Why Yavapai Lodge is Grand Canyon's Most Underrated Hotel (And We Almost Missed It)

Yavapai Lodge is located near the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. The lodge offers comfortable rooms with easy access to the South Rim and amazing Grand Canyon Viewpoints.

Yavapai Lodge Grand Canyon National Park

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

Yavapai Lodge: A Hidden Gem on the South Rim

This National Park Lodge is one you don't want to judge just by driving by. You know the old saying Don't judge a book by its cover well that is exactly what we did with this lodge.

I hate to admit it, but during one of our trips to the Grand Canyon, we drove by Yavapai Lodge and thought it looked a bit run-down. We honestly put off staying at the lodge until it was the last Grand Canyon lodge that we hadn't stayed at.

We stayed in every other hotel and lodge in the Grand Canyon before booking a stay at Yavapai Lodge, and now I can't believe what we were missing out on.

Honestly, the hotel may be one of our new favorite places to stay while visiting the park. The customer service from the staff is truly amazing. From the front desk to the restaurant, the customer service truly impressed us.

🏨Ready to Book the Yavapai Lodge -> Click Here

Then you pull up to the lodge and realize you can back your car right up to the door and unload all of your stuff without much of a hassle. I will say the Yavapai Lodge West rooms are in a single-story building, making it super easy to unload and get in and out of your room.

The Yavapai Lodge East rooms are a 2-story building, so you may have to deal with a few stairs.

We stayed in the lodge during our 16-day Southwest National Park road trip and wished we had booked an additional night. It was so nice being able to unload the car after 10 days and get everything organized easily.

Another bonus is the ice maker located by each building. We were able to fill the cooler with ice and save the $6.99 a bag that we saw in the Mather Campground.

If you are looking to see Grand Canyon Wildlife, you may not have to look farther than the hotel parking lot. We headed out to Mather Point for sunset, and as we were leaving the room, we realized a female elk was hanging out on the sidewalk next to a room just down from us.

I have to tell you that the guests who wanted to get into their room were not sure what to do. They were so tired, and there was a big elk standing next to the door, not wanting to move.

Room Types and Amenities

There are 5 room types to choose from at the Yavapai Lodge. The Yavapai East King Rooms and Yavapai East Double Queen rooms have accessible rooms that feature:

Roll-in shower or tub/shower with grab bars and bench
Widened door frames, automatic door opener, visual doorbell (strobe light and sound)
Lowered vanity and iron, accessible parking with ramps nearby

Yavapai East King Room

This room features a king-sized bed and accommodates up to three guests (with optional rollaway bed (subject to additional fee & availability)

Yavapai East Double Queen Room

This room features 2 queen-sized beds and accommodates up to five guests (with optional rollaway bed (subject to additional fee & availability)

Yavapai East Queen Family Room

This room is ideal for families or larger groups and has two twin over queen bunkbeds and comfortably accommodates up to six guests.

Yavapai West Double Queen Room

This room features two queen-sized beds and accommodates up to four guests, and has pet-friendly rooms available upon request.

Yavapai West King Room

This room features a king-sized bed and accommodates up to three guests (with optional rollaway bed (subject to additional fee & availability). Pet-friendly rooms are available upon request.

Lodge Amenities

Free Parking
Pet Friendly Rooms
Non-smoking accommodations
Flat-screen TV
Telephone
Free Wi-Fi: Due to their remote location, their WiFi has limited bandwidth and is not ideal for downloading, streaming, Skype, Etc.
Hairdryer
Private bathroom with tub/shower
Air-conditioning
In-room safe
Mini-refrigerator
Coffee Maker
Microwave (Available 24/7 in Dining Hall

Inside Room 7027 Yavapai Lodge — Room 7027 Yavapai Lodge

My Experience staying in the Yavapi Lodge

We loved staying at the Yavapai Lodge! We stayed in a Yavapai West Double Queen Room, room 7027. The beds were very comfortable with great linens. There is a nightstand between the beds with a charging area for USB plugs or regular electrical plugs. The room also has a great flat-screen TV, a dresser with a few drawers, a bench for luggage, and an amazing coffee bar area.

The coffee bar is on a small elevated table with 2 barstools and a small coffee maker. It was so nice being able to make a small pot of coffee and not just a single glass at a time.

The bathroom has a shower/tub combination with pretty good water pressure, considering you are next to the Grand Canyon. There are Bath and Body Works products, including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower, and hand soap and lotion near the sink.

We found the room to be really quiet, considering it is in the middle of one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. We loved our stay at this lodge and would not hesitate to book a room here again.

🏨Ready to Book the Yavapai Lodge -> Click Here

Restaurants at Yavapai Lodge

Coffee Shop - The coffee shop has a great variety of breakfast pastries and burritos, along with pre-made options that can easily be grabbed on the go. One thing I will say is that the coffee shop was not fast when we were there. The food and coffee drinks were great, but it took longer than we thought it would.

Yavapai Tavern - We had an amazing lunch at Yavapai Tavern! This may be our new favorite place to eat in the Grand Canyon! The outdoor dining is epic! The staff was incredibly friendly, and we were able to enjoy a craft beer and great food while watching elk walk by.

Yavapai Lodge's Dining Hall - serves Southwest-inspired American comfort food and other chef-inspired items. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There is also a great gift shop located in the lobby with amazing Grand Canyon souvenirs.

From the main lobby, you are right across the parking lot from the General Store, Post Office, Chase Bank, and other market plaza amenities.

Planning your stay: Essential Information

Check-In Time - 3 pm

Check out Time - 11 am

Smoking - all of the Lodges have non-smoking accommodations.

Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi is available at the Yavapai Lodge main building (Wi-Fi is not available in Yavapai Lodge guestrooms).

Pets - Yes. Yavapai Lodge is the only pet-friendly hotel in Grand Canyon, with a number of rooms available for guests traveling with their dog or dogs (up to 2 per room). A number of pet-friendly rooms are available in Yavapai West, and there is an additional $25 pet fee per day.

Address - 11 Yavapai Lodge Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023

Phone Number - Contact Yavapai Lodge directly at 928-638-4001

Where is Yavapai Lodge located?

The lodge is conveniently located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. You can easily access the Grand Canyon Shuttle Buses from the lodge.

GPS coordinates: 36.0542° N, 112.1199° W

🏨Ready to Book the Yavapai Lodge -> Click Here

Map of Yavapai Lodge, South Rim of the Grand Canyon

Additional Grand Canyon National Park Information & Resources

Alternative Lodging Options if the Yavapai Lodge is Fully Booked

The Grand Canyon receives nearly 5 million visitors each year, so needless to say, lodging fills up fast, and you may need backup options if the Yavapai Lodge is already booked. Here are five additional lodges to stay at inside the park near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The El Tovar

This Registered National Historic Landmark was first built in 1905 (when it welcomed President Theodore Roosevelt) and renovated in 2005.

With rooms that have a great view of the landscape, the rustic and charming architecture of the El Tovar became a blueprint for many lodges in National Parks across the US.

It is home to a concierge service, a fine-dining restaurant, a gift shop, and more.

🏨Ready to Book the El Tovar -> Click Here

Bright Angel Lodge

One of the top places to stay in the Grand Canyon National Park, the Bright Angel Lodge is home to the Arizona Room (a lovely fine-dining joint with a view) as well as an ice-cream parlor.

It is the closest lodging option close to the famous Bright Angel Trail, and here you can also rent one of the log cabins if you're looking for a fun, romantic getaway.

🏨Ready to Book the Bright Angel Lodge -> Click Here

Kachina Lodge & Thunderbird Lodge

If you're in search of accommodation for big groups and families, the Kachina and Thunderbird lodges are the ones for you.

They're located near the edge of the South Rim within proximity of the El Tovar Hotel. With their central location, you'll have easy access to trails, restaurants, and even scenic vistas of the Canyon in all its splendor.

🏨Ready to Book the Kachina Lodge -> Click Here
🏨Ready to Book the Thunderbird Lodge -> Click Here

Maswik Lodge

Located near the canyon edge in the Ponderosa Pine forest is a modern, motel-style cabin called Maswik Lodge.

With its rich history and culture, this lodge has in-house dining, a gift shop, and easy access to trails. Reservations are recommended to be made up to a year in advance.

🏨Ready to Book the Maswik Lodge -> Click Here

Lodging near Grand Canyon National Park

Tusayan, Arizona, is located just past the park's South Gate Entrance and makes a great option if all the lodges fill up inside the park.

Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel

Take advantage of a terrace, a garden, and a bar at Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. Be sure to enjoy a meal at JJKs, the on-site family restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center are available to all guests.

🏨Ready to Book the Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel -> Click Here

The Grand Hotel

At The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon, you can look forward to shopping on site, a fireplace in the lobby, and a bar. For some rest and relaxation, visit the hot tub. The onsite restaurant, Canyon Star Steakhouse, features American cuisine and happy hour. Stay connected with free in-room Wi-Fi, and guests can find other amenities such as a 24-hour business center.

🏨Ready to Book the Grand Hotel -> Click Here

Click on the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon National Park Guided Tours

Grand Canyon Signature Hummer Tour with Optional Sunset Views
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 2 Hours and 30 Minutes | 🚌Check Rates and Availability

Make the most of limited time and see the highlights of Grand Canyon National Park in just a couple of hours on this sightseeing tour. Ride in a windowless, open-air Hummer and listen to commentary from your guide as you visit some of the canyon's best lookout points, where you can hop out, take photos, and explore. Since this is a small group tour, you'll have plenty of time to ask questions, too.

Grand Canyon Sunset Hiking Adventure Deep Below the South Rim
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 5 hours | 🥾Check Rates and Availability

You will take arguably the best hike on this planet as you leave the crowds behind and go on an adventure led by your tour guide, who's passionate about showing you the very best of what the Grand Canyon has to offer. You'll be kitted out with snacks, water, and lunch, and you will be picked up from your Northern Arizona Hotel before you set off on this private tour tailored to you. There's plenty of time for photos, too.

4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour - Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability

Experience the Grand Canyon from the biblical creation perspective with Canyon Ministries. The sunset rim tour begins inside the park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center flagpole, meeting around 4 hours before sunset. From there, you will journey along the South Rim's east side on Desert View Drive, traveling in the comfort of some of the most breathtaking overlooks and vistas.

At the end of the tour, you will close out the day with an amazing sunset over the west rim.

Click Here for a complete list of tours offered at Grand Canyon National Park!

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.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

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.

Arizona National Park - Check out all of the amazing National Parks in Arizona you can visit. So many are close to the Grand Canyon!

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!