Planning a trip to Grand Canyon South Rim
Visitor Information
You can get advance information on the Grand Canyon by contacting Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 (tel. 928/638-7888; 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 5pm (9am-5pm in winter). Three large parking lots are adjacent to the information plaza, and these are the best places to leave your car once you reach the park. From these lots, you can easily access the park's system of free shuttle buses. 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. The Guide, a small newspaper full of useful information about the park, is available at both South Rim park entrances. Although smaller, the Verkamp's Visitor Center, near El Tovar Hotel, is a much more convenient place to get park information. This latter visitor center is open daily from 8am to 7pm in summer (until 6pm other months). Displays here focus on the history of development in Grand Canyon Village.
Orientation
Grand Canyon Village is built on the South Rim of the canyon and divided roughly into two sections. At the east end of the village 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.
Leave the Driving to Them
Now, I'm not a big fan of guided tours, but sometimes they just make a lot of sense. The Grand Canyon is one of those places, especially if you are usually the designated driver. Why should you have to keep your eyes on the road when there's all that gorgeous scenery right outside the window? Why not let someone else do the driving?
If you plan on making your visit to the Grand Canyon a day trip from Flagstaff rather than an overnight stay at the park, consider taking a tour with American Dream Tours (tel. 888/203-1212 or 928/527-3369; www.americandreamtours.com). Not only will you get to enjoy the scenery more, but knowledgeable guides will also fill you with fascinating information about the canyon. Tours are $98 for adults and $69 for children 10 and under (lower rates may be available on their website).
Pack a Lunch
Lunch options are very limited inside Grand Canyon National Park, so if you are driving up from Flagstaff, I suggest packing a picnic lunch. Try stopping at a grocery store in Flagstaff for supplies. Otherwise, you're going to be stuck eating burgers in a cafeteria when you could be sitting on the edge of the canyon gazing out at one of the most awe-inspiring vistas on earth.
Getting There
During the summer, if at all possible, travel to the park by some means other than car. Alternatives include taking the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, flying into Grand Canyon Airport and then taking a taxi, taking the Arizona Shuttle from Flagstaff, or coming to the park on a guided tour. There are plenty of scenic overlooks, hiking trails, restaurants, and lodges in the Grand Canyon Village area, and free shuttle buses operate along both Hermit Road and Desert View Drive.
By Car
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 60 miles north of Williams and I-40 on Ariz. 64 and U.S. 180. Flagstaff, the nearest city of any size, is 80 miles away. From Flagstaff, it's possible to take U.S. 180 directly to the South Rim or U.S. 89 to Ariz. 64 and the east entrance to the park. This latter route is my preferred way of getting to the canyon since it sees slightly less traffic. Be sure you have plenty of gasoline in your car before setting out for the canyon; there are few service stations in this remote part of the state, and what gas stations there are charge exorbitant prices.
Long waits at the entrance gates, parking problems, and traffic congestion have long been the norm at the canyon during the popular summer months, and even during the spring and fall there can be backups at the entrance gates and visitors can have a hard time finding a parking space. However, extra ticketing lanes and additional parking lots built in recent years have somewhat alleviated the congestion at the south entrance to the park.
By Plane
The Grand Canyon Airport is in Tusayan, 6 miles south of Grand Canyon Village. However, there are no regularly scheduled commercial flights into this airport other than day-tours from Las Vegas on Scenic Airlines (tel. 800/634-6801; www.scenic.com), Grand Canyon Airlines (tel. 866/235-9422 or 928/638-2359; www.grandcanyonairlines.com), and Maverick Airlines (tel. 800/962-3869 or 702/405-4300; www.maverickairlines.com). These tours last from 6 1/2 to 8 hours and cost between $219 and $319. The closest airport with commercial service is in Flagstaff. From there, you'll need to arrange another mode of transportation the rest of the way to the national park.
By Train
The Grand Canyon Railway operates excursion trains between Williams and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
For long-distance connections, Amtrak (tel. 800/872-7245; www.amtrak.com) provides service to Flagstaff and Williams. From Flagstaff, it's then possible to take a bus directly to Grand Canyon Village. From Williams, you can take the Grand Canyon Railway excursion train to Grand Canyon Village. Note: The Amtrak stop in Williams is undeveloped and is on the outskirts of town. If you plan to take an Amtrak train to Williams, a shuttle from the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel will pick you up where the Amtrak train drops you off.
By Bus
Shuttle bus service between Phoenix, Flagstaff, Williams, and Grand Canyon Village is provided by Arizona Shuttle (tel. 877/226-8060 or 928/226-8060; www.arizonashuttle.com). Between Phoenix and Flagstaff, adult fares are $39 one-way and $78 round-trip ($35 and $70 for Internet bookings); between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, fares are $28 one-way and $56 round-trip ($24 and $48 for Internet bookings). Shuttles also connect Williams with Flagstaff and Grand Canyon Village, and there are shuttles between Flagstaff and Sedona as well.
Getting Around
The Grand Canyon Village area can be extremely congested, especially in summer. If possible, you may want to use one of the transportation options below to avoid the park's traffic jams and parking problems. To give you an idea, in summer you can expect at least a 20- to 30-minute wait at the South Rim entrance gate just to get into the park. You can cut the waiting time here by acquiring an America the Beautiful-National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass before arriving. The standard pass costs $80 and is good for 1 year. This pass is not an especially good value unless you plan to visit several other major national parks or lots of smaller parks and monuments. The senior pass and access pass are, on the other hand, exceptional bargains. With any of the three America the Beautiful passes in hand, you can use the express lane.
By Bus
Free shuttle buses operate on three routes within the park. The Village Route bus circles through Grand Canyon Village throughout the day with frequent stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, Market Plaza (site of a general store, bank, laundry, and showers), and other facilities. The Hermit's Rest Route bus takes visitors to eight canyon overlooks west of Bright Angel Lodge (this bus does not operate Dec-Feb). The Kaibab Trail Route bus stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Mather Point, Yavapai Geology Museum, Pipe Creek Vista, the South Kaibab Trailhead, and Yaki Point. There's also a morning Hikers' Express bus to the South Kaibab Trailhead. This bus stops at Bright Angel Lodge, the Back Country Information Office, and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Hikers needing transportation to or from Yaki Point when the bus is not running can use a taxi (tel. 928/638-2631, ext. 6563). Between mid-May and mid-September, the Tusayan Route operates between the town of Tusayan, outside the park, and Grand Canyon Village, inside the park. To use this shuttle, you must have a valid park entrance pass.
Between mid-May and mid-October, Trans Canyon (tel. 928/638-2820; www.trans-canyonshuttle.com) offers shuttle-bus service between the South Rim and the North Rim. The vans leave the South Rim at 1:30pm and arrive at the North Rim at 6pm. The return trip leaves the North Rim at 7am, arriving at the South Rim at 11:30am. The fare is $80 one-way and $150 round-trip; reservations are required.
By Car
Service stations are outside the south entrance to the park in Tusayan, at Desert View near the east entrance (no cash sales in winter), and east of the park at Cameron. Because of the long distances within the park and to towns outside the park, fill up before setting out on a drive. Gas at the canyon is very expensive.
By Taxi
Taxi service is available to and from the airport, trail heads, and other destinations (tel. 928/638-2631, ext. 6563). The fare from the airport to Grand Canyon Village is $10 for up to two adults ($5 for each additional person).
Fast Facts
Accessibility -- Check The Guide for park programs, services, and facilities that are partially or fully accessible. You can also get the Grand Canyon National Park Accessibility Guide at Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Yavapai Geology Museum, Kolb Studio, Verkamp's Visitor Center, Tusayan Museum, and Desert View Visitor Center, as well as on the park's website. Temporary accessibility parking permits are available at the park entrances and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Verkamp's Visitor Center, Kolb Studio, El Tovar concierge desk, and the Bright Angel, Yavapai, and Maswik transportation desks. The national park has wheelchairs available at no charge for temporary use inside the park. You can usually find one of these wheelchairs at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. All park shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible tours can also be arranged by contacting any lodge transportation desk or by calling Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (tel. 928/638-2631).
Banks & ATMs -- There's an ATM at the Chase bank (tel. 928/638-2437) at Market Plaza, which is near Yavapai Lodge. The bank is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 6pm.
Climate -- The climate at the Grand Canyon is dramatically different from that of Phoenix, and between the rim and the canyon floor there's also a pronounced difference. The South Rim is at 7,000 feet and consequently gets very cold in winter. You can expect snow anytime between November and May, and winter temperatures can be below 0°F (-18°C) at night, with daytime highs in the 20s or 30s (minus single digits to single digits Celsius). Summer temperatures at the rim range from highs in the 80s (20s Celsius) to lows in the 50s (teens Celsius). The North Rim of the canyon, which is slightly higher than the South Rim and stays a bit cooler throughout the year, is open to visitors only from May through October because the access road is not kept cleared of snow in winter.
On the canyon floor, temperatures are considerably higher. In summer, the mercury can reach 120°F (49°C) with lows in the 70s (20s Celsius), while in winter, temperatures are quite pleasant with highs in the 50s (teens Celsius) and lows in the 30s (single digits Celsius). July, August, and September are the wettest months because of frequent afternoon thunderstorms. April, May, and June are the driest months, but it still might rain or even snow. Down on the canyon floor, there is much less rain year-round.
Fees -- The entry fee for Grand Canyon National Park is $25 per car (or $12 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.
Festivals -- The Grand Canyon Music Festival (tel. 800/997-8285 or 928/638-9215; www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org), which primarily features chamber music, takes place in late August and early September. Performances are $15 for adults and $8 for children, and are held indoors at the Shrine of the Ages in the South Rim's Grand Canyon Village.
Hospitals & Clinics -- The North Country Grand Canyon Clinic (tel. 928/638-2551) is on Clinic Drive, off Center Road (the road that runs past the National Park Service ranger office). The clinic is open daily from 8am to 6pm (shorter hours Oct-May). It provides 24-hour emergency service as well.
Laundry -- A coin-operated laundry is located near Mather Campground in the Camper Services building.
Lost & Found -- Report lost items or turn in found items at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center; call tel. 928/638-7798. For items lost or found at a hotel, restaurant, or lounge, call tel. 928/638-2631.
Parking -- If you want to avoid parking headaches, use one of the three large lots by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center or the lot at Market Plaza (the general store), which is 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, and most of the route is along the rim. Another option is to park at the Maswik Transportation Center parking lot, which is served by the Village Route shuttle bus.
Police -- In an emergency, dial tel. 911. Ticketing speeders is one of the main occupations of the park's police force, so obey the posted speed limits.
Post Office -- The post office (tel. 928/638-2512) is at Market Plaza near Yavapai Lodge. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4:30pm and Saturday from 11am to 1pm.
Road Conditions -- Information on road conditions in the Grand Canyon area is available by calling tel. 888/411-7623 or 511.
Safety -- The most important safety tip to remember is to be careful near the edge of the canyon. Footing can be unstable and may give way. Also, be sure to keep your distance from wild animals, no matter how friendly they may appear. Avoid hiking alone if at all possible, and keep in mind that the canyon rim is more than a mile above sea level (it's harder to breathe up here). Do not leave valuables in your car or tent.
