TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Grand Canyon Loging Guide
I have personally stayed in over 60 National Park lodges, including every lodge on the South and North Rim of the Grand Canyon. My articles come from my personal experience and helpful advice.
I try to pass down the most valuable information so that you, too, can plan an epic adventure to the Grand Canyon and have your own Grand Canyon experience!
You may think there's plenty of lodges in the park, and yes there are six Grand Canyon lodges with over 900 rooms and cabins in and around Grand Canyon Village, but it is an absolute necessity to plan ahead. Rooms inside the park can sell out 13 months in advance, especially during the peak summer season.
Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most visited and most recognized natural wonders on the planet. With nearly 5 million visitors each year, you will thank yourself for planning your lodging well in advance when you wake up, step outside with a cup of coffee, and watch an epic sunrise as the canyon comes to life. These are the moments that make your trip to the Grand Canyon special!
ParkRangerJohn Pro Tip
Make sure to come prepared as the South Rim sits at nearly 7,000 feet elevation, surrounded by Ponderosa pine forest. Temperatures can be 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the desert floor below, and layering is essential most of the year, and for some people, year-round.
Grand Canyon Lodge Map
South Rim Grand Canyon Hotels/Lodges
El Tovar Hotel
El Tovar is widely considered the crown jewel of National Park lodges. Built in 1905 and perched directly on the South Rim, this National Historic Landmark has welcomed guests for over 120 years, including Presidents Roosevelt and Taft, Albert Einstein, and George Bernard Shaw. The lobby, with its peeled log posts, copper chandeliers, and Native American arts and crafts, sets the tone the moment you walk through the door.
Important Note for 2026: Portions of El Tovar will not be bookable from June 25 to September 11, 2026, due to a guest room refresh project. The El Tovar Dining Room and retail outlets remain open throughout.
El Tovar Hotel Address: 1 El Tovar Road, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Location: Grand Canyon Village
Check out our El Tovar Hotel Review for detailed information, including amenities, restaurants, room types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at El Tovar Hotel.
Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins
Designed in 1935 by renowned Southwest architect Mary E.J. Colter, Bright Angel Lodge is a Registered National Historic Landmark sitting directly on the canyon rim. The most coveted rooms are the rim-view cabins, some as close as thirty feet from the edge, offering unbeatable views at a fraction of the cost of El Tovar. Do not miss the famous geologic fireplace inside the History Room, built with actual Grand Canyon rock layers stacked in their correct order from bottom to top.
Bright Angel Lodge Address: 9 North Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Location: Located right on the canyon's edge at the west end Village Historic District
Check out our Bright Angel Lodge Review for detailed information, including amenities, restaurants, cabin types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at Bright Angel Lodge and Cabins.
Kachina Lodge
the Kachina Lodge sits directly on the South Rim between Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar Hotel, giving guests rim-side access at a more moderate price point. Half of the 49 rooms have at least partial canyon views, and the location puts you within easy walking distance of restaurants, gift shops, the Bright Angel Trail, and the Rim Trail. There is no lobby or elevator. Guests check in at El Tovar Hotel.
Kachina Lodge Address: 5 North Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (Check in at El Tovar Hotel)
Check out our Kachina Lodge Review for detailed information, including amenities, room types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at Kachina Lodge.
Thunderbird Lodge
Thunderbird Lodge sits just steps from Kachina on the same stretch of South Rim, and the two hotels are nearly identical in room layout and amenities. All four rim-side hotels, El Tovar, Kachina, Thunderbird, and Bright Angel, run in a line along the canyon edge, so whichever one you stay in, you have the same incredible rim access.
Thunderbird's 55 rooms are slightly larger than Kachina's and sit closer to Bright Angel Lodge on the west end; guests check in at the Bright Angel Lodge front desk.
Thunderbird Lodge Address: South Rim Village Loop, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (Check in at Bright Angel Lodge)
Check out our Thunderbird Lodge Review for detailed information, including amenities, room types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at Thunderbird Lodge.
Yavapai Lodge
Yavapai Lodge is the largest lodging option inside the park with 358 rooms, and it is genuinely one of the most underrated places to stay on the South Rim.
The recently renovated Yavapai East buildings offer modern, comfortable rooms, while the Yavapai West section is the only pet-friendly lodging inside the park and has a family room with bunk beds that sleeps up to six.
Market Plaza, with a grocery/deli, post office, and bank, is just across the parking lot, making it one of the most convenient locations in Grand Canyon Village.
Yavapai Lodge Address: 11 Yavapai Lodge Road, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Check out our Yavapai Lodge Review for detailed information, including amenities, restaurants, room types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at Yavapai Lodge.
Maswik Lodge
Maswik Lodge has 280 rooms spread across a quiet Ponderosa pine setting a quarter-mile from the rim. The brand-new Maswik South buildings, the first new lodging built in the park in over 50 years, opened in 2022 and are built to LEED Silver standards, with interior hallways, elevators, private balconies, and 30 kitchenette rooms that are ideal for families and longer stays. The Maswik Pizza Pub is a park favorite after a long day on the trails.
Maswik Lodge Address: 202 South Village Loop Drive, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Check out our Maswik Lodge Review for detailed information, including amenities, restaurants, room types, seasons, and photos!
Click here to book your stay at Maswik Lodge.
Phantom Ranch: The Only Lodging Below the Rim
Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim, reachable only by hiking, mule, or rafting the Colorado River, and it is considered one of the most difficult hotel reservations to get in the entire United States.
Designed by Mary Colter and opened in 1922, the rustic stone and wood cabins sit at the bottom of the Grand Canyon along Bright Angel Creek, with the Phantom Ranch Canteen serving breakfast and dinner and a small post office where you can send a postcard stamped "Delivered by Mule." The Grand Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park, and the night sky from the canyon floor is an experience you will never forget.
Important 2026 Note: The River Trail and Silver Bridge are closed through June 30, 2026. Hikers must use the South Kaibab Trail both to and from Phantom Ranch. Mule rides are also cancelled through June 30, 2026.
How to Book: Reservations use a lottery system. Enter between the 1st and 25th of any month for stays 15 months out. Remaining availability is released to the general public 13 months before the stay date.
Click here for reservation and lottery information for Phantom Ranch.
North Rim Grand Canyon Hotel/Lodges
Grand Canyon Lodge
~~ On July 13, 2025, the Grand Canyon Lodge, located at the North Rim, was lost to the Dragon Bravo Fire, which also destroyed the cabins along with 50 to 80 other structures on the North Rim. ~~
Bonus: Ride the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim
One of the most fun and stress-free ways to visit the Grand Canyon is by parking your car in Williams, Arizona and riding the historic Grand Canyon Railway directly to the South Rim.
The train has been making this 65-mile run since 1901, and the experience is half the fun with a live Wild West shootout at the Williams Depot before departure, roaming Western musicians on board, and a staged train robbery by the Cataract Creek Gang on the return ride.
The train drops you off right inside Grand Canyon Village, so you skip the entrance line and the parking headache entirely.
There are six classes of service to choose from, ranging from classic coach cars to an open-air luxury parlor car. Overnight packages are also available that bundle your hotel in Williams, round-trip train fare, a night at Maswik Lodge inside the park, and luggage transfer.
Park Ranger John Pro Tip: Parking inside Grand Canyon Village fills up by mid-morning during busy season. Staying in Williams and riding the train in is one of the smartest moves you can make for a stress-free visit.
Grand Canyon Railway Train Tickets
⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars |⏳ Tour Length: Full Day | 🚂Check Rates and Availability
⭐️ 4.5 of 5 Stars - Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams, Arizona - Click here for Rates and Availability.
The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel sits right next door to the historic Williams Depot, so you can walk out the door and board the train with no car needed. The 298-room AAA 3-Diamond hotel features a signature flagstone fireplace lobby, the Fred Harvey Restaurant for a hearty breakfast before boarding, Spenser's Pub for a drink on your return, an indoor pool and hot tub, and walkable access to downtown Williams and historic Route 66.
Grand Canyon Railway Hotel Address: 235 N. Grand Canyon Blvd., Williams, AZ 86046
Lodging Near Grand Canyon National Park
Tusayan, Arizona
Tusayan is the closest town to the South Rim, located just 1 mile from the park's South Entrance. If the lodges inside the park are sold out, which happens often in summer, or if you prefer modern amenities like reliable WiFi, in-room microwaves, swimming pools, and more dining options at a lower price point, Tusayan is your best option. A free National Park Service shuttle runs seasonally between Tusayan and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, so you can leave your car at the hotel and skip the parking headache entirely.
Here are my top picks for lodging in Tusayan:
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - The Grand Hotel - Click Here for Rates and Availabity
The Grand Hotel is my top recommendation for Tusayan. It is a AAA 3-Diamond hotel that completed a full guest room renovation in 2026, and it is managed by Xanterra, the same company that operates the in-park lodges. The Canyon Star Steakhouse on site regularly features live entertainment in the evenings, and a free NPS shuttle stop is right across the street.
The Grand Hotel Address: 149 State Highway 64, Grand Canyon (Tusayan), AZ 86023
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Grand Canyon Hotel and Suites - Click Here for Rates and Availabity
The Grand Canyon Hotel and Suites is operated by Xanterra and sits just 1 mile from the South Entrance, making it the most convenient of the Tusayan options for getting in and out of the park. It offers free continental breakfast, an indoor pool and hot tub, reliable WiFi, and in-room refrigerators, microwaves, and coffeemakers, all at a solid price point.
Grand Canyon Hotel and Suites Address: Grand Canyon (Tusayan), AZ 86023
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Red Feather Lodge- Click Here for Rates and Availabity
The Red Feather Lodge is Tusayan's best budget option, centrally located, with a heated outdoor pool, complimentary WiFi, on-site laundry facilities, and one of the most pet-friendly policies in town. A free NPS shuttle stops here seasonally, giving you an easy ride into the park without the parking headache.
Red Feather Lodge Address: 300 State Highway 64, Grand Canyon (Tusayan), AZ 86023
Grand Canyon National Park Entrance Fee
New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Grand Canyon National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.
Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)
Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.
$8.00 per person for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)
$8.00 per person for vehicles with a capacity of 1-25
$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.
Additional Grand Canyon Resources
- Things to do Grand Canyon - The top things to do in Grand Canyon that you don't want to miss during your trip!
- Grand Canyon Restaurants - South Rim - Check out all the delicious places to enjoy a meal during your trip.
- Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus - Find out what you need to know to plan your trip.
- Grand Canyon Winter - If you are heading to the park in the winter make sure to plan ahead.
- National Park Lodges - The El Tovar is just one of the amazing National Park Lodges in the United States.
Check out all of our Grand Canyon National Park articles for additional information and great tips on planning an epic vacation to this beautiful Arizona National Park!
National Parks Near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to visit
- Wupatki National Monument
- Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Tuzigoot National Monument
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Petrified Forest National Park
Check out all of the Arizona National Parks along with neighboring National Parks in Utah, National Parks in New Mexico, California National Parks, Colorado National Parks, and Nevada National Parks
Make sure to check out all the great Arizona National Parks, Utah National Parks, New Mexico National Parks, and Nevada National Parks.
Make sure to follow Park Ranger John on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok
Leave a Reply