50 Grand Canyon Travel Tips! {Best Things To See & Do}

Make your next trip to the Grand Canyon the best yet with these fun Grand Canyon Travel Tips!

So are you on the hunt for the Best Insider Grand Canyon Travel Tips?? From breathtaking views to bucket list adventures… these insider Grand Canyon tips and little-known tricks for nearby attractions will make your Arizona getaway AMAZING!

Living in Arizona, I try to visit the Grand Canyon every year, and let me tell you… it never disappoints!  Seriously, I can never get enough of the Grand Canyon!  And if you’re able to catch it during a golden hour, it’s even that much more spectacular!

If you’ve never been, or even if you have, it’s time to plan your trip to the Grand Canyon!  Here’s everything you need to know before you go…

Related: 

• The 10 Most Spectacular National Parks you NEED to Visit!

How To Visit The Grand Canyon On A Budget:

So You’re Planning a Trip to the Grand Canyon?  To keep your vacation budget-friendly, you’ll need to plan ahead.  One of the first things you’ll want to do is start stashing cash away for your  ‘Grand Canyon Trip Fund’.  Need to increase your travel fund stash?  One of the easiest ways is to make extra money on the side in your free time!  Here’s my favorite trick for ramping up the vacation budget…

Easy Side Hustles to Save Money For Vacation

The Grand Canyon National Park entrance fees can really add up, so be sure to take advantage of these easy ways to save on your Park Entrance Fees.  Then… don’t miss the tips I’ve included that will show you how to score FREE National Park Passes for 4th Graders, Veterans and Disabled!

6 Ways To Score Cheap or FREE National Park Passes!

Now keep reading for all the very best Grand Canyon travel tips and things to do to make your trip unforgettable…

I absolutely adore living in Phoenix.  It’s true… I simply can’t get enough of the blue sky, lush desert, and swaying palm trees.  But it’s also so much fun exploring all the amazing places around Arizona.

One of my favorite things to do is to Visit the Grand Canyon.  That’s why I want to share with you some of my favorite hidden gems and things you don’t want to miss on your next Grand Canyon vacation…

Hotels fill up fast, so if you can get a reservation, I recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Tusayan, just outside the South Rim entrance.

If you can’t score a reservation at the South Rim, I recommend staying at the Drury Inn in Flagstaff 1.5 hours to the Southeast.  There are much better food options in Flagstaff, including Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Smashburger, Panda Express and Dunkin Donuts all just blocks from the Drury.  Also, the Drury is located on the edge of the Northern Arizona University campus, right on Route 66.

When you stay in Flagstaff, you are also only a short drive from the red rocks in Sedona!

Going to the North Rim?  I recommend staying in Kanab, Utah at the new Comfort Inn & Suites.  I last stayed there in 2016, and everything still looked new and the staff were really great!  Kanab is a great central location to stay if you also plan to visit Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park.

From the South Rim, hike down the South Kaibab Trail to Cedar Ridge.  This hike is 3 miles roundtrip, but does include a pretty substantial drop into the canyon.  The views from Cedar Ridge are life changing at sunrise!!  My hubby took the above photo while hiking the South Kaibab Trail on a National Park Free Entrance Day!

Also near the South Rim… take a few minutes to go Visit the Mules near the South Kaibab Trail!  When they’re not out hiking, you’ll find them eating and playing in a big paddock nearby.  They’re so sweet and silly, and taking some time to go pet them and have a little chit-chat is always one of my highlights!

Plan to walk the short walk to See Horseshoe Bend!  If you are planning to visit both the South Rim and the North Rim, you will likely be driving near Page, Arizona.  Horseshoe Bend is located immediately south of Page.  If you see a large dirt parking lot with cars, RV’s and people galore, you are in the right place.  You are here for amazing scenery and life changing photos, but you can also expect hundreds of other people as well 🙁

Do a Slot Canyon!  I have personally visited so many beautiful and jaw dropping amazing Slot Canyons in the area between the Grand Canyon to the south and Bryce Canyon National Park to the north.  The most famous slot canyon is Antelope Canyon outside Page Arizona.  If you’re staying in Kanab Utah, stop by the Kanab Visitor Center and get the weather report before heading out to any slot canyons.

Now… check out even more Grand Canyon Travel Tips You Can’t Afford to Miss shared by your very own frugal friends…

Grand Canyon Travel Tips

April said: “Mather Point and also the Hermits Rest on South Rim for amazing views and photos.”

Jillian said: “White water rafting the Colorado river.”

Jessica said: “Rent a bike and bike along the Canyon.  You can also go on a guided tour! We went on a tour in May.  While it was a bit pricey, it was way worth it!  They also have smaller bikes to rent if you have a little rider like we did.”

{South Kaibab Trail on the way to Cedar Ridge, Grand Canyon}

Colleen said: “My kids are there right now.  They are renting jeeps to tour the Grand Canyon.”

Deborah writes: “Save up and take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon”

Leslie said: “We just came back last week.  The Sunset Tour and Desert View Tour gives you a big package for the cost and you can see a lot!  Staying in a lodge?  The pizza joint inside Maswik Lodge may be the only decent food in the park.”

Linda said: “The North rim is beautiful.  It’s cooler in the summer.  The lodge is very nice. It’s not as crowded as the South rim.”

{Colorado River at the bottom of the South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon}

Renee said: “The lodge at north rim has the most amazing hot chocolate!!”

Laura said: “It’s worth the trip to the North rim if you’re not interested in the tourist trap stuff.  A lovely lodge, small but comfortable cabins, very serene and quiet!”

Gina said: “You must see the North rim and the lodge there. The North rim is in a forest and not in a desert setting.  The view from the North Rim Lodge is breathtaking!  The restaurant in the lodge serves a great breakfast (a little pricy but worth it).  There are rustic cabins to stay in and also a camping area (I know motorhomes are allowed, but I’m not sure about tent camping).  The next time we visit we want to ride the burros/donkeys into the canyon (didn’t have time during our last visit).”

{Phantom Ranch, bottom of the Grand Canyon}

Margie said: “Must go to the Ranger Station/Visitor Center and get a date postage stamp. Cool souvenir and free!”

Maura said: “MUST see the canyon at dusk and at dawn…the colors are dreamy!.  We use the National Parks Passport… that is the postage stamp the reader above mentioned.  I started it when I was in my early 20’s and we now do it with our kids!”

Danielle said: “We did a one day tour (we were staying in Vegas) we saw the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam”

Linda said: “Went in December and did the overnight in the canyon train. Then after the return to Williams we did the Polar Express Train in the evening. It was magical, just before we took the Polar Express it began to snow.  Then Bearazona, Arches and Dead Horse for an amazing trip!”

Leslie said: “Junior Ranger Programs for the kids are free too and the kids learn a lot. So do the grown-ups!”

{Colorado River suspension bridge at the end of the South Kaibab Trail, bottom of Grand Canyon}

Crystal said: “Take the free Angel Head Trail Tour.  We saw a fault line, Bald Eagles, and breathtaking views (in Kansas we don’t see either of those).  Also know that they have water refill stations all over, so take a hydration pack wherever you go.  If you have the time skip over by Sedona and go to Slide Rock.”

Donna said: “I know this may sound strange, but go to the IMAX there!  It feels like you are in a helicopter, on the raft… Loved it, more than the canyon.”

Angie said: “We loved IMAX too and Slide Rock was awesome!”

{South Kaibab Trail, Grand Canyon}

Martha said: “It is really neat to see it in the winter. We lived in AZ for three years, and the winter brings a lot of snow to the Grand Canyon. The park cannot salt the road, so they can be dangerous! Our kids loved the Grand Canyon Polar Express Ride we did one year too. We always stayed in Flagstaff when visiting the Grand Canyon.  We love that cute little town.”

Karen said: “If you have small kiddos, a ride on the Grand Canyon Railroad Train is a wonderful experience.  It isn’t very frugal, but it is worth the splurge.”

Marilyn said: “The train ride was a highlight!  The petrified forest and painted desert was beautiful.”

Tina said: “Ride the train up at least one day!  It was awesome!  Then we hiked along the south rim…”

My Grand Canyon Sunset Tip: I scored an amazing sunset right at the South Kaibab Trailhead, and for an added bonus, I had the area practically to myself at that time of the day!

Amanda said: “We took a helicopter ride over the canyon.  It was a fantastic way to see it.”

Jamie said: “The Indian Reservation with the observation platform and boat and helicopter tours!”

Brittni said: “Just got back! Loved it!  Do a helicopter ride through the canyon! We used Maverick.  It was the most amazing thing!  You get to see the north and south rims and all the different formations are pointed out to you.  See sunset at Hopi Point, it’s said to be the most beautiful sunset place in the canyon. We did sunrise also and they both were awesome!
I stayed at the Yavapai Lodge in the south rim and the rooms were nice and the beds comfy. We had dinner at one of the restaurants in the park and it was way over priced.  The general store has good prices on souvenirs.”

My Tip: Hike 10 miles down to Havasu Falls in the Supai Reservation if you are lucky enough to score a reservation.  This location has gotten extremely popular in recent years.  Havasupai is located in the west part of the Grand Canyon.  After a drive on Route 66, you hike down 8 miles, then through a small village on the way to the spectacular Havasu and Mooney Falls.  There is a campsite near the falls and also hotel accommodations in the village 2 miles from the falls.

{Havasu Falls, Supai Reservation in the Grand Canyon}

Mary said: “Eat an Indian Flatbread Taco at the trading post and stop at the little craft market there for handmade souvenirs.  Drive the switchbacks to Oak Creek Canyon.”

Heather said: “Not sure how far it is from the Grand Canyon but my husband and I stopped to see the Meteor Crater near Winslow.  It was pretty cool to see.”

Rhonda said: “I’m not sure how far it is, but be sure to check out Antelope Canyon… it’s in Page AZ and so very cool!”

Lyn said: “Hoover Dam, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, some of the Anasazi Ruins – gotta see some petroglyphs!”

Grand Canyon Road Trip Tips

Before you head out on the road, don’t leave home without reading these tips:

20 Road Trip Must Haves

34 creative Ways To Entertain Kids On A Trip

20 Ways To Save Money On Rental Cars

Grand Canyon Camping Tips:

201 Camping Tips and Tricks

These little-known camping tips and tricks for beginners to pros are about to take your next adventure to the next level!!

60+ Easy Camping Menu Tips

Enjoying a good old fashioned S’mores at one of the most iconic destinations on earth tastes amazing!

125+ RV Recipes

Heading to the Grand Canyon in your RV?  After a big day exploring the Grand Canyon, you’ll be hungry hungry hungry!

More Grand Canyon Money Saving Vacation Tips:

25+ Southwest Airlines Hacks! {What To Know Before You Fly}

18 American Airlines Flight Hacks {Tricks To Know Before You Fly}

17 Delta Airlines Travel Hacks

How to Travel for Free or Cheap {19 Brilliant Budget Hacks}

Grand Canyon Packing List

–> Use a Free REI Gift Card + these 10 ultimate shopping hacks to gear up for Your Outdoor Adventures!

–> Shop with a Free Cabela’s Gift Card + 20 Clever Shopping Hacks for Free Outdoor Gear!

–> Use a Free Bass Pro Shop Gift Card + these 19 Clever Shopping Hacks to get ready!

–> Take A Paper Map.  Cell phone reception can be scarce when you are exploring a national park, so make sure to pack a Paper Grand Canyon National Park Map!

–> Bug Repellent to keep all those bugs away.  Be extra frugal when you try one of these 17 DIY Bug Repellent Tricks.  Having some repellent handy is a must when you stop to have a snack on the trail.  You really don’t want your food to make you too popular with the flying insect world!

Want to visit even more places near the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona and even more tips for the Most Spectacular National Parks?

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So now that you’ve scored these fun Grand Canyon Travel Tips, don’t miss out!  Catch all the latest fun Frugal Girls Tips, Recipes + more here…

So… have YOU ever been to The Grand Canyon before?

What are some of your favorite Grand Canyon Travel Tips for places to see, things to do, etc? 

Leave a comment & share!