History, beauty, serenity. All words used to describe one of the world’s most breath-taking national geographic sights
Getting There
The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona and it is easily accessible by car. We love road trips so we made this trip into one! Our trip started in Los Angeles CA where we drove approximately 5 hours to Phoenix, AZ. During this trip, we stayed in Phoenix but decided to drive out to The Grand Canyon. The drive to the Grand Canyon is about 5 1/2 hours, but in good company it didn’t feel like much. You can definitely stay closer if you wish, but for the purpose of our trip, it worked better for us to stay in Phoenix. The views on the way to the Grand Canyon were unbelievable.
Lodging Options
If you plan on staying closer to the Grand Canyon we suggest booking ahead of time. Don’t forget this is an iconic landmark and rooms are booked quickly specially on holidays. If you are open to becoming one with nature, we suggest camping out under a blanket of stars or rent an RV, more information regarding camping HERE.Not all campgrounds require reservations, many are on first come first serve basis. Make sure to do your research beforehand. It is always best to be prepared.
Entrances and Fees
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long. There is a fee to enter into the park and parking passes are available ahead of time. There are also some dates in which there is no fee to access the park. For information regarding fees click HERE.
There are two entrances to view The Grand Canyon. The most popular one is the South Rim and the least traveled is the North Rim. The South Rim is open 24 hours a day! We’re not kidding! You can view the Colorado River from here along with spectacular views of the Canyon. Because this is the most popular entrance be prepared for heavy traffic & limited parking. Especially during the summer months. The North Rim is a five hour drive from the South Rim which is one of the reasons why it is the least traveled. However, the North Rim offers greater variety of hiking trails such as Bright Angel Point. Also, in our opinion, you can’t catch a sunrise or sunset on the South Rim like you can along Cape Royal. Please keep in mind that the North Rim does not have the same schedule as the South. It is not open 24 hours a day or all year long. Both rims have different schedules during winter. Understandably, they can also be closed due to weather conditions.
Other Activities
Activities, other than hiking, are available to the public. For an additional fee, you can go water rafting through the Canyon or if you choose to, you can take an airplane or helicopter tour. There is a visitor center where you can be provided with more information regarding all of your options during your visit. It is also important to note there are shuttle buses to make the commute from your car and back a lighter one.
What ever you decide to do, just make sure you remember you are a visitor in the place many plants and animals call home, so be respectful! We were lucky enough to see deer during our trip, it was an amazing experience! Who said the best things in life are not free?
Note:Be forewarned, there is very poor cellphone and internet connection in the Grand Canyon. Don’t Panic! We know this can sound stressful, but think of the beautiful shots you would be missing if your face was stuck to your phones screen at all times. So take amazing pictures you can later share with your family and friends! Don’t just dream of the ideal trip destinations and add things to your bucket list . It’s time to make them happen!
-Safe Travels
~Gaby Garcia
@Suzzstravels