.02 out of 10.
Yosemite National Park
Located in sunny California, Yosemite National Park costs $20 (CAD 27.60) to enter. With 97.6 positive reviews, it ranks number 15 on our list thanks to a total score of 8.92 out of 10.
Zion National Park
For $20 (CAD 27.60), you can enter Zion National Park in Utah and be at one with nature. 97.2% positive feedback and a total score of 8.85 out of 10 positions this attraction 16th.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
A truly cultural experience, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has the most expensive ticket price at $30 (CAD 41.40). However, 99.2% positive reviews show that it’s worth the fee, giving it a total score of 8.81 out of 10 and placing it at number 17.
Statue of Liberty
Also in NYC, the Statue of Liberty has a ticket price of $25 (CAD 34.50) and 97.4% positive reviews. It comes in at number 18 in our rankings, with a total score of 8.70 out of 10.
Mount Vernon
Located in Virginia, visiting the breathtaking Mount Vernon costs $28 (CAD 38.64) per ticket. Visitors have left 97.6% positive reviews – which result in a total score of 8.62 and a place at number 19 in our rankings.
Glacier National Park
The final entry for the USA is Glacier National Park, where entrance will cost you $20 (CAD 27.60). This stunning landmark has received 95.3% positive reviews, giving it a total score of 8.52 – ranking it joint number 20 for North America (read on to discover which Canadian attraction shares its ranking).
The best landmarks in Canada
Now let’s explore the top attractions in Canada ranked by value for money.
Banff National Park
With a park pass costing $11 CAD (USD $8.03), Banff National Park in Alberta is number 3 for value money in all of North America. Visitors give it 98.6% positive feedback, resulting in a total score of 9.54 out of 10.
Moraine Lake
It also costs $11 CAD (USD $8.03) for admission to Moraine Lake in Alberta, which has 98.4% positive feedback. A total score of 9.50 out of 10 places this attraction at number 4 in North America.
Notre-Dame Basilica
The stunning Notre-Dame Basilica is a must-see attraction in Montreal, Quebec. Expect to pay $16 CAD (USD $11.68) for a ticket, which is a bargain considering that it has 98.6% positive reviews. A total score of 9.40 means that this landmark is joint 7 with Arches National Park in the USA.
Old Quebec City
A ticket to peruse the Old Quebec City Museums is more expensive than the previous Canadian attractions, at $26 CAD (USD $18.98). However, a fantastic 99.6% positive review rate gives it a total score of 9.29 out of 10, and places it joint 9th in North America alongside the Hoover Dam in the US.
Niagara Falls
A ticket for the Journey Behind the Falls experience at Niagara Falls in Ontario is priced at $25 CAD (USD $18.25). This classic attraction has 99.0% positive reviews and a total score of 9.22 out of 10, resulting in it being number 10 for value money in all of North America.
Royal Ontario Museum
A favorite of culture vultures from around the world, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto ranks at number 12. A ticket fee of $23 CAD (USD $16.79) and 97.7% positive reviews give it a total score of 9.06 out of 10.
Fairmont Le Château Frontenac
Ranking at number 20 alongside Mount Vernon in the USA, Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City costs $25 CAD (USD $18.25) to enter and its TripAdvisor reviews are 94.9% positive. This combination results in a total score of 8.52 out of 10, making it another of the best North American attractions when it comes to value for money.
So, there we have it; the very best attractions across the US and Canada when it comes to value-for-money experiences – and the perfect additions to any fun-filled North American adventure! For more interesting insight like this, head on over to the Betway blog, or discover more about the Great White North at Betway Canada.
Methodology
Our dataset ranked 45 attractions based on value for money. To achieve this, two factors were considered: ticket cost (an exchange rate of 1 USD to 1.38 CAD was used; if the attraction is free, the price of an extra is used) and positive reviews (the percentage of ‘average’, ‘very good’ and ‘excellent’ reviews on TripAdvisor). For ticket cost, the lower the value, the higher the score. For positive reviews, the higher the value, the higher the score.
Once the data for the factors was collected, the values were then normalized to provide each factor with a score between 0 and 1 (if data was unavailable, a score of 0 was given). The normalized values were then summed and multiplied by 5, giving each attraction a total score out of 10. The attractions were then ranked from highest to lowest based on their total scores.
All data is correct as of 11/10/24.