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The Grand Canyon draws in millions of annual visitors with its steep, rusty red cliffs and sprawling natural vistas dotted with ponderosa pines. But this canyon is huge—277 miles long, to be exact—and offers far more to explore than a simple drive-by will allow.
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Fortunately, the vast majority of lodging in and around the Grand Canyon can be found along the national park’s South Rim, in Grand Canyon Village. This section is open year-round and offers car-free access to the most popular vistas and trailheads, either by foot or shuttle. The only downside is that accommodations can get expensive and reservations can fill up very quickly.
The nearby resort town of Tusayan, however, is just a 10-minute drive (or shuttle ride) from the South Rim. The area offers a variety of lodging options — from luxe accommodations to more budget-friendly stays — and provides easy access to groceries, restaurants, and tours via helicopter or Jeep.
On the flip side, you’ll want to head to the North Rim if you’re seeking a more remote Grand Canyon experience. Just keep in mind that the North Rim closes each winter from December to mid-May, and lodging is far more limited. In fact, some reservations can be near-impossible to score, namely the lottery-only Phantom Ranch and permit-required Bright Angel Campground. No matter where you stay, however, most accommodations within the park will likely need to be booked more than a year in advance.
Think you know which part of the park you want to explore? From luxe hotels to backcountry campgrounds (and all the rustic cabins in between), these are the 10 best places to stay when you’re visiting the Grand Canyon.
Built in 1905 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, this Norwegian villa-esque hotel bellies right up to the edge of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, offering some of the most stunning views in the park. If you book the El Tovar Suite, in particular, you’ll be treated to stellar canyon views right from the comfort of your own balcony—a rarity when it comes to Grand Canyon accommodations.
No two rooms in the hotel are alike, making your stay unique even if you’ve visited before. The hotel also offers fine dining from breakfast through dinner, and is just a short walking distance from Grand Canyon Railway and the heart of Grand Canyon Village, where you’ll have easy access to tours and other destinations in the park.
Average cost per night: From $18 (and seniors with a Golden Age/Senior Pass get 50% discount)
Pet-friendly?: Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet
While the breathtaking but elusive Havasupai Gardens Campground is a bucket list-worthy dream for many, it has just 16 tent campsites and requires a hard-to-get backcountry permit to hike down to its location at the bottom of the canyon. If you’re not up for that challenge (and probable heartbreak, honestly), Mather Campground offers more than 300 campsites amongst pine forest within the easily accessible Grand Canyon Village. It’s conveniently located near the visitor center, several trailheads, scenic vistas and the bus lines that can shuttle you all along the South Rim.
Sites have a campfire ring, cooking grate and picnic table, and provide enough space for six campers, three tents, and two parked vehicles. There aren’t any hookups — even at RV sites — but there are flush toilets, hot showers, and drinking water throughout the campground.
Where: Tusayan, AZ (a few miles from the South Rim entrance)
Average cost per night: $359
Pet-friendly?: No
If you’re seeking more luxe accommodations, The Grand Hotel at The Grand Canyon is a three-story, lodge-style chalet with large, rustic-yet-upscale suites. With amenities like plush-top mattresses, 50-inch HD televisions, WiFi, air conditioning, mini fridges, microwaves, an indoor heated pool and a hot tub, it’s the area’s most luxurious place to unwind after a grueling hike or simply taking in the gorgeous views. There’s also an on-site grill restaurant and a saloon that offers live entertainment. Best of all, it’s just a mile away from the southern entrance to the Grand Canyon, and tours depart from the hotel all day long.
Whether you’re seeking respite after hiking Bright Angel Trail or simply want a convenient place to stay along the Rim Trail in Grand Canyon Village, Bright Angel Lodge offers a more moderately priced alternative to El Tovar. It’s gone through a few iterations over the past 100-plus years: first a hotel, then a camp and now a lodge with surrounding cabins. It has managed to preserve some historically significant structures, which are now available as guest accommodations, including the Buckey O’Neill Cabin (once home to one of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders) and the Red Horse Station, which served as the post office for two decades.
In all, there are 90 lodging units—most with only one bed—ranging from rustic cabins with TVs and private bathrooms to TV-less lodge rooms, some of which have a shared bath. Onsite, there’s also a family-friendly restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; a steakhouse; old-style saloon; and a seasonal old-fashioned ice cream soda shop.
If you can’t book Bright Angel Lodge, however, you can try the Thunderbird Lodge or Kachina Lodge right next door, both of which are also conveniently situated along the Rim Trail.
Where: Tusayan, AZ (a few miles from the South Rim entrance)
Average cost per night: $236
Pet-friendly?: Yes
While accommodations within Grand Canyon Village can get a little pricey, the upscale Best Western Premier offers a more affordable choice just a few miles south. That doesn’t mean it’s lacking amenities, however; guests enjoy indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, two restaurants, billiards, arcade games and a bowling alley right on site.
There are traditional rooms, deluxe suite, and “cozy rooms” for one-night stays or budget-conscious travelers. They all have a flat-screen TV, refrigerator, microwave and plenty of other creature comforts to enhance your stay. And, while the hotel is a bit more secluded than those in the park, the concierge desk will ensure that you have easy access to hikes, aerial tours and more.
Average cost per night: From $18 (and seniors with a Golden Age/Senior Pass get 50% discount)
Pet-friendly?: Yes, on a leash no longer than 6 feet
As its no-frills name implies, North Rim Campground is situated on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Though it sits directly across the canyon from the South Rim’s Grand Canyon Village, it takes about five hours of driving (or multiple days of hiking) to get from one to the other. This makes the location ideal for visitors seeking a quieter, more remote experience.
Open seasonally from May 15 through October 15, the campground features 90 tent and RV sites with picnic tables and campfire rings, as well as shared restrooms with flush toilets, showers, and laundry. There’s also a gas station and general store onsite, and the campground is about a mile from the North Rim Visitor Center.
If you’d prefer to stay even closer to the North Rim Visitor Center (and enjoy some cushier accommodations), Grand Canyon Lodge offers the only North Rim lodging inside the National Park, literal steps away from the visitor center, gift shop, deli, hiking trails and mule rides.
There are motel rooms as well as private cabins that sit in a forested area along the rim of the canyon, but keep in mind that lodging is only available between May 15 and October 15. The onsite dining room at the lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there is also the Roughrider Saloon where you can pick up baked goods and breakfast burritos in the morning, pizza for lunch and dinner and drinks in the evening.
Typically one of the more budget-friendly choices in Grand Canyon Village, Yavapai Lodge boasts accommodations across two distinct clusters of buildings. Yavapai Lodge East comprises six, two-story buildings with newer, more modern amenities, while Yavapai Lodge West evokes mid-century modern vibes within its 10 single-story buildings, some of which are pet-friendly.
No matter where you stay, guests can kick back and relax in the cozy main lodge and outdoor patio; fuel up at the Coffee Shop; indulge in hearty breakfasts, lunches and dinners at Yavapai Lodge Restaurant; and get drinks at the fully stocked Yavapai Tavern. And when you’re ready to go exploring, you’re just a few minutes from the visitor center, trailheads and scenic viewpoints.
Unlike most of the other lodges in Grand Canyon Village, Maswik Lodge sits a little further away from the hustle and bustle of the frequently touristed areas, like the high-traffic Rim Trail. Instead, it’s nestled within acres of ponderosa pine forest for a more relaxed experience, yet it’s still just a quarter-mile from all the excitement at the canyon’s edge.
This collection of contemporary two-story hotels has a total of 280 rooms—one of the largest offerings in the area—so it can be a little bit easier to book than some other nearby properties. Standard rooms include a mini fridge, but you can opt for a kitchenette room if you plan to do some of your own cooking. The latter includes an apartment-sized refrigerator, microwave, two-burner cooktop and basic cookware.
While the South Rim and North Rim are the most popular areas to stay when visiting the Grand Canyon, the underappreciated so-called “West Rim” should not be overlooked. This part of the Grand Canyon—hundreds of miles west of the National Park proper—is home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped, glass-bottomed walkway that extends over the edge of the canyon for breathtaking views.
Less than a 5-minute drive away, you’ll find Old West-style lodging at the Cabins at Grand Canyon West. Located on the Hualapai Reservation, these rustic cabins can accommodate up to six guests and offer unbridled sunrise and sunset views from an expansive front porch.
While the region is not close to the north or south rims, it’s just a two-hour drive from Las Vegas. It’s also a great area for helicopter and pontoon tours, ziplining, horseback riding and whitewater rafting on the Colorado River—all away from the big crowds you’ll find at the South Rim. Plus, you can easily enjoy it all thanks to complimentary shuttle service available just steps away from the cabins.
