The Grand Canyon is a bucket list attraction for the United States and one of the most incredible natural wonders in the world. What’s great is that you can easily stop in for a 1-2 hour quick visit or spend a few days there.
We’ll cover what you can expect when visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with kids.
In this blog post, we’ll cover:
- Overview
- Location
- Food & Lodging
- Tours & Activities
- Tips When Visiting
- Video
Visiting the South Rim
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and stretches through the Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. However, there are two main spots to visit – the North Rim and the South Rim – both in Arizona.
The central location is for visiting the South Rim is Grand Canyon Village, an area with campgrounds, hotels, restaurants, visitor centers, parking lots, and transportation stops.
All along the Grand Canyon is the Rim Trail, a paved path that runs along the edge of the canyon for 7 miles. You can see the canyon from the entire path, but there are also multiple scenic vista spots that stick out over the canyon to get to great views.
Many of the notable stops along the Rim Trail include:
- Hermit’s Rest
- Pima Point
- Monument Creek Vista
- The Abyss
- Great Mohave Wall Vista
- Mohave Point
- Hopi Point
- Powell Point
- Maricopa Point
- Lookout Studio
- Yavapai Geology Museum
- Mather Point
- Pipe Creek Vista
- Yaki Point
You can get to each of these spots by walking on the path, driving on the road, or taking the free shuttle.
There are also multiple trails that go down into the canyon, but the Bright Angel Trail is the most popular one to descend into the Grand Canyon.
Location
Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is about an hour drive from Williams and 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, so keep in mind that it’s still a bit of a drive from the main highway.
Parking
There are multiple large parking lots in Grand Canyon Village, and many of the scenic vista points have small parking spaces for a few cars.
Facilities – Water & Restrooms
There are multiple restrooms and drinking fountains through Grand Canyon Village.
Food & Lodging in Grand Canyon Village
Restaurants
Within Grand Canyon Village are several food options, including delis, cafes, food halls, and sit-down restaurants.
Hotels
If you’re staying at the Grand Canyon for a few days, there are a few different options for you. Staying right in Grand Canyon Village is the most convenient as the lodging is right at the edge close to the trails and you don’t have to drive anywhere. Here are a few hotel suggestions that also have a restaurant on site for convenience.
You can also stay in the town of Tusayan, which is about 20 minutes before Grand Canyon Village. There are a hotels here with a few more amenities.
Tours & Activities at the Grand Canyon
In addition to seeing the scenic vistas and hiking on trails on your own, there are other activities that can enhance your Grand Canyon Experience.
Tips When Visiting the Grand Canyon
- Visit during the fall or spring for the best weather. Winter is cold, but you get some great views with snow. Summer can get really hot, so visit during morning or late afternoon.
- If you’re doing a quick stop, any of the scenic vista points are beautiful and easily accessible, so don’t stress about which one to go to.
- If you go on a trail down into the canyon, be mindful of how far you go. Unlike trails up mountains, going downhill first gives the false impression that its an easy trail, and you may underestimate the difficulty of going back up.Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Video of Grand Canyon
