21 Ways to Save on your Grand Canyon Vacation
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
One of the first things Mike and I wanted to do shortly after moving to Flagstaff was visit the iconic Grand Canyon. As it is a quick hour and a half drive (Flagstaff is a great base for easy roadtripping to magnificent natural wonders), we have spent a lot of time exploring. There is actually a lot to do here besides just enjoying the overlooks, and many of these activities are free.
As one of the most spectacular wonders of the world, the magnificent Grand Canyon draws in millions of visitors per year. Tourists come from all over the world to marvel at the beauty of this stunning 277 mile long, 1 mile deep canyon, which was formed 6 million years ago from ongoing erosion from the Colorado River. The park is divided into the North and South Rim with the South being the more easily accessible for tourists.
Be smart – research activities in advance, avoid tourist traps, and most of all, focus on the naturally free views & activities surrounding you in every direction. To help you save a bit on your trip, I am going to share some of my best tips after multiple daytrips from Flagstaff. And remember, any trip to a national park will be more budget friendly than visiting man-made destinations like Vegas and Disney!
1. Book your trip as far in advance as possible
Due to the area’s immense beauty and the constant flow of traffic, everything including hotels, restaurants, attractions, and activities are all pricey. Without plenty of advance planning, you may not even get a hotel room within the park or a spot on that whitewater rafting trip, as both hotels and activities tend to fill up months, sometimes even up to a year, in advance. This is especially the case if you want to stay in the very popular El Tovar Hotel.
No need to fret though – there are plenty of budget friendly hotels nearby that will save you a lot of money. Also, the free experiences (like hiking) are surprisingly less crowded.
If you prefer to go the budget friendly route, you will want to start researching hotels and flights way in advance, preferably outside of prime season. Off-season hotels & flights are much cheaper with greater availability. If you can visit in the fall or winter, you will have an easier time finding a budget room, and will also enjoy the benefits of reduced off-season rates.
Here’s a guide to the various lodging options including pricing and amenities.
2. Choose lodging outside of Grand Canyon Village
It may be a bit more convenient to wake up with the canyon right outside your front door, however, you’ll pay the price. Hotels in nearby towns like Tusayan, located just a few minutes outside the entrance, offer cheaper rates and more amenities. You may find extras like a free breakfast, a relaxing pool or hot tub to soak in after all that walking around, amongst other freebies. Plus, you will have a variety of restaurants, including budget friendly chain and local options to choose amongst.
If you want to take it a bit further and save even more, Williams, a small town off of Route 66, is just an hour or so away and there are a number of budget friendly motels and hotel options available. Plus, there are lots of frugal dining choices such as Subway & McDonalds. Local dining choices oozing Route 66 charm are a great alternative to the standard chains. Plus, you’ll get to explore the historic downtown and check into other popular touristy attractions like Bearizona (a drive through wildlife park) and hikes in the Kaibab National Forest.
Flagstaff is a bit further away, however, a popular choice due to the abundance of affordable lodging and dining options, as well as proximity to Sedona and other beautiful natural attractions, all of which happen to be free or at least affordable! Both areas offer a variety of budget motels under 100 bucks, even on most weekends. Both areas are hiking wonderlands too (Check out some of my favorite Flagstaff trails and Sedona red rock hikes for beginners).
3. Plan your vacation during the off-season
Late fall and winter are the least busy times at the South Rim. During this period, you will enjoy the benefits of reduced hotel rates, and even better, less traffic & crowds! During the summer season, you could be waiting forever just to get into the park, not to mention circling around forever in an attempt to find a parking spot.
Another benefit of visiting during the fall/winter season is the cooler temperatures & end of monsoon season. This means a more comfortable visit, as well as better conditions for hiking, walking and any other outdoor activities.
4. Skip the special experiences
No need to spend a lot of money on helicopter rides, jeep rides, mule rides, tours, and other unnecessary, overpriced attractions and activities. For a budget friendly alternative, take a self guided tour of the canyon via the Rim Trail, an easy flat path which stretches on for 13 miles and is accessible by shuttle from various points of interest. Views of the canyon are stunning all along the way, and there is no extra fee for these views as is the case in the pricey activities listed above!
Or, up the adventure a bit, by embarking on magnificent hike into the canyon via the South Kaibab or Bright Angel trails. Both these trails feature several stopping points, so you can hike out to your comfort level. It’s a tough journey all the way to Skeleton point especially if you are not used to harsh, dry desert climates.
Be prepared to hike in a harsh high altitude desert climate which means hydrating with plenty of extra water, eating salty snacks to replace lost electrolytes, taking it much easier than you typically would, and hiking during the coolest portion of the day. No matter how far you go, you will be treated to some of the most breathtaking views of the canyon available, along with a more intimate setting sans the crowds!
5. Skip the pricey restaurants
Meals at hotels like the El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge’s Arizona Room are quite pricey due to the touristy location and lack of many other options. Save these restaurants for a one time special occasion, and instead, visit one of the markets and pack your own food, use your hotels’ kitchenette (if available) or grab quick, convenient, & more affordable meals in the Maswik Food court. Dining out at restaurants is one of the priciest aspects of any trip, yet we often do not realize this until we are back home and it’s much too late!
6. Don’t purchase pricey water bottles
In a high altitude area like this (elevation 7000 feet) you really should be drinking extra water to prevent dehydration and altitude sickness. You do not want to get stuck on a trail with no water! However, this does not mean that you need to keep buying overpriced water bottles for the entirety of your trip. Free stations of incredible spring water are located throughout the village. This is a really nice free perk that I take full advantage of. It tastes great and it’s free and environmentally friendly.
Find free stations at: Hermit’s Rest, the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trailhead, Canyon Village and Desert Marketplaces, Yavapai Geology Museum, the visitor’s centers, and the Maswik Lodge cafeteria. Wear a camelbak for convenient access all day long (an absolute must if completing a long hard hike like Kaibab) or stock a backpack with multiple bottles.
7. Skip the Grand Canyon Railway
The Grand Canyon Railway, a popular mode of transportation to and from the canyon, is just not a great value, in my opinion, especially for the budget minded traveler. Tickets start at whopping $70 per person, and this is for pretty cramped seating, not to mention limited time at the canyon (you will only have about 3 hours to explore the canyon which is simply not enough time). And, for more leg room and some amenities, you will be paying more than $150-200 per person!
To add to the disappointment, the views really are not that great and consist mostly of barren desert lands until the last 15 minutes or so prior to arriving at the canyon. This is not a scenic train ride by any means so you really are not missing out on any views by driving. So all that extra money for the “views” really is not a worthwhile investment. Drive or rent a car and save some money, as well as enjoy the convenience of going to and leaving the canyon on your own terms. You’ll trade the extra time wasted in the long, boring train ride for more time exploring the national park. Plus, you can get a head start early in the morning and arrive before the crowds hit.
On the other hand, if you love trains, you may want to fork over the extra bucks for the experience. The staff are very entertaining and do put on a great show! Our visiting family members really loved the experience.
8. Book a hotel with a kitchenette
Dining at restaurants is often an overlooked major expense on any vacation. For me, it’s usually the number one cost after the hotel. Luckily, you can easily cut down a big chunk of your travel expenses by cooking most of your meals at your hotel. The national park restaurants are very expensive, and thus, a hotel with a kitchen really can help you save big bucks.
Although you will not find any kitchenettes at national park lodges, you will find a number of options if you decide to stay out in Williams or Flagstaff. Even with the extra gas expenses that come with staying out in one of these towns, you will still rack up hundreds of dollars in savings by not dining out daily. This especially rings true on longer stays and for bigger parties.
9. Purchase an annual “America the Beautiful” parks pass
Entrance fees to national parks seems to keep increasing with each passing year. A one time visit to the Grand Canyon will now cost you 35 bucks. If you plan on visiting any other parks during your vacation, or even Sedona (all of the red rock trail heads accept the annual pass), an annual national parks pass will come in handy.
By purchasing this $80 pass, you will save lots of money in the long run, especially if you will be taking other national park vacations in the same year, and thus, the pass will likely pay for itself after just a few parks visits. It’s good for 1 year from purchase date for up to 4 people and is accepted at all national parks and monuments, so it really is a steal for any nature enthusiasts/frequent travelers. If you live out West, a national park pass is a must for sure!
I also recommend exploring Zion, the Petrified National Forest, and Walnut Canyon if you have time. Might as well buy the pass and check out other parks while you are here! And yes, all the parks mentioned above are definitely worth the drive! You can check out my Western national park guide for more details on each.
10. Buy all necessities outside of gift shops
You’ll need to be prepared for the high altitude and diverse high desert climate with many essentials. Sunblock, a hat or visor, sunglasses, a poncho or rain jacket for summer monsoon season, and salty snacks to replace lost electrolytes will all come in handy.
All of these items will be outrageously overpriced at any gift shop, and thus, you are better off packing them prior to your trip, or stopping at a drugstore/Walmart if staying in a town like Flagstaff or Williams. Always plan ahead – it saves both time and money, which means more time for fun during your vacation & enough saved money to take another vacation!
11. Limit souvenir purchases
Find just one or 2 cute knick knacks and then walk away. Endless souvenirs can really add up quickly. And all that extra money wasted on something you are likely to toss in the trash or simply forget about before your next vacation!
Keep it simple with a small memento to remember your trip by like a magnet, key chain, or puzzle. Plus, who wants to try to stuff all that extra stuff into a suitcase. After many years of traveling, I now collect a cool magnet at each attraction – it takes up no space and costs less than 10 bucks. My fridge is decked out with all the reminders of the beautiful places I’ve explored. If you are like me, then you already totally pack your suitcase where there is not an inch of available space!
12. Consider a day trip to Sedona & Flagstaff
There are so many great sights to explore nearby that it would be silly to waste a trip out here and see nothing more than the Grand Canyon. Most of the popular activities within the canyon like rafting, float trips, and tours are just additional ways to take in the same views. I recommend using some of your time to explore other free natural sights instead of throwing away more money on the same views. While this national park is a fabulous bucket list experience, there is so much more to see.
Located within a half’s day drive are some pretty incredible places like the Petrified National Forest, Walnut Canyon, high altitude mountain hikes in Flagstaff, the breathtaking Oak Creek Canyon scenic drive, and gorgeous red rock views & trails in Sedona. There are so many incredible places that I could not possibly list them all, so I will refer you to my N AZ vacation guide where I spotlight over 100 bucket worthy scenic sites, historic attractions, and hiking trails.
13. Plan your vacation during National Park Week
If you are willing to put up with insane crowds and backed up highways, you can save yourself the $35 entrance fee by planning your vacation during the numerous free dates offered throughout the year. As your park pass is good for 7 days, this gives you plenty of time to explore.
National Park Week typically takes place in mid-late April so the weather is typically decent this time for hiking and exploring. In addition, there are free holiday dates throughout the year. Check the NPS website for upcoming free dates for this year.
14. Take advantage of the free shuttle
Instead of endless driving, attempting to find parking, and multiple gas fill ups, take the free shuttle around the South Rim. This convenient means of transportation will take you to numerous sights of interest so you can hop on and off as many times as you like. In addition, parking and taking the shuttle from Tusayan will save you the time and hassle of waiting in long entrance lines and finding a place to park during the busy summer and spring months.
15. Score cheaper flights into Vegas vs. Phoenix
The drive from Vegas vs. Phoenix to the Grand Canyon is a bit longer (4 hours vs 3), however, rates are typically much more attractive going out of Vegas as there are more flights going in/out all the time. Plus in Vegas, you’ll have tons of free Strip activities to enjoy, where free fun in Phoenix is a bit more limited, and therefore, you will probably end up spending much more money on man-made attractions. Plus, it’s just another excuse to spend a day (or several) in Sin City!
16. Skip the alcohol
When dining out forgo the pricey drinks as alcohol dehydrates you and this is the last thing you want to do in a high altitude area. At high elevation, drinking plenty of extra water to prevent altitude sickness and severe dehydration is a must. To prevent potentially losing time on your trip being sick, as well as to save money (watch how much your restaurant bill drops when you only order water), stick to simple hydrating spring water.
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