Where Should I Stay While Visiting the Grand Canyon?

Grand Canyon National Park has everything — epic hiking trails, gorgeous views, and big adventures! Let’s discuss the best places to stay while visiting the Grand Canyon.

Where should you stay while visiting the Grand Canyon? If you want to be close to the best hikes and viewpoints in the park, try to stay in the Grand Canyon Village area. If you’re looking for something outside of the park, the town of Tusayan is a great option.

My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. You’ll find me hiking in this park often, and I’m excited to help you decide where to stay while visiting the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Map, Entrances, and Nearby Towns

First, let’s get the lay of the land around the Grand Canyon. This park has three official entrances — one on the North Rim and two on the South Rim. It takes about 4 hours to drive between the North Rim and the South Rim, so you’ll definitely want to keep that in mind as you plan out your trip.

North Rim Entrance (North Rim – Jacob Lake)

The North Rim Entrance is the only official entrance to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The North Rim is much less visited than the South Rim. It is a smaller area with fewer things to do, but with that comes a greater sense of solitude and smaller crowds.

You’ll find very few amenities in this area, and everything closes down completely during the winter (including the highway that travels to the North Rim). There is a lodge, some small restaurants, a visitor center, and a campground with a general store and gas station that are all open from mid-May through mid-October.

Just outside of the North Rim Entrance, you’ll find the Demotte Campground and the Kaibab Lodge, with a small convenience store and gas station. Otherwise, you can drive up to the Jacob Lake Inn (which also doesn’t have much).

For full modern amenities near the North Rim, such as grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels, you’ll need to drive all the way up to Kanab, UT, which is about 1.5 hours away.

South Entrance (South Rim – Tusayan)

The South Entrance is the main entrance to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. This entrance station is by far the busiest and central to most activities you won’t want to miss on your first visit, including Mather Point, Grand Canyon Village, and Hermit Road.

You’ll find a large variety of lodging and restaurant options that are open year-round just inside this entrance station in either the Grand Canyon Village or Market Plaza areas. It’s amazing how many amenities are available on the South Rim! The Grand Canyon General Store at Market Plaza is my top choice for getting groceries while visiting the South Rim.

Just outside of this entrance station, you’ll find the small town of Tusayan. Tusayan has several hotel and restaurant options, a few gas stations, and a general store with some expensive grocery options.

About an hour from the South Entrance, you’ll find the cities of Williams or Flagstaff that have everything you’ll need for your trip to the South Rim. That being said, why drive the extra hour each way when there are plenty of amenities in the national park?

East Entrance (South Rim – Cameron)

The Grand Canyon’s East Entrance is the second entrance you’ll find at the South Rim. This entrance brings you into the park near the Desert View Watchtower area.

It makes the most sense to enter the park through this entrance if you’re traveling to the South Rim from the North Rim or any of the Utah parks.

The small town of Cameron doesn’t have much, but you will find a couple of lodging and restaurant options, as well as gas stations and a trading post.

After entering the park through the East Entrance, you’ll first reach the Desert View area, which has a campground, gas station, and convenience store.

Beyond Desert View, you’ll then drive along the Desert View Scenic Drive. This drive takes you to many fabulous overlooks of the Grand Canyon before meeting up with the main South Rim/Grand Canyon Village area.

If you’d like more information on the best airports and roads around the Grand Canyon, including details about getting to each of these entrances, check out the Best and Closest Airports to Grand Canyon National Park.

Staying Inside of Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park is a large national park that is relatively remote. I recommend staying inside the park if you want to have more opportunities for sightseeing without the crowds. You’ll find some incredibly scenic lodges and campgrounds here that will enhance your experience while you’re here.

Grand Canyon National Park Lodges and Hotels

North Rim

The Grand Canyon Lodge is your only option for an in-park hotel at the North Rim, and it is open from mid-May through mid-October.

This lodge has many different types of room options, and its location right on the canyon rim is perfect for catching the sunrise or sunset over the Grand Canyon!

If you’re visiting the North Rim, this is a great place (really, the best place!) to stay. There aren’t very many options in this area of the park, so be sure to make your reservations early (a year in advance if you can) if you’re hoping to stay here!

South Rim

There are six lodges at the South Rim, so you’ve got a bunch of different options for places to stay while visiting the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. The Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, and the Maswik Lodge are run by Xanterra, while the Yavapai Lodge is run by Delaware North, both National Park Service concessionaires.

Each of these lodges is conveniently located a short walk from the rim, so you can easily get out and see the park during some of the quietest times of the day. It’s amazing to experience Grand Canyon views right from your hotel room!

You’ll find a range of amenities and comforts between these lodging options — from rustic cabins to luxury guest rooms. Many of these lodges are right on the rim, and all of them provide easy access to the free park shuttle.

Reservations for the lodges at the South Rim can typically be made 13 months in advance of your travel dates.

Inner Canyon

If you plan on hiking down into the Grand Canyon, you can stay at Phantom Ranch. This historic lodge is located near the Colorado River at the very bottom of the canyon!

Phantom Ranch is fully booked well in advance, and the only way to stay here is to enter the online lottery 15 months in advance.

Grand Canyon Campgrounds

North Rim

There is one in-park campground at the North Rim that is open from mid-May through mid-October.

The North Rim Campground has 90 lovely campsites with flushable toilets and running water. There is a general store and a gas station here at the campground.

Sites at this campground are reservation-only. The location is great for exploring this area — you will be close to all of the sights that you don’t want to miss!

South Rim

You’ll find three great campgrounds at the Grand Canyon South Rim.

The Mather Campground and the Trailer Village are located near the main Grand Canyon Village area of the South Rim, so these are the most central choices if you’re hoping to be close to everything.

The Desert View Campground is located closer to the East Entrance of the park. It’s much quieter out here, but you’re about 45 minutes away from the main hikes and viewpoints at the South Rim.

All of these campgrounds are reservation-only, and sites get snatched up quickly!

To learn more about your Grand Canyon camping options and how to snag a site, read all about camping at the Grand Canyon.

Tip — if you aren’t able to reserve a campsite in the park, you’ll find more options just outside of the park. For the North Rim, check out the Demotte Campground. For the South Rim, I like Ten X. You’ll also find dispersed camping (boondocking) in the forest service areas just outside of the park boundaries.

Staying Outside of Grand Canyon National Park

If you can, I highly recommend staying within the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park. There are so many good options in the park, plus a good selection of amenities such as groceries, gas stations, and restaurants, so there’s really no reason to be further away. But if you’re not able to book something in the national park, here are a few other options:

Staying in Tusayan (South Rim)

If you are visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and are not able to book any in-park lodging, the town of Tusayan is your next best option.

Tusayan is only about 5 miles from the South Entrance to the park. This puts you conveniently close to all of the main activities at the South Rim. You can also catch the Purple Shuttle from town if you don’t want to drive your own vehicle.

If I’m not staying in the park, you’ll find me in Tusayan. It’s a good option, too!

Click here to see lodging options in Tusayan. You can also check out the Red Feather Lodge or the Hull Cabin for additional options.

Staying in Williams or Flagstaff (South Rim)

The cities of Williams and Flagstaff do claim to be gateway towns for the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, but it will take anywhere from 1-1.5 hours to drive to the park from here.

I would stay in one of these towns only if you’re not able to find something in the park or Tusayan. It’s just a ton of extra unnecessary driving! In a busy park like the Grand Canyon, it’s crucial to maximize your sightseeing time by cutting down on your driving time to and from the park.

However, if you’re looking for a unique experience, check out the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams…especially if you are a train enthusiast!

Staying in Jacob Lake (North Rim)

Alright, if you’re visiting the North Rim but are unable to book a room at the North Rim Lodge, you’ve got slim pickins’ for your lodging options outside of the park.

Your best option outside of the park is the Kaibab Lodge Cabins. The Kaibab Lodge is only about 10 minutes north of the North Rim Entrance Station.

If the North Rim Lodge and the Kaibab Lodge are both fully booked, then the next closest lodging option is the Jacob Lake Inn. This hotel is about 40 minutes north of the North Rim Entrance Station.

I hope you find the perfect place to stay while visiting Grand Canyon National Park!

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