Read here a few times that it%26#39;s better to stay overnight if we want to see Grand Canyon properly. Where would you stay and how do I arrange it. Are there any tour companies that can organise this? Also we will be in Vegas during the 4th July weekend (due to reason beyond our control), will it be absolutely heaving?
Thks
Overnight in Grand Canyon?
There are many hotels along the way to GC that you can book for overnight stays. Hotel in the GC is an option but usually more expensive.
Personally I wouldnt use tour company, why pay much more expenses when I can do it myself on my own schedule and see the same thing. Only tour I have used are helicopter ride or plane ride (out of Vegas). Havent been there on July 4th, but I imagine it will be crowded.
Overnight in Grand Canyon?
You can stay right in the National Park and be right on the edge of the canyon. I did this 3 weeks ago, and it wasn%26#39;t expensive. Here is their web address: grandcanyonlodges.com/lodging-overview-411.h鈥?/a>
Another option is to stay in one of the motels located a few miles outside the park.
As rec. previously I%26#39;d stay within the park itself. I%26#39;d recommend El Tovar if you can get a reservation and at Bright Angel as second choice.
El Tovar is an historic hotel built on the rim. We recently stayed in the Fred Harvey suite with a large deck overlooking the Grand Canyon. Climbing out of bed to watch the sunrise in the morning was so worth it. That suite is a little expensive (worth it) but there are many choices there to meet your budget. Remember anything near the Grand Canyon will tend to be on the rustic side vs. 4 Seasons quality. Calling is your only chance of getting a reservation at this late date. People book a year ahead but they do have last min. cancellation. You would also have to make reservations at their dining room ahead of time. Their food is delicious and the service was excellent. Ask for a table by the window for a view of the canyon when you make your reservation.
鈥bout.com/od/鈥ltovar.htm
www.grandcanyonlodges.com/el-tovar-409.html
I believe that is a standard room shown in the photo - the Fred Harvey suite is really nice.
grandcanyonlodges.com/bright-angel-lodge-408鈥?/a>
we were in las vegas over 4th july last year and compared to the three times we had been in April it was like a ghost town ( not literally of course!) The temp. however was 117 degrees and only dropped to 108 degrees at night!
Take a trip to Lake Mead and hire jet skis (waverunners). Brilliant fun. You can get really near the Hoover Dam. You have life vests and as it was so hot, we kept jumping in!
If you are driving to Grand Canyon, stay over night. Ghost town of Calico is on the way.
Grand Canyon is truly one of the natural wonders of the world. I was advised that the best way to see Grand Canyon is to see it at sunrise. I left our hotel at Tusayan (seven miles south of GC) at 5.00am and drove to Yaki Point which is off the East Rim Drive. I did this in March so double check on the time for sunrise in July and give yourself an hour from Tusayan to Yaki Point. You will have to leave your car at the junction of the Yaki Point Road and East Rim Drive and walk 15 minutes, about a mile. The walk in the dark is an experience itself. As a reasonably fit jogger I tried to run, but at 7,200 ft altitude there was just not sufficient oxygen for me so I walked briskly. When the sun rises over the Canyon edge at Desert View, some 20 uninterrupted miles to the east, just stand by to be amazed as all the peaks of the mountains in the canyon catch the sun, turn orange and then as the sun rises it slowly starts to light up the canyon depths more and more. At that time in the morning it will be absolutely silent which will just accentuate the wonder of the view.
Whilst there are other suitable viewing points, Yavapal and Mather Points, in Grand Canyon Village, you are more likely to have the Yaki Point all to yourself.
By the time the sun has fully risen the Grand Canyon Bus service will be in action and you will be able to take the bus to your car.
At the peak of the tourist season Grand Canyon village is best defined as 6,000 cars fighting for 2,000 parking spaces. So the next piece of advice is arrive at the Grand Canyon Village as early as possible, grab the best possible parking space and then use the free bus service that serves the village and several miles of the West Rim and East Rim Drives.
The best time for photography is before 10.00am and after 3.00 pm. If you are very lucky you may see one of the Californian Condors which were introduced after the local species became extinct.
We hired a car in Las Vegas and drove to Tusayan in a day, complete with cruising 80 miles along unspoilt and largely unchanged Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman. We also stopped and had a good look at the Hoover Dam on the border between Nevada and Arizona, and remembered to adjust our watches as the state border was also the time zone boundary. The hotel we had booked well in advance (by e-mail) because Tusayan has a better choice and availability than Grand Canyon Village. By not using a tour operator we enjoyed the independence to pick and choose our route, hotel, restaurants, etc and viewing points in Grand Canyon.
Have fun and a great day.
We recently stayed at the Kachina lodge in a rim view room. Highly recommended. The best time we had at the canyon was strolling early morning before the crowds arrived.
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