A vacation to one of the world’s seven natural wonders sounds incredible…until you start calculating costs. Getting to the remote northern part of Arizona where Grand Canyon National Park resides can be costly. Factor in lodging, meals and gas and it can seem untenable. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be. After countless visits to the Grand Canyon, and other parks across America, we’ve honed in on a few strategies that help save cash and stretch your wallet further. These are our best tips for planning a vacation to Grand Canyon on a budget, without sacrificing any of the fun.
1. Weigh Driving vs. Flying
The first thing you’ll need to decide is how to get to the Grand Canyon in the first place. If you live in the Southwest and have the time, driving is probably going to be your cheapest option. If you live in other parts of the country, the decision becomes more complicated. While you might get sticker shock looking at airline prices, especially for a family with kids, driving long distances can be expensive too, when you factor in gas, lodging and meals along the way, plus the wear and tear on your car.
Even given these factors, we still prefer driving over flying unless you find a really good deal. When you drive, you won’t have to worry about renting a car, which can be a major cost saver. Driving also lets you bring more gear, meaning you can pack a cooler and campstove to make affordable meals on your tailgate, pack camping equipment to spend the night under the stars and carry along bikes for a free activity in the park.
Depending on what kind of vehicle you’re road tripping in, you might even be able to cut costs on hotels by sleeping in your car. Saving on lodging in an RV is a no-brainer. Along the way stay in campgrounds, catch a few hours of shut-eye in a Walmart parking lot, or opt for a unique and free night’s stay with Harvest Hosts. Even if you don’t have an RV, bigger vehicles like minivans and SUVs (or even hatchbacks if you’re short) are easy enough to turn into sleeping quarters for the budget minded with a couple of pads and sleeping bags.
The most affordable option, no matter where you’re coming from, may be a combination of both flying and driving. Fly into a more affordable airport that may be several hours away, rent a car and then complete the trip on the road. Plus, when you drive you can take your time and see more along the way. Check out our favorite road trips to the Grand Canyon from major cities across the West.
2. Find the Cheapest Place to Fly for a Trip to the Grand Canyon
Flying into a bigger hub is almost always cheaper than a small, regional airport. While Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is just over an hour from Grand Canyon’s South Rim, it likely won’t be the most wallet friendly option as flights are more limited. Phoenix Sky Harbor is approximately 3.5 hours from the South Rim and Harry Reid International in Las Vegas is approximately four hours away. Because these airports are serviced by more airlines and rental car agencies, you’ll likely find cheaper, direct flights from a major airport close to your home, along with better car rental deals. Fly into one or the other, rent a car (or an RV) and drive the rest of the way to the national park. Consider road tripping on the front end to a major airport if you don’t live near one.
While you’ll probably find decent deals at one of the two major airports near the Grand Canyon, it’s still worth casting your net farther afield. Use a tool like Google Flights to check airports across the Southwest. Los Angeles or Salt Lake City might have amazing deals that are worth considering. Start looking early as flight prices change often and randomly.
Wherever you choose to fly into, keep an open mind about airlines and dates for the best deals. Leave the date fields blank in Google Flights and browse the calendar to see which days in your preferred season are the cheapest to fly. Unless you have miles on a certain airline or need Southwest’s free bags, it’s worth letting go of allegiance to get the cheapest seats. Don’t forget to confirm what your ticket comes with before booking. These days, many airlines’ most discounted fares don’t include checked or carry-on bags. Unless you’re traveling extremely light, factor in baggage fees.
To get the most bang for your buck, do your research first. Rather than booking an amazing flight deal the second you see it and learning the hard way that hotel rooms are astronomical on your trip dates down the road, look into the big three (flights, rental car and hotel rooms) before choosing dates to get the most out of your trip.
3. Search for Grand Canyon Hotel Deals
You can’t beat the convenience of staying inside the park, but you pay for that privilege. Grand Canyon hotels can be expensive. Especially El Tovar Hotel and Bright Angel Lodge. Thunderbird, Kachina and Maswik lodges are less expensive, but in 2024 will still set you back more than $300 per night. Yavapai Lodge on the South Rim and the Frontier Cabins at Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim are the most affordable options inside the park. If you have your heart set on waking up right next to the rim, book early. Each property has several types of accommodations and the most affordable tend to fill up the quickest. Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim opens reservations a year in advance, all South Rim properties open reservations 13 months in advance.
Otherwise, stay at a hotel or vacation rental outside the park for the best deals. Tusayan is right on the doorstep of Grand Canyon’s South Entrance and offers a wide selection of hotels, giving you more options to find a deal. Williams and Flagstaff, an hour, and an hour and 20 minutes away respectively, are also great basecamps for your stay with tons of hotel options at every price point and a wide variety of restaurants. Pick a lodging option with free breakfast to save time and money before hitting the trails for the day.
When searching for hotel deals, use a tool like Hotels.com to compare prices. Under the same umbrella as Expedia and Vrbo, the company’s One Key rewards program is one of the most accessible travel loyalty schemes out there. It’s worth signing up for the free program if you’re booking multiple elements of your trip (think hotel rooms, flights and rental cars) as you’ll quickly work your way up the rewards tiers and unlock discounts, upgrades and extra cash back. Another way to save money when it comes to booking travel is by checking your credit card’s perks. Many offer cash back or extra discounts when booking directly through certain brands or using third party sites like Hotels.com. If you travel often and are looking to maximize your savings, it may be worth looking into travel specific credit cards with perks like these.
4. Stay at a Campground Instead
By far, the cheapest way to stay in or near the Grand Canyon is by camping. The park has four frontcountry campgrounds, three on the South Rim and one on the North Rim. The three managed by the National Park Service (Mather and Desert View on the South Rim and the North Rim Campground) cost less than $20 a night. Trailer Village RV Park, which has full hookups, is more expensive, but you’ll still find a site for less than $100 per night. Camping inside the park is very popular, so make your reservations well in advance. NPS campground reservations open on Recreation.gov six months in advance on a rolling basis. Trailer Village campsites can be reserved 13 months in advance at VisitGrandCanyon.com.
There’s also a variety of private and National Forest campgrounds near the canyon if you can’t get a reservation inside the park.
Even if you don’t own camping gear or flew in without your tent, don’t dismiss the idea altogether. Some outdoor stores, like Flagstaff’s Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters, rent everything from tents and sleeping bags to backpacks and hiking poles.
5. Visit During Off Season
The majority of Grand Canyon’s visitors plan trips to the park in the summer, closely followed by spring and fall. Because of this, these are the most expensive times of year to travel. If you want to stretch your budget farther, plan a trip in the least visited months: January and February. Just beware; the North Rim is closed this time of year and you’ll want to stick to the above-rim trails on the South Rim thanks to snow and ice in the winter months. It’s worth it for more affordable hotels and snow-dusted views. For milder weather, try November or March, which still see fewer visitors but are also more temperate.
Curious about the pros and cons of each season? Check out our comprehensive guide.
6. Eat Well, But Affordably
National parks are known for a lot of things, but incredible food is not one of them. Grand Canyon has quite a few restaurants, ranging from casual grab n’ go options to the elegant El Tovar Dining Room, but across the board the food tends to be overpriced and underwhelming. If you’re a history buff you may want to have a drink at the El Tovar Lounge, and grabbing an ice cream cone after biking to Hermit’s Rest is always fun, but one of the easiest ways to save cash and eat better is to plan your meals outside the park.
Here’s our suggestion. If your hotel offers a free breakfast, take advantage of it. Before heading out for the day, make a stop at a grocery store outside the park (this will be cheaper than the park store) and fill your cooler with snacks and lunch fixings. This can be as easy as granola bars and PB&J, or as complicated as whipping out your campstove and making a hot lunch at one of the park’s picnic areas. There’s a Safeway in Williams, or Flagstaff has tons of options including Walmart, Fry’s, Safeway and Sprouts Farmers Market. You can opt for this route for dinner if you’re really trying to save money, otherwise, review menus online and find restaurants outside the park that are affordable and delicious. These are the spots near the park we go back to again and again.
7. Save On Entrance Fees
The standard 7-day Grand Canyon pass will get everyone in your vehicle into the park, but if you plan on visiting other parks, national monuments or recreation areas throughout the year, it might be worth it to buy the $80 America the Beautiful pass. This annual option gives you access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country. Chances are you’ll find several near your home or on your drive to and from the park to take advantage of. If you’re over 62, the Senior Pass includes the same benefits at the same price, but is good for lifetime access. Active duty military and their family members, veterans and those with disabilities are eligible for free lifetime passes.
Traveling with an elementary schooler? Fourth graders and their families are eligible for free annual passes through Every Kid Outdoors.
Otherwise, plan on visiting during one of the National Park Service’s free days: MLK Day in January, the first day of National Park Week in April, Juneteenth, August’s anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day in September and Veterans Day in November.
8. Fill Up Your Tank Cheaply
Grand Canyon is big and remote. Especially if you’re visiting both the South and North rims in one trip, you’re going to want to be very aware of your gas tank levels. Planning your fill-up stops in advance can save you a surprising amount of money, especially if you’re traveling in an RV or other big rig that doesn’t get great mileage. The park’s only gas station is on the east side at Desert View and is expensive. Likewise, Tusayan gas stations could be as much as a dollar or two more per gallon than Williams or Flagstaff. If you really want to make sure you get the best deal, use a tool like Gas Buddy to see prices in different locations from your phone.
9. Find Free Activities
One of our favorite things about national parks is that once you get there, it’s easy to have fun without spending additional money. Hit the park’s many trails by foot, hop on and off the free park shuttle to explore different viewpoints, go on a self-guided history tour of the Grand Canyon Historic Village District or check out the Yavapai Geology Museum.
Be sure to check out the park’s special events calendar for free events. Ranging from informational ranger talks, to astronomy nights, cultural demonstration and art exhibits, there’s tons of free things to do all year long at the park.
