Here are my top finds for Grand Canyon National Park:
🏨Hotels: El Tovar, Yavapai Lodge, Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins
📍Tours: 45-Minute Helicopter Flight over the Grand Canyon
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip
Park Alert: Several Park Locations closed from a Flash Flood That Occured on 8/31/26
- All Overnight Lodging inside the South Rim including: El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Yavapai Lodge (Ongoing Water infrastructure impacts).
- Limited Lodging might be available in Tusayan (Just outside the Parks South Entrance Gate) at the Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon Hotel & Suites.
- The NPS hopes to have water running again on November 16, 2026 and overnight loddging might begin a phased reopening around Tanksgiving (November 26, 2026) pending successful water system restoration.
- Trailer Village RV Park
- Phantom Ranch, Cabins, canteen, and facilities closed.
- Cottonwood Campground and Bright Angel Campground (inside the canyon)
- North Kaibab Trail is entirely closed from the North Kaibab Trailhead to Phantom Ranch
- River Crossings: The Black Bridge and Silver Bridge spanning the Colorago River are closed
- Inner-Canyon Areas: Supai Tunnel, Manzanita Day Use Area, and Phantom Delta Areas remain Restreicted.
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.
Click here to book your stay at Yavapai Lodge.
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
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 Yavapai Coffee Shop is the perfect first stop of the morning, serving Starbucks coffee and a selection of grab-and-go items to get you fueled and out the door. They have a great variety of breakfast pastries and burritos, along with pre-made options that can easily be grabbed on the go.
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 - The Yavapai Dining Hall is located just past the main lobby and serves as the primary dining option at the lodge, offering a cafeteria-style setup that is casual, family-friendly, and efficient.
They serve Southwest-inspired American comfort food and other chef-inspired items. The menu draws on locally sourced ingredients, with roughly 90 percent of food sourced within 190 miles of the Grand Canyon.
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
Grand Canyon National Park Guided Tours
45-Minute Helicopter Flight over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona
⭐️ Rating: 5.0 out of 5 Stars (2,024+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 45 Minutes | 🚁 Check Rates and Availability
No ground-level view prepares you for the scale of the Grand Canyon from the air. This 45-minute flight with Maverick Helicopters departs from Tusayan, crosses the Kaibab National Forest, follows the Colorado River upstream past the Painted Desert and Desert View Watchtower, and flies through the Dragon Corridor, the canyon's widest and deepest section, before returning south. More than 2,000 reviewers call it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Multiple departure times available. Likely to sell out, especially in peak season.
3-Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to the Grand Canyon
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (1,000+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 3 hours | 🚙🌅 Check Rates and Availability
The most popular guided tour at the South Rim. A 4WD safari vehicle takes small groups through the back roads of the Kaibab National Forest, bypassing the crowded south entrance gate on permits held since 1993, with stops at Yavapai Point, Pipe Creek Vista, and Grandview Point for the sunset. Guides earn extraordinary reviews for their knowledge of the park's geology, wildlife, and history. Blankets provided. Maximum 12 guests. Departs two hours before sunset. Booked an average of 44 days in advance.
Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset Tour with Dinner
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (100+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 4 hours | 🍽️🌅 Check Rates and Availability
Unleash your inner explorer with veteran local Eric Albanese. Immerse yourself in the Grand Canyon's majestic beauty, rich history, and fascinating geology. You will embark on a scenic 20-mile tour tracing the South Rim of the canyon, stopping at 4-5 locations.
You can relax in luxury with WI-FI, snacks, and hot or cold drinks while listening to the great detail that your guide has learned during the 10 years of living in the Grand Canyon area. Get up close to the canyon's stunning views with high-powered Celestron binoculars. You will also get to enjoy a delicious dinner at We Cook Pizza and Pasta.
Click Here for a complete list of tours offered at Grand Canyon National Park!
Things to Do While Staying at Yavapai Lodge
🌅 Walk or bike to the canyon rim, about a mile from the lodge
🚌 Catch the free park shuttle directly from the Market Plaza area to rim viewpoints and trailheads
🥾 Hike the Rim Trail or descend into the canyon on Bright Angel or South Kaibab Trail
🍽️ Dine at the Yavapai Tavern, the on-site restaurant serving casual American food
📸 Photograph the canyon at sunrise and sunset from multiple viewpoints along the rim
🦅 Spot California condors, mule deer, and Abert's squirrels around the lodge grounds
🏜️ Join ranger-led programs and evening talks at nearby Mather Amphitheater
🚲 Rent a bike and cruise along the Greenway Trail through the forest and toward the rim
🌌 Stargaze on clear nights, as Grand Canyon is an International Dark Sky Park
Tips
- Book well in advance, especially for summer visits; the lodge fills up months ahead
- The Market Plaza location is extremely convenient for stocking up on food and supplies
- The lodge is a great value compared to rim-side options, with easy access to everything the park offers
Lodging Options in Grand Canyon National Park
⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - The El Tovar - Click here for Rates and Availability.
A National Historic Landmark and member of Historic Hotels of America, sitting just 20 feet from the rim of the Grand Canyon and widely regarded as the finest hotel inside any national park in America since opening its doors in 1905!
Designed as a cross between a Swiss chalet and a Norwegian villa and built from local limestone and Oregon pine, the El Tovar has hosted Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, and Oprah Winfrey. All 78 individually designed rooms and suites feature air conditioning, mini-fridges, Keurig coffee makers, satellite TVs, and private bathrooms, with select canyon-view suites featuring private balconies perched directly above the rim. The El Tovar Dining Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with canyon views, the lounge bar is perfect for post-hike cocktails, and a gift shop, curio shop, newsstand, and concierge round out the amenities. Free area shuttle, free parking, and room service available. No elevator, no pets, open year-round.
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Yavapai Lodge - Click Here for Rates and Availability
Tucked in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest just a 10-minute walk from Mather Point and the Grand Canyon Rim Trail!
Split between two sections, Yavapai East offers air-conditioned rooms with ADA accessible options and family rooms with bunk beds sleeping up to 6, while Yavapai West features cozy ceiling fan rooms in single-story buildings with pet-friendly options and a Pets in the Park welcome package. Two restaurants serve breakfast through dinner, the Yavapai Tavern pours drinks from noon to 9 PM, and a Starbucks opens at 6 AM for early-rising hikers. Additional amenities include a lobby fireplace, gift shop, EV and Tesla charging stations, free area shuttle, free WiFi, and free parking. One of the most family and pet-friendly in-park lodges in the entire national park system!
⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - Bright Angel Lodge - Click Here for Rates and Availability
A National Historic Landmark designed by the legendary Mary Colter in 1935, sitting directly on the South Rim at the top of the famous Bright Angel Trailhead with the most affordable rim-side lodging inside Grand Canyon!
The 90 rooms and cabins range from budget-friendly lodge rooms with shared baths to charming private rim cabins featuring gas fireplaces and partial canyon views, making this the best value for money of any in-park lodge at the Grand Canyon. Three on-site dining options include the Harvey House Cafe serving diner classics all day in the Fred Harvey tradition, the Arizona Room with Southwestern cuisine, and the Canyon Coffee House for shade-grown organic espresso and cappuccino before hitting the trail. Evening drinks and seasonal live entertainment at the Bright Angel Bar round out the experience perfectly. Also on site: a small history museum, gift shop, ice cream fountain, tour and mule ride booking desk, free WiFi in public areas, and free parking. No elevator, no pets, no air conditioning in standard rooms, open year-round!
⭐️ 4.1 of 5 Stars - Kachina Lodge - Click Here for Rates and Availability
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - Thunderbird Lodge - Click Here for Rates and Availability
Two sister lodges built in 1968 as part of the National Park Service's Mission 66 program, sitting directly on the South Rim in the heart of Grand Canyon Village's Historic District, steps from the Bright Angel Trailhead and Rim Trail!
Their distinctive stair-stepped concrete facades were intentionally designed to mirror the layered rock formations of the canyon walls below, blending beautifully into the rim rather than competing with it. Both offer the same clean, comfortable modern rooms with Keurig coffee makers, mini-fridges, flat-screen satellite TVs, in-room safes, hair dryers, air conditioning, and free WiFi, with select canyon-side rooms at Kachina featuring partial Grand Canyon views. Free area shuttle and free parking included.
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars -Maswik Lodge - Click Here for Rates and Availability
Tucked among several acres of ponderosa pine forest just a quarter mile from the South Rim with a free Village shuttle stop right at the lobby door!
Named after the Hopi Kachina spirit said to guard the Grand Canyon, Maswik features 280 rooms split between two sections. The newly renovated Maswik South, completed in 2022, features interior corridors, full elevator access, private patios and balconies, and spacious kitchenettes with a cooktop, microwave, apartment-sized fridge, coffee maker, and utensils, making it a great pick for families and extended stays. All rooms include air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-fridge, Keurig coffee maker, and free WiFi. The Maswik Food Court serves breakfast through dinner with vegetarian and gluten-free options, and the Pizza Pub pours cold beer and wood-fired pies. Also on site: gift shop, ATM, EV charging, RV parking, free area shuttle, and free self-parking.
Lodging in Tusayan, Arizona (Just outside Grand Canyon's south entrance)
⭐️ 3.9 of 5 Stars - Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel - Click Here for Rates and Availability
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 onsite family restaurant. Free in-room Wi-Fi and a 24-hour business center are available to all guests.
⭐️ 4.2 of 5 Stars - The Grand Hotel - Click Here for Rates and Availabity
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.
Click on this link or the map below to see additional hotels and vacation rentals near the Grand Canyon.
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 National Park Resources
- Complete Guide to exploring Grand Canyon National Park
- Things To Do in Grand Canyon National Park
- Grand Canyon Winter Guide
- Grand Canyon Restaurants
- Grand Canyon Shuttle Bus Guide
- Grand Canyon Lodging Guide
- Grand Canyon Camping Guide
Parks near National Park
- Wupatki National Monument
- Navajo National Monument
- Pipe Springs National Monument
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area
- Hubbel Trading Post National Historic Site
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Tuzigoot National Monument
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
Check out this list of US National Parks to count how many you have visited!
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