South Rim
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| A bird's eye view of Grand Canyon Village © Courtesy of the National Park Service |
But there are two important facts to know when planning your Grand Canyon vacation.
The Grand Canyon receives about 5 million visitors a year, and most of them visit during the months of June, July and August. So, Grand Canyon AZ hotels book up fast.
Also, you can expect to pay more to stay in the park, especially during the busy summer season.
Because of the high demand, we strongly recommend making your Grand Canyon reservations 13 months in advance to get the best selection of rooms.
If you have your heart set on staying at one of the Grand Canyon AZ hotels in the park but they're already booked, consider visiting during the late fall, early spring, or even in winter. During these times, there is greater room availability and room rates are cheaper.
All but one of the South Rim Grand Canyon National Park lodges are spread throughout Grand Canyon Village, the park’s main facilities area.
El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge and Kachina Lodge are all next to the rim.
Their proximity, however, doesn't mean all rooms have canyon views. In fact, most rooms at Grand Canyon AZ hotels do not. Rooms with views are at a premium, too.
The other two South Rim hotels in Grand Canyon, Arizona are both tucked into the forest away from the rim.
Maswik Lodge is about a ¼-mile away from the South Rim, and Yavapai Lodge is the farthest away at about a ½-mile.
If you’re concerned about walking, you can take the great, free National Park shuttle bus system, which stops at both these lodges as well as at all major attractions along the South Rim.
If there aren't any available rooms at a Grand Canyon National Park lodge—or you're looking for a cheaper alternative—the next closest place for Grand Canyon AZ hotels is in Tusayan, Arizona.
This small town, about 8 miles from the South Rim, has a small number of hotels, including a Holiday Inn Express and Best Western, as well as a few restaurants and shops. Check out our Tusayan Hotels page for more information.
Other options for lodging near Grand Canyon are the towns of Williams, 60 miles south of the Grand Canyon, and Flagstaff, about 80 miles southeast of the park.
See the Grand Canyon AZ hotels FAQs at the bottom of this page for details on reservations, deposits, cancellations and pets.
Perched just 20 feet from the canyon’s edge, El Tovar is the most famous of all the Grand Canyon AZ Hotels.
At four stories tall, the hotel’s wood chalet style makes a statement. This is one of the classic national park lodges and is the most expensive lodging facility in the entire Grand Canyon region.
El Tovar was built in 1905 and renovated in 2005 at a cost of $2.5 million. For many, its best feature is its great location in the heart of South Rim village area.
There are 78 historic, non-smoking rooms and suites. All guest rooms have a TV, telephone, full bath and air conditioning.
Some suites have a porch or balcony. Only a few rooms have a canyon view, though.
El Tovar Hotel includes a fine dining room, bar and a gift shop with newsstand. Standard double room rates start at $174 per night, making it the most expensive of all the South Rim Grand Canyon AZ hotels.
What to Know Before You Go: No elevator; WiFi in lobby only; Reservations are a must; Try to book 13 months in advance for the best room selection; Advance dinner reservations are recommended for dinner at El Tovar Dining Room by calling (928) 638-2631, ext. 6432. Dinner reservations can be made six months in advance with El Tovar room reservations and 30 days in advance without El Tovar room reservations. Breakfast and lunch reservations are not accepted at El Tovar Dining Room.
Rates: $174 - $426
Bright Angel Lodge is also one of the most popular Grand Canyon AZ hotels. Located just a few yards west of El Tovar, it’s also close to the canyon’s edge.
Built in 1935, the famous Grand Canyon architect Mary Colter designed this stone-and-log motel style lodge and cabins.
Bright Angel received a $2 million makeover in 2007.
The rooms are simple compared to lodging outside the park, but are clean and comfortable.
The lodge rooms have their original 1930s features but few modern amenities.
Lodge rooms do not have a TV but do have a phone; most have only one bed.
Some rooms have a partial bathroom with a sink and toilet. The shower is communal and located down the small hallways.
Lodge rooms with private bathrooms have either a shower or bathtub shower and cost more.
Many guests prefer staying in one of the historic cabins, which are also on the rim near the Bright Angel trailhead.
Though they are small, they have a queen bed, TV, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, desk, ceiling fan and a private bathroom.
Bright Angel Lodge has several places to grab a bite. The Bright Angel Restaurant is a family-style eatery serving American and Southwestern dishes and is open all day. It also has a lounge.
The Bright Angel Coffee House is open for breakfast only, while the Arizona Room offers Southwestern cuisine for lunch and dinner.
The popular Bright Angel Fountain serves snacks and ice cream but has no seating. It’s just steps away from the South Rim, however, where you can sit on the wall and enjoy the view.
The Bright Angel Lodge is usually bustling with activity as it’s a Grand Canyon attraction in its own right. Plus, it is also the check-in point for Grand Canyon Mule Rides and has a desk providing information on Grand Canyon tours and activities.
Since the lodge was built by the Fred Harvey Company, it’s fitting that the lodge contains the Fred Harvey History Room.
Here, you can learn all about Fred Harvey, the enterprising businessman who saw an opportunity to make money by providing lodging and food to early tourists, thereby helping make the Southwest national parks the popular travel destinations they are today.
Pictures and artifacts bring to life the story of Fred Harvey, his hotel and restaurant empire, and the famous "Harvey Girls" that worked for him.
The Bright Angel Gift Store sells supplies for hiking and mule trips, books, t-shirts and gifts.
What to Know Before You Go: Seven different room types including the cabins; All rooms are non-smoking; Make reservations well in advance, especially for cabins.
Rates: Standard lodge rooms with private bath start at $90 a night. Rim cabins start at $142. Suites start at $138 and go to $333.
Thunderbird Lodge and Kachina Lodge (see below) are the two Grand Canyon AZ Hotels that are set between the Bright Angel Lodge and El Tovar.
Although Thunderbird isn’t much to look at—the outside has a definite 1960s motel look—it is in a great location on the South Rim.
Plus, half of the rooms have partial canyon views. Note, however, that rooms with canyon views cannot be guaranteed.
The basic but comfortable rooms have two queen beds or one king bed, coffee maker, refrigerator, safe, TV, telephone and full bath.
What to Know Before You Go: Guests of the Thunderbird Lodge must check in at Bright Angel Lodge; All rooms are non-smoking; Rooms for guests with physical disabilities available; Minimal parking available near property; No eating facilities in this lodge.
Rates: $170 - $180, extra person $9
Located on the west side of El Tovar, Kachina Lodge looks like Thunderbird with the same plain 1960s motel style.
Also like Thunderbird, half the rooms at Kachina Lodge have partial canyon views.
Like other Grand Canyon AZ hotels, all rooms are non-smoking.
Kachina’s rooms are similar to Thunderbird with two queen beds or one king bed, coffee maker, refrigerator, safe, TV, telephone and full bath.
Guests of the Kachina Lodge check in at El Tovar.
What to Know Before You Go: Rooms with canyon views cannot be guaranteed; No designated parking for hotel guests; Minimal parking available near lodge; Rooms for guests with physical disabilities available.
Rates: $170 - $180, extra person $9
Yavapai is one of two Grand Canyon AZ hotels nestled in the pines about ½-mile from the South Rim.
This Grand Canyon National Park Lodging is part of Market Plaza, the largest visitor area in the park. It includes the lodge, Canyon Café, The Curio Shop, a general store, bank, and U.S. Postal Center.
Yavapai Lodge is a complex of buildings. The lobby is in one building in the plaza and the rooms are in separate motel style buildings a little distance away.
From the outside, they are simple, cinder block buildings painted park service brown and green.
Inside, the rooms are clean and comfortable although on the small side. All rooms have a TV and a telephone.
The recently renovated but older Yavapai West building has 160 rooms with vaulted ceilings, coffee maker and ceiling fans but no air conditioning. Most of the rooms have two queen beds.
The rooms are not near the lobby, so guests must walk or take a short drive to their rooms.
Recently updated, Yavapai East has 198 rooms with air conditioning, coffee maker and refrigerator. Most rooms have two queen beds, however, there are some rooms with one king bed.
Last minute travelers take note: Yavapai often has room availability when the other Grand Canyon AZ hotels do not.
What to Know Before You Go: No internet access in rooms; Bring flashlight as there is no street lighting; Easy access to park shuttle bus; There is a coin-operated laundry about half a mile away.
Rates: West room $107, East room $153, extra person $9
Maswik Lodge is the other one of the Grand Canyon AZ hotels set in the forest, away from the rim.
Maswik is a large complex with two, two-story motel style lodges plus cabins located about a ¼-mile from the South Rim.
There are three different room types. The rooms are simple and have an older look but are clean.
Maswik North rooms are newer and larger. Each room has air-conditioning, mini-refrigerator, cable TV, coffee maker, safe and two queen sized beds or one king bed.
Maswik South rooms are smaller with two queen beds, a full bath, TV and telephone.
Maswik cabins are available during the summer only. The cabins have two queen or two double beds, a ceiling fan, shower, TV and telephone.
Maswik also has a large cafeteria serving a variety of foods such as burgers, pizza, pasta, salads, sandwiches and Mexican food.
We tried logging onto the cafeteria’s free WiFi during a recent visit but found the connection slow to the point of being useless.
What to Know Before You Go: Lodge rooms open year-round; No internet in rooms; Some rooms have patios; Bring flashlight as there is no street lighting; There is plenty of parking but space in front of room is not guaranteed; Roll-away beds can be requested on a first come, first serve basis.
Rates: North room $170, South room $90, cabins $90, extra person $9
Phantom Ranch is the only one of the Grand Canyon AZ hotels that’s inside the canyon.
Set at the end of two of the park’s most popular trails—Bright Angel and Kaibab—the ranch can only be reached by mule ride, hiking or a raft trip down the Colorado River.
Although it’s not easy to get to, Phantom Ranch is very popular, so advance reservations are an absolute must.
Designed by Mary Colter and built in 1922, it’s called a ranch but is really more like a rustic hostel.
The lodging includes separate dormitories for men and women as well as cabins. All have bunk beds, a communal shower and restrooms.
Guests have their meals at communal tables in the Phantom Ranch Canteen, which also sells beverages and sundries. Note that meals must be reserved well in advance.
Phantom Ranch makes the perfect home base for exploring the many side canyons in Grand Canyon. The Canteen will make sack lunches for you but you must order them ahead of time.
Keep in mind that that there is generally a 20°F difference in temperature between the bottom of the canyon and the top. So expect it to be extremely hot at the bottom of the canyon in the summer.
What to Know Before You Go: Cabins are included with the overnight mule trips and mule trips do include meals; Cabins and dormitories are available to overnight hikers with advance reservations; It is recommended that hikers reserve their meals at the same time room reservations are made; Reservations may be made up to 13 months in advance.
Rates: Dorm room per person $41.63
Grand Canyon National Park Lodging FAQs
- There are no microwaves in any of rooms at any of the South Rim Grand Canyon AZ hotels as it is against park regulations.
- Pets are not allowed at any of these South Rim Grand Canyon AZ hotels. Kennels are available for dogs and cats only, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily and reservations are recommended. Pets are accepted for day or overnight boarding and food is included.
- Rooms at all South Rim Grand Canyon AZ hotels are non-smoking.
- Rates for South Rim Grand Canyon AZ hotels are per room, per night, based on double occupancy. Rates do not include 7.737% room tax. Taxes and surcharges are subject to change. All room rates are subject to applicable taxes and/or surcharges.
- All guests age 16 and under stay free in the same room with a paying adult.
- Xanterra accepts reservations for stays up to 13 months in advance for all hotels in Grand Canyon, Arizona. On the first of each month, they begin accepting reservations for the entire month of the following year. For example, on June 1, 2010 they accepted reservations through March 31, 2010.
- There is no waitlist for reservations.
- Deposits: In order to reserve a room, a deposit equal to the first night of your stay (plus tax) is required on each room within 7 days of making the reservation. If arriving within 14 days, a credit card deposit is required to make a reservation. Your deposit will guarantee your room reservation for an arrival beyond 4:00 p.m. This applies to all hotels in Grand Canyon, Arizona
- A deposit guarantees the first night's room rate. Any increases to the room rate after your reservation is confirmed will apply to all additional room nights. Any modifications to your reservation(s) may result in the entire stay being subject to the new applicable rate.
- Canceling a Reservation: If your plans change, you may receive a full refund of the deposit provided you cancel the reservation and obtain a cancellation number at least 2-days prior to the designated check-in time and arrival date. If making a reservation within 2-days of arrival, the deposit is immediately non-refundable. If you cancel your reservation less than 2-days prior to arrival, your deposit will be forfeited.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts Phone: for reservations at all hotels in Grand Canyon, Arizona
Within the US call toll free (888) 297-2757
Outside the US call (303) 297-2757
Address: for all Grand Canyon AZ Hotels
Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
Note: This information was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, availability, access, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the Grand Canyon AZ Hotels before making reservations and/or travel plans.
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