Phoenix to Grand Canyon

[Dms1709 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dms1709]

This will be our first trip to Arizona and have been investigating places to see. Would like to see the Grand Canyon, but understand it is a four hour drive, so I would have to stay overnight. Any suggestions as to a hotel. I have looked at the National Park site and nothing is available. We will be going in October. Thank

Donna

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

Hi. We did this trip this past June, as part of a bigger trip that included Page and Sedona.

We got into Sky Harbour at 4pm... got to the South Rim at midnight. Yes, we got the rental car and stopped for dinner, but you'll probably have to do this stuff too. So count on more like 6 hours from arrival to destination.

As for lodging, call the reservation line for the hotels every day, maybe several times a day. They get cancellations and you might get lucky. Otherwise there's that town outside of the park area (funny name, can't remember it but you can Google the area and find it easily) that has motels, etc. to call.

It's a great trip! And if you have time, a day in Page is fantastic too.

[Dms1709 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dms1709]

We will be staying in Phoenix, only leaving for a short trip to the Grand Canyon. It seems like there will be a lot to keep us busy for a week there, but I don't want to be so close and miss seeing the GC, so I will call the park a couple of times a day as suggested. Thanks

Donna

[ctscribe1 Member Find all posts View Profile Close ctscribe1]

Tusayan

THe Town is Tusayan, Hope this help.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

There are van tours from the Phoenix area, too. We did that in 2000 and had a great time, the van driver was a great tour guide. It can get pricey but at the end of the day you're back where you started and you didn't have to worry about booking and paying for a hotel or driving all that way yourself...plus, they know exactly where they're going, no worries about how to get to the best spots.

[Dms1709 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dms1709]

Good idea on the van trip. Any recommendations on which firm to use?

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

It's really not a difficult drive, and having the freedom to use a good guide book and choose your own time/place is nice, imo. Also, I think you haven't really seen the canyon unless you've seen it at sunset or sunrise, and preferably, both. You won't see either if you are returning to Phoenix the same night. The light at sunset and sunrise changes the canyon completely. It's pretty impressive all day long, but to miss the big light shows is a shame. I'd drive and stay outside the canyon if you want to cut costs.