The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic national parks in the United States and should be on every American’s bucket list. Stretching over a distance of 277 miles, 10 miles wide, and 1 mile deep, this enormous canyon is impossible to see all at once. It’s completely up to you whether you want to see just a small glimpse of this canyon, or if you want to go the extra mile and really take in the enormity of this vast canyon. I really hope that after reading this Grand Canyon travel guide, it inspires you to do the latter and really explore the canyon slowly, viewpoint after viewpoint.
Where to Start? The North, South, or West Rim?
Because the Grand Canyon is so vast, it has multiple access points. The most popular entry points are the North, South, and West Rims, but which is the best place to start?
Although the North and South Rim are both worth seeing, I believe it’s best to start at the South Rim. The South Rim is the most popular section of the national park because it is the easiest to access and has to most amenities including two shuttle bus routes that make seeing all the viewpoints so much easier and enjoyable.
The North Rim should definitely be your second stop though. This rim of the canyon is a bit more isolated so it’s a bit more of a challenge to get to. It’s a full 4 hours away from the South Rim, so you will need to allow at least 1 full day for the North Rim. It is definitely worth the effort though because the views at the North Rim are uniquely beautiful. Plus, entrance into the North Rim is included in the price of your South Rim ticket. So, you might as well take full advantage and see both!
If you are short on time, you can also visit the West Rim’s Skywalk which is just 2 hours from Vegas. This side of the canyon is privately owned which comes with a very steep price tag. It’s almost double the price of the national park side, and you don’t get to see as much. However, if your vacation time is limited, it is a good option for experiencing the canyon with this unique skywalk attraction.
Things to Do at the Grand Canyon South Rim
Below are some of our top recommendations for the Grand Canyon South Rim National Park. We saw these sites over two days, but it is possible to fit this all into one day if you start early. However, I believe allowing 2-3 days for the South Rim is the perfect amount of time to see all the viewpoints at a leisurely place, and maybe walk a trail or two.
- Mather Point-This is the most popular viewpoint in the park! It’s nearby the visitor’s center and should be your first stop in the park.
- Yavapai Geology Museum-Take the Rim trail 0.7 miles to this museum to learn how the Grand Canyon was formed over millions of years by the Colorado River. This informative museum is a must to really appreciate the wonder of the canyon. You can also take the orange shuttle bus here, but I think it’s best to walk the short, easy paved trail to the museum and enjoy the view of the canyon along the way.
- Orange Route Shuttle-You can take this shuttle from the visitor’s center or from the geology museum to see fantastic viewpoints like Yaki Point and Pipe Creek Vista. You will love these viewpoints!
- Red Route Shuttle-This route has 9 fantastic viewpoints all of which are worth a stop. Hopi Point in particular is fabulous and is known to be one of the best sunset spots in the park. Shuttle buses come every 10-15 minutes making it very easy and convenient to see everything. It takes about 3-4 hours to do the whole loop, but it is worth it!
- Grandview Point-You can drive yourself to this viewpoint which has stunning panoramic views of the canyon. This stop is on the way to the Desert View Tower so make sure to stop here when you are heading to the tower.
- Desert View Tower-This tower is about 22 miles away from the visitor center, and it is worth the drive. The desert view tower is one of my favorite viewpoints in the park so be sure not to miss it!
Want to see just how beautiful these viewpoints are for yourself? Check out our full South Rim video guide below!
Things to Do at the Grand Canyon North Rim
- Bright Angel Point Trail- This short but steep half-mile trail has spectacular views of the canyon. It’s right by the visitor’s center and should be your first activity in the park.
- Point Imperial- This viewpoint is the highest point in the part.
- Vista Encantada– This beautiful viewpoint is just a few footsteps from the parking lot, and it really is enchanting!
- Roosevelt Point– This is another quick stop with a jaw-dropping view.
- Angel’s Window– This unique rock formation is awe-inspiringly beautiful. It’s really a must-see in this park!
- Cape Royal– This 0.8-mile trail has the best views in the park and you will get an up-close and personal look at the Angel’s Window.
Want to see what all of these beautiful viewpoints are like? Check out our full North Rim video below!
Hiking the Grand Canyon
If you love hiking, the Grand Canyon National Park has over 125 trails to choose from. You can hike down into the canyon if you dare, but there are also plenty of shorter and easier hikes if you want something less strenuous.
You can explore the top-ranked Grand Canyon trails here on AllTrails.com.
How Much Does It Cost to Go to the Grand Canyon?
An entrance pass into the Grand Canyon National currently costs $35 per car and includes up to 5 people in your car. This pass lasts 7 days giving you plenty of time to see both the South Rim and the North Rim of the canyon which are 4 hours away from one another.
The West Rim skywalk is quite pricey at $59 per person, and you don’t get to see nearly as much as the North and South Rim combined national park ticket. This is why we believe sticking with the North and South Rim to be the best way to see the canyon.
In addition, if you plan on seeing at least 3 or more U.S. national parks within one calendar year, I can highly recommend buying the annual national park pass for $80. This annual pass grants you access to over 2000 U.S. national parks and is a great way to affordably see all the beautiful nature that the United States has to offer. You can buy this annual pass at any of the national park entrance stations or if you book far enough in advance, you can buy it online and your pass will be mailed to you.
Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon
For affordable accommodations in the South Rim, we recommend staying in Williams, AZ which is a cute little town located on the historic Route 66. This town has so much character and a lot of good restaurant options as well. The best part was that our motel at the Red Roof Plus was only $52 per night via Priceline. You just can’t beat that price! The only downside is that Williams is an hour and a half drive to the South Rim. However, considering the savings we received, we didn’t mind the drive at all!
Tusayan is another great city for South Rim Grand Canyon accommodations. Tusayan is only 20 minutes away from the park, but beware that the close proximity to the park does make room prices double and triple the cost.
You can also stay inside the park at one of the national park’s lodges or by camping. The park lodges are quite pricey and sell out far in advance, but you can check availability here.
Camping is a great and inexpensive way to stay in the park and decreases your commute time to the trails and the viewpoints. You can reserve a Grand Canyon campground at recreation.gov.
For accommodations in the North Rim, you would either want to stay in Kanab, UT which is an hour and a half away from the park, or in Page, AZ which is two hours from the park. There are also so a limited number of rooms in the park lodges. You can check here for availability.
What to Bring to the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a dry desert landscape that gets a lot of full sun, therefore it’s important to bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and water. Water, in particular, is very important. I thought 24 oz. of water would be enough while taking the red-line shuttle. I thought since I was riding an air-conditioned bus and not walking the whole trail that it would be plenty of water. Boy, was I wrong! I ran out of water 3 long stops before the next water refill station at Hermit’s Rest and was very thirsty until I could refill. This is why I recommend a full liter or a liter and a half even if you are taking the shuttle. The sun and the dry desert air can really dehydrate you quickly so please beware!
The Grand Canyon Village has several lodges that sell food, but the food selection is very limited and expensive. Instead, I would recommend bringing your own lunch. This way you can eat exactly what you want while having the flexibility to eat whenever and wherever you want. There’s nothing better than having lunch with a view a canyon view! So take your favorite sandwich with you and eat it wherever you like.
How Many Days Should You Spend at the Grand Canyon
Trying to set a limit on how long to spend at the Grand Canyon is a tough one. The park allows 7-day access for a reason. There is a lot to see. We chose to spend 2 days at the South Rim and 1 day at the North Rim, but we really wished we had another day to explore the North Rim and enjoy some of its trails. I think 2-3 days per park is good if you want to take a deep dive into the parks and really want to see all of the viewpoints and try a trail or two.
Even if you only have one day available, I would still encourage you to go to the South Rim. It’s still worth it even if you are short on time.
Final Grand Canyon Travel Guide Thoughts…
The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that is truly a must-see! It’s a road trip that can really be made quite affordable by camping or with any of the many affordable accommodation options. So start planning because the Grand Canyon is a trip you won’t regret taking!
Want to learn more about America’s National Parks? Check out our other travel guides below!
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