has anyone been to the Grand Canyon?? Where is a good place to stay very close?

Answer 1

Most of the Grand Canyon is part of Grand Canyon National Park and all lodging (and other development) is controlled by the National Park Service. The most developed (and most visited) part of the canyon is the South Rim where there is a small settlement (Grand Canyon Village) that includes a number of very nice lodges (all but one of which is within walking distance of the rim).

The grand El Tovar is the oldest (1905) and most impressive with its big lobby and fancy architecture. It is also the most expensive (well over $100 per room). MY PERSONAL FAVORITES are Bright Angel Lodge (historic 1930s, near the rim, rooms run $60-80) and the nearby Bright Angel cabins (very nice and close to rim, but only a few of them so hard to get reservations, run $80-110). A LESS FANCY OPTION, BUT A NICE DEAL, is Maswick Lodge. Although modern and unimpressive, it has larger, more modern rooms and is only a 10 minute walk from the rim ($70-90). Maswick is also the only lodge where parking is not a headache.

Kachina and Thunderbird are two small very modern lodges near the rim, but are almost as expensive as El Tovar and fairly ugly and uninspired dorm-style buildings that seem out of place. The only other lodge on the south rim is Yavapai Lodge ($70-90), but it nearly a mile from the rim. The best places to eat on the rim are the El Tovar Diningroom (expensive, need reservations), the Arizona Grill (near Bright Angel Lodge) and the cheap and quick Maswick cafeteria. The cafe in the Bright Angel lodge is overpriced, crowded, and not real good. All the lodges and cafes on the rim are ran by Xanterra (see link below).

Outside the park boundary (about 15 miles from the rim) is the small settlement of Tusayan which is a clutter of chain hotels, fast food resturants and curio shops that exists purely on overflow from the parks. There are a number of big national chain hotels here (Holiday Inn, Best Western, etc), but it is a kinda ugly, touristy place... definitely stay in one of the rim lodges if you can.

The nearest real 'town' to the south rim is Flagstaff (about an hour and a half drive to south) which has many food and lodging options of all sizes, prices, and quality (the historic downtown area with its old buildings, small shops and nice cafes is worth visiting on your way to the canyon).

The North Rim of the canyon is completely different from the south. It is higher elevations (so cooler temperatures and more pine trees) and is only open during summer (too much snow in winter). The north rim has a very nice historic (1930s) lodge set right on the rim with both cabins to rent and a small set of more modern hotel-like rooms (prices run $60s - 100s). The north rim is a much quieter, less crowded, more intimate spot. It is also much harder to get to and there is not a lot else around. There are a few rooms at Jacobs Lake (an hour to the north) and the nearest small towns are Fredonia and Kanab (and hour further north) with a limited number of hotels and cafes.

Note that from Las Vegas, it is about a 4-5 hour drive to either the north or south rim lodges (NOT an hour as others have suggested). The canyon is 280 miles long and the exetreme western end is about an hour from Vegas, but that is NOT the largest, most impressive, or most scenic sections that you see in all the photos and postcards. The nearest big city (with a major airport) to the canyon is Phoenix, Arizona about a 3.5-4 drive to the south rim.

I should also note there is also the Havasupai Indian Reservation which has a small village (Supai) located in a tributary canyon where the famous Havausu Falls are (with the little pools at the bottom). They have a small lodge and campground there, but you have to hike or mule in and need reservations long in advance. You can also stay in the dorms, cabins, or campground at Phantom Ranch in the very bottom of the canyon, but this too requires you to hike or mule to the bottom and get reservations long long in advance.

Answer 2

Fly to Las Vegas, rent a car, and drive southeast on Hwy 93. You cross Hoover Dam on the route and can check it out. You hit Hwy 40 just north of Kingman, AZ. You can take it or the historical route 66. they both lead you to Williams, AZ., which is a good place to spend the night. We took the old railroad trip from Williams to the Grand Canyon. But, I want to go back and drive and check out all the Indian Reservations around the canyon. It is a truly awesome place and I would love to ride the mules down into the canyon. It has been a few years since I went, but I just happened to have an Arizona Tourism book on my computer desk. Hope the info is helpful. There are lots of hotels in all the bigger cities. I LOVE ARIZONA!

Answer 3

The Grand canyon is BIG,I ve seen a bit of it. The best side is the north rim come in via southern Utah, Zion National park. Stop at the town of Hurricane stay at the Hot springs , they have a bed and breakfast there also. Its been years since i was there, but I'll never forget how nice it was. Soaking in the hot springs in caves. OK back to the Grand canyon. Take a tent Camp Out, you will love it!!!! I hiked down half way it was hot 110 degrees or more. Don t take a donkey to dusty of a trip. You can hike rim to rim on a full moon night.
The south Rim via Arizona is RV parking lot zoo!!!!! Do the north rim. Enjoy.

Answer 4

Good name Mr. Danger! Even if you aren't getting to stick at Cameron Trading Post, it's good valued at a discuss with. I may also accept as true with CAGOLDBUYER approximately the Holiday Inn in Williams. Having stayed there, I concur that it's good valued at it and simplest approximately an hour from the park and there are extra eating choices. There are fairly a couple of choices in Tusayan however I have no longer stayed and so they additionally have a tendency to ebook in a while after the in-park motels do.

Answer 5

Flagstaff, Arizona is about an hours drive from the Southside of the Canyon.

Answer 6

About 35 years ago my parents took myself and my sister (we were young under 13) We stayed in a cabin. It was great and walking distance to all the sites.

Answer 7

I went there a few years ago with my family. We stayed in Vegas, but it's about an hour away. We went with Pink Jeep Tours and they did a great job.

Answer 8

Nice place. There are a few lodges closeby.