Frommer’s EasyGuide to the Grand Canyon & Northern Arizona. Gregory McNamee
Flagstaff, bus service goes directly to Grand Canyon Village. From Williams, you can transfer to the Grand Canyon Railway excursion train. Note: The Amtrak stop in Williams is on the outskirts of town—from there, you’ll need to catch a shuttle to the Grand Canyon Railway.
By Bus Arizona Shuttle (www.arizonashuttle.com;
Visitor Information
You can get advance information on the Grand Canyon by contacting Grand Canyon National Park (www.nps.gov/grca).
When you arrive at the park, stop by the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, 4½ miles from the south entrance. Here you’ll find an information desk, exhibits, a theater, and a shop selling maps, books, and videos. The center is open daily 8am to 6pm (9am–5pm in winter). Within Grand Canyon Village, Verkamp’s Visitor Center, near the El Tovar Hotel, is an even more convenient place to get park information; it’s open daily 8am to 8pm in summer (until 6pm other months). Displays here focus on the history of development in Grand Canyon Village. Both South Rim entrances hand out a South Rim pocket map and services guides as you enter the park.
| Tip: Parks Passes Save Time |
You can cut your waiting time at the park entrances by acquiring an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass before arriving. The standard pass costs $80 and is good for 1 year. Given the price, this pass is a good value only if you plan to visit several other major national parks or lots of smaller parks and monuments. The America the Beautiful Senior Pass ($20, or $80 for a lifetime pass) and Access Pass (free of charge) are, on the other hand, exceptional bargains. With any of the three America the Beautiful passes in hand, you can use the express lane. See p. 517 for info.
Fees
The entry fee for Grand Canyon National Park is $35 per car (or $20 per person if coming in on foot or by bicycle). Your admission ticket is good for 7 days. Don’t lose it, or you’ll have to pay again to reenter the park.
Orientation: Grand Canyon Village
The South Rim’s Grand Canyon Village is divided roughly into two sections. At the east end are the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Yavapai Lodge, Trailer Village, and Mather Campground. At the west end are El Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel, Kachina, Thunderbird, and Maswik lodges; as well as several restaurants, the train depot, and the trail head for the Bright Angel Trail.
Parking
Three large parking lots adjacent to the information plaza are the best places to leave your car; you can easily access the park’s free shuttle buses from here. There’s also a lot at Market Plaza (the general store), up a side road near Yavapai Lodge. From these parking areas, a paved walking trail leads to the historic section of the village in less than 1.5 miles; most of the route runs right along the rim. You can also park at the Maswik Transportation Center lot. Wherever you park in Grand Canyon Village, you can catch the Village Route bus to the visitor center and other parts of the village. If you park at Yaki Point, you can take the Kaibab Trail Route bus.
Getting Around
If possible, use one of these transportation options to avoid South Rim traffic jams and parking problems.
By Bus Free shuttle buses operate on three routes within the park. The Village (Blue) Route bus circles through Grand Canyon Village throughout the day, with frequent stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, Market Plaza (site of a general store, bank, laundry, and showers), and other facilities. The Hermit Road (Red) Route bus takes visitors to eight canyon overlooks west of Bright Angel Lodge (this bus does not operate December–February). The Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route bus stops at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, Mather Point, Yavapai Geology Museum, Pipe Creek Vista, the South Kaibab trail head, and Yaki Point. An early-morning Hikers’ Express bus to the South Kaibab trail head runs from Bright Angel Lodge, with stops at the Back Country Information Office and the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, to the trail head; it operates 4am to 6am in summer, but as late as 7am to 9am in winter (for the full schedule, see park website). From March through September, the Tusayan (Purple) Route operates between the town of Tusayan, outside the park, and Grand Canyon Village, inside the park. To use this shuttle, you must have a valid park entrance pass.
Between mid-May and mid-October, Trans Canyon (www.trans-canyonshuttle.com;
By Taxi Taxi service is available to and from Grand Canyon Airport, trail heads, and other destinations (
Festivals & Special Events
The Grand Canyon Music Festival (www.grandcanyonmusicfest.org;
Accessibility Check The Guide for park programs, services, and facilities that are partially or fully accessible. You can also get the Grand Canyon National Park Accessibility Guide at park visitor centers or on the park website. You can pick up an accessibility parking permit at park entrances, visitor centers, and transportation desks. The national park has wheelchairs available at no charge for temporary use inside the park; inquire at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. All park shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible. Accessible tours can be arranged at any lodge transportation desk or by calling Grand Canyon National Park Lodges (
ATMs There’s an ATM at the Chase bank (
Hospitals & Clinics The North Country Grand Canyon Clinic (
Laundry A coin-operated laundry is located near Mather Campground in the Camper Services building.
Lost & Found Report lost items or turn in found items at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center;
Police In an emergency, dial