Easy Grand Canyon Planning Guide in 2021

If you’re looking to plan a last minute Grand Canyon trip this Fall, this guide is all you need to know! From best photo spots to all your options for last minute accomodation!

Before I begin, you should know that the Grand Canyon and many of the US National Parks are very popular right now due to the increase in domestic travel. Although Fall usually isn’t a busy season, there is a chance it will be crowded and many places will be booked, but it’s not impossible to make it happen!

That being said, please also be advised that traveling during the pandemic is to be done at your own risk. You should always keep a safe distance from others, wear a mask, and wash your hands frequently!

Thinking of doing a longer roadtrip? Check out my most shared post: 10 Best Stops on an Arizona/Utah Roadtrip!

Another Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Hotels.com, but all information and tips are my own!

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South Rim VS. North Rim

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the part that is the most visited. It’s also the easiest to access, walk, and explore. It is open year-round, 24 hours a day. Currently the only entrance into and out of Grand Canyon National Park is through the South Rim.

For the adventurous souls, the North Rim is a lot harder to access and a lot higher in elevation (7000 feet above sea level). Right now there are only day-trips permitted to the North Rim. It is also closed from December to May due to weather hazards.

AKA, you’ll want to go to the South Rim.

How to Get to the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

How you get to the Grand Canyon will of course depend on where you’re coming from! I started in Los Angeles, drove to Vegas, then drove straight East to the Grand Canyon.

If you’re not already in the Pacific Coast or Midwest, you may need to fly to a nearby city to rent a car and drive over. I would suggest either Flagstaff, Arizona or Las Vegas.

Once you’re in the area, simply follow your GPS to the park and then decide if you want to attempt parking in it or take the free shuttle.

Where to Park

As I mentioned, you can try to park inside of the National Park, especially in low season (November-February). But if you go in high season, or if the parking is full, you can easily park farther away and take the free shuttle.

Checkj the Free Shuttle Bus schedule for times and more information. You’ll park and board it in the Grand Canyon Village Area.

How to Buy Your Park Pass

I would highly suggest buying your digital park entrance pass online before you go to the Grand Canyon!

It’s only $35 per vehicle and valid for 7 days! It also covers everyone traveling in the vehicle! There is limited connectivity at the Grand Canyon so be sure to download it BEFORE you set off!

The entrance fee is also waived on the following days! :

Jan 20, 2020: Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Apr 18, 2020: First Day of National Park Week / National Junior Ranger Day
Aug 5, 2020: Great American Outdoors Act Commemoration
Aug 25, 2020: National Park Service Anniversary
Sep 26, 2020: National Public Lands Day
Nov 11, 2020: Veterans Day

Where to Stay In / Near the Grand Canyon

camping in the grand canyon national park

You have a few options for accommodation. Well, depending on how last minute you plan, and the season! As I mentioned before, Fall is low-season, so you should be able to snag a nice lodge for a good deal!

If you’re looking for a lodge, try first to look in Grand Canyon Village. It’s closer to the entrance of the park, and it also has the free shuttle to the entrance! There’s also a few RV/camping parks there.

Otherwise try Tusayan, which is just south of Grand Canyon Village!

If you’d like to camp in a tent inside the park, you can search for spots, make a reservation and buy a pass here. (Note: these are very hard to get and usually must be done in advance).

Best Photo Spots in the Grand Canyon (South Rim)

As you can probably imagine, there is a never-ending list of “best photo spots in the Grand Canyon”! If you just walk along the South Rim Trail (or take the free shuttle) you will get to all of them in a few hours! Take your time, plan to stay the whole day, and bring plenty of water!

Here’s some of the best viewpoints, that I have also labeled on the map below! Feel free to screenshot or download it to use for when you’re there!