You can get advance information on the Grand Canyon by contacting Grand Canyon National Park (www.nps.gov/grca).

When you arrive at the park, stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, 4 1/2 miles from the south entrance. Here you’ll find an information desk, exhibits, a theater, and a shop selling maps, books, and videos. The center is open daily 8am to 6pm (9am–5pm in winter). Within Grand Canyon Village, Verkamp’s Visitor Center, near the El Tovar Hotel, is an even more convenient place to get park information; it’s open daily 8am to 8pm in summer (until 6pm other months). Displays here focus on the history of development in Grand Canyon Village. Both South Rim entrances hand out a South Rim pocket map and services guides as you enter the park.

Fees

The entry fee for Grand Canyon National Park is $35 per car (or $20 per person if coming in on foot or by bicycle). Your admission ticket is good for 7 days. Don’t lose it, or you’ll have to pay again to reenter the park.

Orientation: Grand Canyon Village

The South Rim’s Grand Canyon Village is divided roughly into two sections. At the east end are the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Yavapai Lodge, Trailer Village, and Mather Campground. At the west end are El Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel, Kachina, Thunderbird, and Maswik lodges; as well as several restaurants, the train depot, and the trail head for the Bright Angel Trail.

Parking

Three large parking lots adjacent to the information plaza are the best places to leave your car; you can easily access the park’s free shuttle buses from here. There’s also a lot at Market Plaza (the general store), up a side road near Yavapai Lodge. From these parking areas, a paved walking trail leads to the historic section of the village in less than 1.5 miles; most of the route runs right along the rim. You can also park at the Maswik Transportation Center lot. Wherever you park in Grand Canyon Village, you can catch the Village Route bus to the visitor center and other parts of the village. If you park at Yaki Point, you can take the Kaibab Trail Route bus.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.