Hello. I would like to plan a trip to Grand Canyon. Would the last few days of September be a good time to go? My office is closed then and I have the time off without using vacation.

I've never been to the Grand Canyon before. I'll be flying in from New York and my mother, who wants to see it, will fly in from Atlanta. We'll fly to Phoenix and drive from there or fly to Flagstaff, depending on cost. Since she is elderly there are limits on what we can do. (She can, however, out walk me on a good day!)

I thought we'd fly in spend three nights and then fly home. That would give us two full days.

I've heard the South Rim is best. Any thoughts on hotels? I think El Tovar is booked. We'd prefer clean and quiet lodging. Cost is not an issue, but no need to be too extravagant!

Thanks for your input as I begin to plan this trip.

Flying into Phonenix would be great. But I think you need more than 2 full days. Guess it would work okay just to go to the Grand Canyon but you would miss a lot of interesting things along the way.

You could stop off at Sedona, AZ.

http://www.visitsedona.com/
It is beautiful and the drive up or down Oak Creek Canyon towards Flagstaff is awesome.

We stayed in Flagstaff and made a day trip of going to the canyon. The end of September would be a good time to go. We went in October and the weather was beautiful.

From the canyon we drove to Las Vegas and stayed for 4 nights. Was a great trip.

Late September is an excellent time to visit the Grand Canyon. It is also a very popular time, so you may have trouble finding lodging, as people tent to book very early. (We are going then and made our reservations last September).

Stay inside the park if at all possible. The Xanterra website does not show anything available for a few random late September dates I checked, but if you call them they often have rooms available that do not show up on the website. Call 888.297.2757.

In addition to El Tovar, there are five other lodges there. Bright Angel is quite rustic. Thunderbird and Kachina sit right on the rime, next to El Tovar, and are clean and modern, but a bit institutional-looking. Maswik and Yavapai have the newest rooms; both lodges sit a bit away from the rim, and Maswik is often booked by tour groups. But at this point I would take anything available (except a room without bath at Bright Angel) rather than book outside the park.

Would the last few days of September be a good time to go?

Yes, a very good time.

We'll fly to Phoenix and drive from there or fly to Flagstaff, depending on cost

It's a four hour drive from the Phoenix airport to the Grand Canyon, interstates except the last 60 miles from Williams. Probably less hassle, faster and cheaper to come from Phoenix rather than try to catch the shuttle to Flag.

Any thoughts on hotels?

I get the impression you are fairly affluent and want some comfort ... El Tovar is your best bet for that. The other places on the rim are OK but not as comfy as ET.

Either Maswik or Yavapai is OK but both are 1/4 mile or so from the rim and if you're that far back you might as well stay in Tusayan, which is a few miles south of the entrance but has nicer lodging, like the Squire Inn. Also better dining in Tusayan (and an IMAX with an excellent film on the Grand Canyon).

I thought we'd fly in spend three nights and then fly home.

I would suggest two nights at the canyon and one night in Sedona, especially if you can arrange to be in Sedona on a weekday (weekends are crowded). Sedona is about half way up to the canyon and a more chic luxury resort area with beautiful red rocks. This will make your last (or first) travel day much easier since it breaks the drive in half.

Bill

Thanks to all who replied. It seems that rather than stay at the Canyon, staying away from the Canyon and only spending one day there might be an option. Then we could tour Sedona and the other areas on the second day. Thoughts?

Or, would we do better flying in and out of Las Vegas? Driving to the South Rim and back?

Two nights at the Canyon gives you a full day on the rim to do stuff, which is probably enough. And you still have a night or so for Sedona.

Or, would we do better flying in and out of Las Vegas? Driving to the South Rim and back?

It's closer and an easier drive from Phoenix (once you get out of Phoenix), though I'm not sure how much closer (maybe 30 minutes closer, check on Mapquest). Also Sedona is a bit out of the way if coming from Vegas, while a quick detour off I-17 coming from Phoenix.

On the other hand, maybe cheaper air tix to Vegas.

If you decide on Vegas then you have the option of going to the north rim instead, which is divine in late September. Plus you could do a drive-by at Bryce and Zion, maybe spend one night at each. Skip Sedona and south rim. The north rim only has one lodge and it's probably full though.

Bill

If you fly into Vegas, and drive to the South Rim of the Canyon you can see Hoover Dam - I didn't think it was such a big deal but some people like to take the tour.

There are bus tours from Vegas to the North Rim. Not sure - think the North Rim is where that glass walkway is open now.
http://www.grand-canyon.com/grand_canyon_skywalk.htm

In Vegas you can enjoy the buffet at either the Bellagio or Wynn. There are always good shows on. Love Vegas even though I don't gamble.

There are so many possibilities in the area of the canyon with it being close to beautiful areas of Arizona and also close to Las Vegas.

Not sure - think the North Rim is where that glass walkway is open now.

The Skywalk isn't in the Grand Canyon National Park, it's on the Hualapai Indian reservation. This was paid for by Las Vegas investors and it is being marketed as the "West Rim".

It's a totally different experience than either north or south rim in the Grand Canyon (Grand Canyon the Las Vegas way), and pretty much a tourist trap to sucker in foreign tourists who don't know any better.

Bill

So, we could:

Day1 - fly to Phoenix, drive to the Canyon, spend the night at a nearby hotel.

Day 2 - spend the next day sightseeing at the Canyon and spend a second night.

Day 3 - drive back to, say, Sedona, spend the night.

Day 4 - return home.

Anything else in the Phoenix-Grand Canyon corridor worth seeing?

Or,

We could fly to Vegas and do a day trip via one of the airlines that flies to Grand Canyon. Anyone have experience with such things? As I understand it one flies to Grand Canyon and then there is a bus tour. I'm not normally a fan of such things, but how is it?

Stick with the South Rim/Sedona plan. On the way down to GC, you can stop at Montezuma's Castle.

Stay at the rim, in the park. Keep trying for El Tovar, but the other options are still good. We stayed in a Bright Angel cabin and it was fine. Another couple we met had called a week before and got into El Tovar, so it pays to keep trying.

I would advise going in the south entrance, and exiting the east entrance towards the Painted Desert. You could then stop at the Cameron trading post, and Sunset crater, Watupi (sp?) ruins on your way back up to Sedona.

I will try to find our trip report for you to check out. It is a bit old, but may still be helpful.

I think Sept. will be great.

MY

Travelling, I think your four day plan from Phoenix, including Sedona, is very good. On the day you drive to Sedona take the Oak Creek Canyon turn-off south of Flagstaff, then stay a bit south of Sedona in one of the nice resorts, and you'll probably be very happy with your trip.

If you go to Vegas I personally wouldn't recommend the fly-in and bus tour. The two lures of Vegas (besides the gambling and shows in Vegas, if that's your thing) are a) possibly lower air fares and b) easier access to the southern Utah parks like Zion and Bryce, combined with north rim of Grand Canyon. Maybe two nights Zion/Sprindale, 2 nights GC with a day trip to Bryce. But it's tough getting a cabin at the GC this late.

But for sure driving up from Phoenix and staying a night in Sedona would beat the Vegas, flight-to-GC, bus tour trifecta in my book.

Bill

I would try to stay at least two nights in the Grand Canyon Nationals park. The "nearby hotels" are not nearly as convenient.
As others have mentioned you can keep calling to try to find something in the park if nothing is available now. I absolutely disagree that "you might as well stay in Tusayan" as at Maswik and Yavapi. Tusayan is much further out and not at all charming. WE stayed 3 nights in the park and one in Tusayan because we could not book a fourth night in the park and really didn't find anything to recommend Tusayan.

I am not as much of a fan of Sedona as others and would concentrate on the GC, but there are many beautiful areas to visit.
I don't think you would get a good experience in the GC with a combination flight and bus tour from LV. Even if you don't like to/can't do strenuous hikes you can walk on the rim trail, take the park shuttle, etc on your own at the GC and see much more that way. (I really hate Las Vegas so can't at all see the attraction of cutting time in the GC to stay there. We did fly in and out of that airport)

Your plan sounds good. YOu would have more of a feel for Arizona with Sedona and the GC.

I would stick with flying into Phoenix and seeing the Grand Canyon and Sedona. Would be a wonderful trip.

If you could spend 2 nights in Sedona, I think you would enjoy it.

Read up on Sedona as it is quite a spiritual place - if you are into that sort of thing. We just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.

Jerome is a very neat small town to visit with lots of very interesting shops. Jerome is 28 miles from Sedona.

Thank you all for your assistance. Now to organize the trip!

I just saw this threat -- what about the road work being done at the South Rim through, potentially, November?

Okay, my plans are coming together. How's this for an itinerary?

Day 1: Fly to Phoenix then drive to Sedona, sightsee, drive to Tusayan.

Day 2: Go into Park and stop at the visitor center. Walk a portion of the greenway from Mather Point to Yavapi Observation Station. Attend a Ranger presentation. Take the Village Route along the way. Stop along the way to gawk. (The Hermits Rest Route shuttle along Hermit Road is closed. I think one can walk up to Trailview Overlook?)Hike a (very) short distance (just a few minutes, really) down the Bright Angel Trail. IMAX film in Tusayan.

Day 3ack to Grand Canyon and drive along Desert View Drive. How far from the Village to the East Entrance? Anything else to do along the way to and from Phoenix? Drive back to Phoenix airport hotel

Day 4: Return home

To add two more variations: we could stay an extra day if warranted or we could go the weekend of October 10th if it makes any difference.

Just a thought- I went in October last year and tried to book El Tovar online which was booked. I called at the last minute and they had cancellations- try it again daily by phone. you may get a different response. It is so much nicer to stay at a hotel that sits RIGHT ON THR RIM- sit out on the patio with a drink or look out the dining room window and see the sunset. Have fun...

Wow, that's a quickie trip

Day 1: Fly to Phoenix then drive to Sedona, sightsee, drive to Tusayan.

What time does your flight arrive in Phoenix? Going thru Sedona makes this a 5 - 6 hour drive (instead of 4 hours direct) and you won't have much time to even get out of the car and look around in Sedona. But if you're willing to arrive in Tusayan at night then I'd spend some time in Sedona if possible.

Where are you staying in Tusayan? The Squire Inn is the nicest of the four lodges we've stayed at there, the others not so grand.

Day 2 looks fine.

Day 3 ... How far from the Village to the East Entrance?

Maybe 45-60 minute drive, with several nice overlooks like Grandview Point. The canyon is wider at the river the closer you get to Desert View, compared to the views at the main visitor center.

Anything else to do along the way to and from Phoenix?

Maybe stop at the Cameron Trading post if you are interested in Indian rugs, pottery etc. They have a nice selection with good prices.

Maybe take the detour thru Wupatki and Sunset Crater National Monuments on the way to Flagstaff.

Bill