Grand Canyon National Park Travel Guide

When to Visit the grand Canyon

It’s best to visit the Grand Canyon National Park from May to September when the weather’s great. It does get a little warm in the summer though!

How to Reach the Grand Canyon

By Plane – Nearby airports that are within driving distance can be found in Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.
By Train – There are two train services along the South Rim trail. The Grand Canyon Railway offers train services along Williams, AZ (on I-40), and Grand Canyon Village. Another train service is Amtrak which offers services from AZ, Flagstaff to various locations nationwide.
By Bus – There are several bus services to choose from: One Day Tours Shuttle Service, Arizona Shuttle, Greyhound, Grand Canyon Shuttle Service, and the Trans-Canyon Shuttle.
By Car – You can rent a car if you’re coming from Phoenix or Las Vegas. Both routes are scenic and easy to drive. If you’re coming from Phoenix, it’ll be approximately a three to four hour drive. On the other hand, it takes four to four and a half hours to get to your destination if you’re coming from Las Vegas. Due to the lack of parking during holiday weekends, it’s strongly recommended to park at Tusayan and just take the shuttle to go up.

Travel Tips for the Grand Canyon

Purchase tickets at the visitor center or other locations to save a lot of time.
Don’t forget you can park at the visitors center in Tusayan and take the shuttle so you don’t have to worry about parking!
Do a hike to fully enjoy the amazing views around the Canyon.
Have a picnic with a beautiful view of the canyon. Bring your lunch. Several picnic tables can be found around the park.
Don’t get dehydrated. Drink plenty of water during your Grand Canyon Trip.
Try some traditional Native American dishes which can be found throughout Arizona.

Typical Costs at the Grand Canyon

Entrance Fee
Admission is valid for seven days and includes both the North and South Rims. The entrance fee is $20 per person. For vehicles, the entrance fee is $35 which includes all its passengers. For motorcycles, the entrance fee is $30 which also includes all its passengers. People who are 15 years old and younger are admitted for free. For 2018, the entrance fee is free during Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15), First Day of National Park Week (April 21), National Publics Lands Day (September 22), and Veterans Day (November 11).
Food
You can bring your own snacks and meals. There are plenty of picnic table areas everywhere and with the amazing views, that makes for an amazing picnic lunch. Eat and Drink and snack bars are also located around the park. Some of the popular Eat and Drinks are Bright Angel (Price Range of Meals: $11-$30), (Price Range of Meals: $11-$30), Yavapai Lodge Eat and Drink (Price Range of Meals: $12-$26), and Arizona Room (Price Range of Meals: $15-$21).
Hotels
Hotels can get pricey especially during peak season. Hotel can cost upwards of $300+ in Tusayan. There are also lodging options available inside the park if booking well in advance. You can find more info on that here.
Another option is staying in Flagstaff which is a larger city with more options so the rates were more reasonable for someone on a budget.
Transportation
There are buses and stops throughout the park which are included in the entrance fee. However, you will need some way of getting from the airport to the park or at minimum the visitor’s center in Tusayan.