Grand Canyon Lodging Guide

DIRT IN MY SHOES
GRAND CANYON
QUICK REFERENCE LODGING GUIDE
Dirt In My Shoes
QUICK REFERENCE
LODGING GUIDE
HAVE YOU STARTED PLANNING YOUR TRIP TO THE GRAND CANYON?
LET ME HELP YOU FIND THE PERFECT PLACE TO STAY!
Navigating through the list of places to stay in and near the Grand Canyon is a tedious task! It’s my job
to make your trip to any national park the best it can be, which is why I am excited to share this list of
lodging options with you.
This list includes a short review of the places I’ve stayed in and would go back to. Then, after digging
through hundreds of online reviews, I have also included my top choices for lodging that I would book for
my own trip. I haven’t stayed in all of these hotels personally ­­ I wish! ­­ but I have narrowed down the
overwhelming options to a great collection of high quality and varied suggestions.
Lodging within Grand Canyon National Park gets booked up quickly, so there's a chance you'll find
yourself staying just outside of the park. It's a good idea to consult a map to determine which
area would be the most convenient for your stay. Click here for a map of Grand Canyon National
Park.
LOCATED IN THE PARK
Snatching up a hotel room within the park is extremely competitive. Most rooms are already booked up
at the very beginning of the year for the upcoming summer so if you have your heart set on in­park
lodging, try to make a reservation at least 12 months in advance!
SOUTH RIM
El Tovar: This is the premier place to stay, not just in Grand Canyon National Park, but within any
national park in the U.S. It is an elegant and charming hotel with a fascinating history. Many of the
rooms are suites and are located along the canyon rim.
$215­$540
Kachina Lodge: Located in the historic district directly on the canyon rim, this lodge is perfect for
anyone looking for easy access to some of the park's best hiking trails and points of interest. The
contemporary style of the rooms are inviting and many offer fabulous views of the canyon.
$225­$250
Thunderbird Lodge: Very similar to what's offered by the Kachina Lodge, this lodge is situated directly
on the canyon rim and offers spectacular views and easy access to amazing trails and activities.
$225­$250
Bright Angel Lodge: This lodge boasts a colorful history and is an icon on the Grand Canyon's South
Rim. Many different types of rooms are available here. Although located next to the famous Bright
Angel Trailhead, most rooms do not offer canyon views.
$100­$470
LOCATED IN THE PARK
SOUTH RIM {cont.}
Maswik Lodge: Nestled in the pines about a quarter mile from the canyon's rim is where you'll find this
lodge. The rooms are pretty basic yet functional and are spread out among many different buildings.
Be aware that rooms in the South buildings do not have air conditioning.
$115­$215
Yavapai Lodge: This lodge is located about 1 mile from the canyon rim and is close to the Mather
Campground and the main Visitor Center. The East buildings are newly remodeled and have air
conditioning. The West buildings are older with no air conditioning but pets are allowed.
$130­$200
INNER CANYON
Phantom Ranch: An oasis in the desert, Phantom Ranch is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon
and can only be reached by mule, on foot, or by rafting the river. It consists of several cabins and
dorms and provides meal service. Space is extremely limited and reservations must be made well in
advance. Large groups can be accommodated.
$50­$250
NORTH RIM
Grand Canyon Lodge: This is the only lodge on the North Rim and it offers various sized cabins and
motel rooms. Some of the cabins are right on the rim and have spectacular views. It's almost
impossible to get a reservation here unless you book right when the rooms become available (13
months in advance)!
$200­$300
If camping is your
thing, be sure to
check out this post
ALL ABOUT
CAMPING IN GRAND CANYON
NATIONAL PARK
for additional lodging
options within the
park.
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE PARK
Grand Canyon National Park includes both the North Rim and the South Rim. During the busy season,
it can be hard to find budget­friendly options and all hotels fill up fast! This list includes options in each
price category that will provide you with a fantastic Grand Canyon experience.
SOUTH RIM
Viewing the Grand Canyon from the South Rim is the most popular way to experience the park. The town of Tusayan is
located just 7 miles south of the Grand Canyon Village and makes a great home base for your South Rim vacation.
The Grand Hotel: With newly renovated rooms and lots of amenities, the Grand Hotel is the perfect
place to stay if you like to travel in style. $280­$400
Grand Canyon Squire Inn: This is the top­rated hotel in Tusayan. The location is good and a variety
of rooms are available, including ones with enough space for families.
$230­$400
Red Feather Lodge: This is a great budget­friendly option and is where we prefer to stay in Tusayan.
The rooms are clean, the location is perfect, and the lodge is family­owned so you are supporting a local
business. When making reservations, you can choose from either the hotel or the motel. The rooms in
both are similar, but the motel is cheaper if you are looking for an even more budget­friendly option.
$160­$220
Hull Cabin: For a truly unique experience, check out the Hull Cabin. It's located in the nearby national
forest (very close to the Grand Canyon) and is the site of an old homestead with a lot of history.
$140
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE PARK
NORTH RIM
The North Rim is more remote than the South Rim and it offers a limited number of places to stay near Grand Canyon National
Park. Staying on this side of the park gets you away from the crowds but the area is only open from May ­ October.
Kaibab Lodge: Located 18 miles from the North Rim, this lodge is actually a collection of charming
cabins at an affordable price. It is the nearest lodging to the park and is a fantastic option if you are
unable to book in­park lodging or are looking to save some money.
$90­$190
Jacob Lake Inn: Located about an hour north of the North Rim, I would recommend this as a last resort
if you can't find anywhere else to stay. The inn is nice and the cookies are delicious, but it's a long drive!
$100­$150
Big Springs Cabins: For a fun adventure, you may want to stay at the Big Springs Cabins. These
historic cabins are located an hour (by dirt road) from the North Rim in the Kaibab National Forest. We
stayed here during October after everything near the North Rim had closed down for the season, and
were pleasantly surprised. The cabins are very basic but large and have a shared bathroom/shower
house and a huge shared kitchen area.
This is also a great place to stay if you want to explore some of the lesser­known trails along the North
Rim, such as the Rainbow Rim Trail.
$65