One of the things I was most excited to see on our one week trip through Arizona was the Grand Canyon. Even though it is one of the most iconic U.S. road trip spots of all time and a geological wonder, I had never seen it in person before this year!
Marking the Grand Canyon off of my travel bucket list meant a lot to me, and I definitely believe it deserves a spot on any Arizona travel itinerary. Here are some tips and stunning photos from our experience visiting Grand Canyon National Park.
Where to Stay Near Grand Canyon National Park
There are campgrounds and rental cabins all around Grand Canyon Village for anyone who wants to do major hiking or maximize their time at the site of the canyon. But since we were more casual visitors who mainly wanted to take photos and explore the trail along the South Rim, we stayed in nearby Flagstaff.
Flagstaff was the perfect home base that allowed us to remain within driving distance of the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest, Sycamore Falls, the Meteor Crater, and endless beautiful mountains. It’s only a 1.5-hour drive from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon National Park.
Another reason why I’d recommend staying in Flagstaff is that the dining options closer to the Grand Canyon are actually pretty limited. I’m not sure if it was because we visited in early March
(the tail end of winter in northern Arizona) or because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but many of the restaurants in and around Grand Canyon Village were closed when we visited. Staying in Flagstaff made it easy to grab breakfast before heading out and grab dinner before we got back to our Air BnB.
We stayed in a gorgeous location tucked right into the mountains, and we were lucky enough to experience a lovely snowfall while we were there.
What to Do at Grand Canyon National Park
We got up early, grabbed a quick breakfast, and then drove out to Grand Canyon National Park on Interstate 40, eventually turning north onto AZ-64. We chose this route because it took us through Williams, and that allowed us to stop by Sycamore Falls for a short hike on our way there. (You can read more about Sycamore Falls here.)
Once we arrived at Grand Canyon National Park, we headed straight for the rim.
The Grand Canyon Visitor Center makes an excellent first stop. If you need a restroom, a snack, or information about trails, you can find it there. And most importantly, it has lots of gorgeous overlooks that take you up close to the edge of the canyon.
Our Next stop was Grand Canyon Village. This spot allows you to see The Grand Canyon from a wide variety of different angles, and offers some dining and souvenir shopping opportunities. I brought home a t-shirt, an impressive collection of postcards, and a Grand Canyon-themed adult coloring book.
The Grand Canyon Village also offered lots of beautiful places to take pictures that weren’t as crowded as the overlooks near the visitor center. We took my favorite photo from the entire trip here!
If you’re more outdoorsy than Austin and I, there are hiking trails that take you down into the canyon. But they are not beginner-level hikes, and you have to be very careful not to slip, run out of food, or get overheated and dehydrated on your way down. We opted instead to hike along the South Rim Trail that runs parallel to the canyon. This allowed us to take plenty of gorgeous pictures.
Snow was falling lightly on the canyon while we were there, it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Even though I’m really happy with the pictures we took, none of them can ever fully capture the magnitude of the canyon. You have to see it in person!
Tips for Visiting Grand Canyon National Park
- It costs $35 for one parking permit at Grand Canyon National Park. The permit lasts seven days, so you don’t have to worry about renewing it if you are staying onsite. It also allows re-entry if you need to leave the park and come back to visit another day.
- I highly recommend eating plenty of food before you arrive and bringing snacks with you in the car. I severely underestimated how few restaurants there would be in the village, and we took up some of our time searching for a place to eat!
- Bring plenty of layers with you. Since March is so warm in Texas, we didn’t realize just how cold it would be in Flagstaff and at the Grand Canyon. It was snowing often, and temps were frequently in the 30s! I packed a couple of sweatshirts, but I really wished I had my thick coat. Unless you are visiting in the peak of summer, I’d bet you’ll need at least a light jacket for most of the year.
If you are looking for more suggestions for things to do on your trip to Arizona, check out my blog series on our trip below.
Our One-Week Arizona Road Trip
FOLLOW ME