That’s right! We had no idea what we were signing up for when we decided to visit one of the seven natural wonders of the world. But it turned out to be a trip full of thrilling driving adventures through the icy roads of Grand Canyon’s South Rim and incredible views.
In this blog post, I’ll share my itinerary and some important details to keep in mind while planning your Grand Canyon adventure. I’ll also include the best months to visit and alternative entry points to the park. So, keep your reading hat on—you’ll find plenty of useful information to help you plan your trip to Grand Canyon National Park!
What is Grand Canyon? Is it worth visiting?
For those unfamiliar with this place, the Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a must-visit if you’re traveling to the USA. Located in Arizona, this vast and awe-inspiring natural marvel was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It stretches approximately 277 miles (446 km) and reaches depths of over a mile (1.6 km).
What stands out the most is its immense size and the intricate layers of colorful rock formations that offer a visual record of Earth’s geological history spanning nearly two billion years.
The Grand Canyon is also sacred land to indigenous people, including the Hualapai, Havasupai, Navajo, Hopi, and Yavapai-Apache. Please be respectful and mindful when visiting this national park—it’s not just a stunning landscape but also a place of deep cultural and spiritual significance.
Which entry point should I pick?
There are four major entry points to the Grand Canyon: the West, East, North, and South Rims—each offering a unique perspective of the canyon. However, only the South and North Rims provide views of the main canyon. The East Rim is known for its stunning views of the famous slot canyons, including Antelope Canyon, while the West Rim offers a glimpse of the canyon’s edge. The West Rim is also the closest to Las Vegas, making it a convenient option for a day trip.
If you ask me which rim is best for first-time visitors, I’d recommend the South Rim. It offers the most iconic views, is open year-round, and has better access to major cities and facilities. The North Rim is equally breathtaking but typically opens in late spring and is more remote—best suited for those with at least two full days to explore, as it’s about an hour’s detour from the South Rim.
I visited the East Rim of Grand Canyon National Park back in 2022, where we explored Antelope Canyon and the stunning Horseshoe Bend. If you’d like to know more about that trip, here’s a detailed guide to Antelope Canyon.
My Grand Canyon 1 Day Itinerary
This was the exact itinerary I followed during our Grand Canyon visit, and it worked perfectly for a day trip. We entered the park around 9:30 AM and left around 6 PM, giving us roughly 8 hours to explore. Since it was snowing heavily that day, we waited about an hour for the storm to pass and the views to clear. We also took a 30-minute lunch break, which meant we had approximately 6 hours to explore the park.
Below, you’ll find a chronological list of all the spots we visited, along with some additional stops you can include if you have more time. I’ve also added extra overlook points and hiking options to help you plan your ultimate Grand Canyon adventure.
And if you don’t drive in the USA—no worries! Here’s a Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas that’s a great value for money, covering both South and East Rim of the park.
Grand Canyon National Park Sign
This spot is located just before the South Entrance Station and is very easy to miss. We ended up driving past it and missed our chance to pull into the parking area for photos. So instead, we made a photo stop at the park sign near the Desert View Watchtower on our way out.
South Entrance Station
This is where the park ranger checked our America the Beautiful pass and handed us maps for our trip. If you don’t have an annual pass, this is also where you can purchase a day pass or the annual pass. During peak season, expect long queues at the entrance station if you miss the low-traffic window—generally before 9 AM.
Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor Center
Our first stop at the park was the South Rim Visitor Center, which is usually our go-to spot at any national park. We wanted to check for any road closures due to weather conditions and watch the 20-minute orientation film. The visitor center also has a small but informative display explaining the park’s geology and rock layers, which helped us better understand the canyons we were seeing.
Another reason we stopped by the visitor center was to visit Mather Point, one of the most popular viewpoints.
Just to give you an idea of the different ways to explore the Grand Canyon: one option is to visit various overlook points along the Rim Trail; another is to hike sections of the Rim Trail for a closer look at the canyon; and the third is to do a mix of both. That said, you don’t need to stop at every overlook—just choose a few key ones. We prioritized the spots most recommended by the National Park Service and spent most of our time simply soaking in the breathtaking views.
Mather Point Overlook
Our first overlook point on the Rim Trail was Mather Point, which is located right next to the Visitor Center. It’s just a 5-minute walk from the parking lot and offers a breathtaking view of the canyon. From here, we got an expansive panorama of the Grand Canyon, including a glimpse of the Colorado River and even Phantom Ranch in the distance.
Mather Point is named after Stephen Tyng Mather, the first director of the National Park Service and a passionate conservationist. He laid the foundation for the National Park Service, helping define and establish policies to ensure that these protected areas are developed and preserved—unimpaired—for future generations.
Yavapai Point Overlook
Our next overlook stop was Yavapai Point, which offered a breathtaking view of Bright Angel Canyon. Everywhere we looked, we were surrounded by miles of stunning rock formations—each layer telling a story millions of years in the making.
We also visited the Yavapai Museum of Geology, which gave us deeper insight into the park’s geological features and history. The museum’s large windows provided panoramic views of the canyon, making it a perfect spot to take in the scenery while warming up from the cold winter weather.
Hopi House
From Yavapai Point, we headed to Hopi House—a historic landmark located right on the canyon’s rim. Designed by Mary Colter, this beautiful structure pays tribute to Puebloan architecture found throughout the Southwest. It instantly reminded us of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico, and we loved every bit of it.
The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, featuring authentic Native American art and crafts—perfect for picking up meaningful souvenirs. We also stopped by Verkamp’s Visitor Center to browse the shop and explore the small museum inside.
Next, we made our way to the El Tovar Hotel for lunch, but it was fully booked. If you’re planning to dine here, I highly recommend making a reservation in advance, as they don’t accept walk-ins. It’s a popular spot among tourists and overnight guests.
Lunch at Maswik Food Court
We headed to Maswik Food Court near the Grand Canyon Train Station for lunch. This food court offers a variety of options, ranging from pizza and salads to a sandwich counter. Plus, it has a large seating area, clean restrooms, and convenient water bottle refill stations.
For lunch, we enjoyed a salad bowl and a pulled pork burger while watching the snowstorm intensify outside.
That’s when the snowstorm really picked up. We drove all the way to Duck on a Rock Viewpoint but couldn’t see anything due to poor visibility. So, we decided to rest in the parking lot and wait for the storm to pass.
Good to know: If you plan to visit spots along Hermit Road, Maswik Food Court is a great place to park and hop on the shuttle bus. Hermit Road is closed to private vehicles from March to November and can only be accessed via the park’s shuttle buses.
Navajo Point
Once the snowfall stopped and the clouds began to clear, we headed to Navajo Point, the highest overlook in the park. The view was absolutely gorgeous, with clouds drifting over the canyon and the Colorado River appearing intermittently below.
Navajo Point is also a fantastic spot for watching the sunset, offering panoramic vistas of the canyon, the river, and the Desert View Watchtower. It quickly became one of my favorite places to capture photos of the canyon’s stunning beauty.
Desert View Watchtower
Our final stop at the park was the Desert View Watchtower, another historic landmark designed by Mary Colter and built in 1932. Its design is inspired by Ancestral Puebloan architecture of the Colorado Plateau and offers a stunning perspective of the eastern portion of the Grand Canyon.
Entry to the tower is limited to 25 people at a time and operates on a timed-entry system. The tower opens at 8 AM, with the last entry at 5 PM. To get tickets, you need to arrive 30–40 minutes before your desired entry time, as tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission is free, but you must be present to receive tickets—none are held for later times.
Inside, the tower is beautiful and modeled after a Native American kiva, decorated with authentic Native American paintings. Nearby, you can visit the Desert View Trading Post, which houses a gift shop and coffee shop, as well as a deli and gas station.
We spent a few hours exploring the Desert View campus, admiring the stunning architecture, its intricate details, and, of course, the breathtaking views.
Dinner at Himalayan Grill in Flagstaff
We ended our day with an Indian-Nepali dinner at Himalayan Grill in Flagstaff. Since it was cold, we wanted something spicy and soupy, so we ordered steamed momos, lentil soup, and chow mein. The food and ambiance were good, but the service was a bit slow.
And with that, our day trip to the Grand Canyon ended. We stayed overnight in Flagstaff at King’s Motor Inn to rest and recharge for the next day’s adventure exploring Sedona and Phoenix.
Disclaimer: Before planning any trip, I do extensive research using platforms where real travelers share their experiences, such as Reddit, TripAdvisor, and Google reviews. These suggestions are a compilation of that data, combined with the insights I gather during my travels and conversations with locals like park rangers and tourism officials. To help make your planning easier, here are answers to some common questions that often come up when preparing for a Grand Canyon trip.
Free Shuttles at Grand Canyon
If you’re visiting the South Rim during peak season or on busy days like long weekends or free National Park admission days, the shuttle is your best friend. The National Park Service operates four main shuttle routes—Blue, Orange, Red, and Hiker—as well as an additional Purple route during the summer. Each route covers different parts of the park and runs frequently, saving you a lot of time hunting for parking spots.
Here’s a route overview for your reference, and be sure to check which areas are shuttle-only before your visit. For example, when we visited in April, Hermit Road was accessible only by shuttle bus.
Is North Rim worth visiting?
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is about a 4.5-hour drive from the South Rim, making it quite a detour. This was why we skipped visiting the North Rim. However, if you have two full days, it’s definitely worth taking a trip to the other side of the canyon on day two—after all, about 10% of visitors make the journey to the North Rim each year. For day-trippers, though, I recommend focusing on the South Rim and skipping the North Rim to make the most of your limited time.
Best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park
We visited during the shoulder season in April, and it was less crowded than usual. It was also quite cold, with many areas still covered in snow. Summer is the peak season, but it tends to be hot and extremely crowded. For a more comfortable experience, it’s best to visit between March and May or September and November.
Top hotels to stay near Grand Canyon
There are several lodges within the park, but securing a reservation can be very difficult, and prices tend to be high. Hotel rates range from around $150 to $600 per night, with El Tovar being the most expensive and Bright Angel Lodge on the more affordable end. Here’s a link to book a room inside the park.
If you’re looking to stay on a budget, I recommend booking a hotel outside the park, such as in Tusayan or Flagstaff. These locations are just a 30-minute to 1-hour drive from the park entrance and can save you a lot of money. Below are some of my recommendations, including the hotel where we stayed.
Historic Hotels within Grand Canyon National Park:
Cost ranging between $200-$600 per night. All hotels are close to the Rim Trail and have access to park shuttle service and free self-parking.
- Bright Angel Lodge – $230-300* per night
- Maswik-Lodge – $260-$400* per night
- Thunderbird Lodge – $300-400* per night
- El Tovar – $350-$450* per night
- Kachina Lodge – $380-500* per night
- Yavapai Lodge – close to visitor center, $250-300* per night
Hotels in the cities nearby Grand Canyon National Park:
These hotels are fairly cheaper than the ones within the national park and are just 15-20 minutes away from the park visitor center. The price ranges between $180-300 and some might also offer breakfast.
- Red Feather Lodge – $180-220* per night
- Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel – $260-350* per night
- The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon – $250-300* per night
- Holiday Inn Resort the Squire – $280-300* per night
*price might vary depending on the season and availability.
Best Easy to Moderate Hikes in Grand Canyon
If you’re planning to hike in the Grand Canyon, here are two popular easy to moderate hikes recommended on Reddit that we considered for our trip. But you can find more hike ideas here, if you’re aiming for challenging and longer hikes.
- South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point – A year-round, 1.8-mile out-and-back trail that’s great for both kids and adults. Alternatively, you can extend this hike to Cedar Ridge point, that is a 3 mile hike in total with lots of switch backs and great views.
- Yavapai Point via Rim Trail – Instead of driving, you can walk along the Rim Trail from Mather Point to Yavapai Point. This 1.7-mile out-and-back hike offers stunning canyon views throughout and takes about 40 minutes one way.
Overall, the Grand Canyon is a must-visit destination for anyone seeking adventure and natural beauty. This awe-inspiring place is a humbling reminder of how small we are in the grand scheme of time and how deep and mysterious our Mother Earth truly is.
If you have any questions or need help planning your trip, feel free to reach out via email or any social platforms. Moreover, don’t forget to watch my Grand Canyon video on YouTube!
