How to Find a Hotel in Grand Canyon

Approximately 5 million people see the Grand Canyon every year. The South Rim area in Arizona is the most frequently viewed, because it is easy for drivers to pull off the road and get a glimpse.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Know Your Destination

1. View a national treasure. The South Rim area of the Grand Canyon is the most accessible part of the canyon and is open all year. Overlooks at Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest and Desert View allow motorists in Arizona to pull over and enjoy the view.

2. Catch your breath. The South Rim averages 7,000 feet above sea level, while the North Rim is about 8,000 feet high. People with respiratory or heart problems should be particularly careful, because any kind of walking at high altitude can be stressful.

3. Learn about the Grand Canyon, which has been continuously occupied for more than 12,000 years. Archaeologists found human artifacts in the canyon that date to the Paleo-Indian period. The canyon has been protected by the federal government since 1893, though it did not become a National Park until 1919.

Get From Place to Place in Grand Canyon

4. Catch a ride. Getting around the Grand Canyon can be challenging because of its massive size, but buses and shuttles make it easier. Buses run routes from rim to rim and to points in between.

5. Get to your destination by taxi if you like. Twenty-four-hour daily service is available to trailheads, to the Grand Canyon Airport and to other destinations within the park.

6. Understand that while it is possible to fly to the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, it isn't easy. Connecting flights are available from several cities, including Las Vegas, Nevada, and Deer Valley, Arizona.

Choose Your hotel in Grand Canyon

7. To book a hotel room, contact Grand Canyon Visitors Bureau at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources, below).

8. Book a hotel room inside the park to be surrounded by the canyon. Lodges in the park vary in amenities and in price. Expect to pay $52 to $304 per night.

9. Camp within the park for as little as $12 per night. Since you'll be staying in a national park, there are certain restrictions on what can be used and done at the campsite.

10. Book a room just seven miles from the South Rim in Tusayan, Arizona, if you'd like to stay outside the park. Various hotels are available, including luxury and mid-level lodging.

Tips & Warnings

• Reserve your room as early as possible if you plan on staying in the South Rim area during the summer.

Resources

• To book accommodations, contact Grand Canyon Visitors Bureau
• The canyon
• nps.gov