Grand Canyon Questions. Please throw in your suggestions

I am travelling for the first time to Vegas this Feb. I had questions about driving to Grand Canyon. I am planning to stay a night there.

Questions are:

1. I am thinking of driving to the West Rimm because of the Skywalk. However people are suggesting to go the Southern Rimm coz its a better experience. Can someone throw some light on it?

2. Irrespective of where we go, I am wondering whether we should leave Vegas in the evening and spend the night near the Canyon and enjoy the early morning O leave Vegas early morning and spent the entire day there ( no early morning view ) and then spend the night and come back to Vegas next morning. Suggestions

3. Please suggest a motel near both these rimms. Not too expensive, but not too shady either. around the 100 range?

Thanks.

Grand Canyon Questions. Please throw in your suggestions

Teh West Rim is not as impressive as the South Rim there is not alot there and you get ripped off !

I have done both the South Rim there and back in a day and stayed the night. We are staying the night there Xmas Eve we are staying at the Maswik Lodge (not our firstchoice but all that was available) for $70 for the night, previously we have stayed at the Bright Angel lodge for about the same money and I think a better chance. We allways stay in the park as we want to be close to the canyon when we get up and also we find that lodging there is cheaper than anywhere outside that is close by, the one problem staying in the park is once the ligh goes there is very little to do. Beneath is the link to the official lodging in the park.

Have fun

SEW

grandcanyonlodges.com/Lodging-Overview-411.h鈥?/a>

Grand Canyon Questions. Please throw in your suggestions

West rim: After droving over 20 miles of very rough dirt road you come to a small tourist trap. OK.........the sky walk is cool but that is it.

South rim: Many more options. Stay in the park if you can get a room. Just out side the park is more expensive (about double). Williams, Az. is 60 mile south with inexpensive motels and usually the choice for people on a tight budget.

Drive up at night and spend as much of the next day as you can at the canyon. This will also give you time to look at park literature and make some plans and get partially aclimated (you will be at 8500 ft. at the south rim).

I was told by old timers that the best view of the canyon was one mile down the bright angel trail. The problem with that is you then have to walk one mile UP the bright angel trail.

You can%26#39;t possibly see every thing in one day so don%26#39;t try. Take you time and take lots of pictures. I can almot guarantee you will be back a second time to see more.

The West Rim is not part of Grand Canyon National Park, it is private Indian land. You will get a lot more information by going to the Arizona forum, then go to Grand Canyon National Park forum, then click on the sticky at the top of the column. It will give you web sites and a lot of information about GCNP.

Try the Grand Canyon forum

tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g143028-Grand_Cany鈥?/a>

Spending an overnight at the Canyon is the best way to see it. It is a 4-5 hour drive each way, so leaving Vegas in the evening means a long drive in the dark. I would definately make the drive during the day.

Try to get room in the park. Thunderbird, La Kachina, and El Tovar are all on the rim. The first two are the more reasonably priced, El Tovar is the oldest, classiest, and most historic. But it is more expensive and the rooms are tiny. They often sell out months in advance, but I have gotten a room that was cancelled the week of my visit. Keep checking back. If you cannot get a room in the park , then stay in Tusyan, right outside the gate. I%26#39;ve stayed in both the Grand Hotel and the Quality Inn, they are both fine. You are talking about February, which should be a slower time so getting a room should be less of a problem. You might even luck out and get to see the Canyon brushed with snow. I have not seen that yet. Have a great trip.

Thanks all for the suggestions. Please keep them coming.

I wasd worried about driving in the dark and it seems like it is not a good idrea. I was thinking of doing the Hoover Dam and Valley of fire during the day and then drive off to the Canyon. If we et up early enough we may still be able to do the Hoover Dam and VOF vy 12 or 1 and then drive to Canyon and be there by 5 or 6.

Do you guys thinks thats possible. I want to take the full tour of the dam, go down and stuff. VOF I just wanna drive around.

Thanks again

As part of a road trip on the way TO Las Vegas, I went to North Rim Grand Canyon. That was awesome. It is less visited there, so less people. There are hikes and a lodge to visit, and maybe get a meal. They have cabins you can rent, but you have to book early. WE ended up staying at Parry%26#39;s Lodge in Kanab Utah because we didn%26#39;t book in advance at all. Since you are travelling from Vegas, I guess South Rim would be closer and maybe more what you are looking for... I would suggest as others did to go to South Rim over the West Rim skywalk. It is an extra expense and you can%26#39;t stay there that I know of, so you would then drive back to Vegas or stay somewhere else.

Pretty sure the North Rim is closed until about May, due to snow.

Check the Grand Canyon forum!

I would drive over Hoover Dam on the way to Grand Canyon, save Valley of fires for another time, it is worth getting to the GC as early as possible and see the sunset!! Leave Vegas early, plan on arriving at GC by 2pm so you can check into your hotel and also see the sunset.

Staying inside the park is great, but there are chain motels/hotels in Tusayan, a few miles south of the park. You can then see the sunrise the next morning, have a nice breakfast and then head back to Vegas.

Thanks for the messages. Does anyone know if there is a fixed time when you can go in the Hoover Dam. I really want to take the inside tour of the dam. But it seems like you can only take this tour at 2PM. If thats that case then I cant do the dam tour while going to GC. Anyone??