Grand Canyon - South or East entrance?
 

My husband and I just booked a last-minute flight to Phoenix for this weekend. We were wanting to make a day-trip to the Grand Canyon - it will just be a long day. I expect lodgings are completely full by now so I'm just going to plan on only being there for the day and making the most of it. I'm seeing that the Fourth of July is one the busiest days for the canyon if you use the South Entrance. I would like to avoid the crowds if possible, but the North side is too far. I see there is a less-publicized East entrance. Has anyone gone to that one? Is it worth it? Thank you!

http://www.arizona-leisure.com/east-...nd-canyon.html

I'm sure you have seen this:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisi...view-drive.htm

We always go through the east entrance. Less crowded, and Desert View is my favorite first view of the Grand Canyon.

Keep trying for lodging inside the park. Just keep calling because there could be a cancellation. You could also try for lodging in Tusayan, just outside the south entrance or the Cameron Trading Post, about 25 minutes outside the east entrance.

5 lodges inside the Park http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/

Yavapai Lodge http://www.visitgrandcanyon.com/yavapai-lodge

Second what MikePinTucson said.
Keep calling for a cancellation.
And we always go through the east entrance too.

Just so you know....there is NO way you are going to avoid crowds on the 4th of July weekend at the Grand Canyon! Desert View is beautiful but the views near the the Grand Canyon visitor center are IMHO grander. Do you plan to travel to the Grand Canyon Village? If so, be prepared to spend time traveling and it will probably be impossible to find parking. Shuttle buses will be packed. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but I wanted you to be prepared.

Utahtea

Thanks everyone for your input. My thought (after reading everyone's advice) was that we would start at the East Entrance and visit the Desert View Watchtower and take the drive west with the Visitors Center as our final destination. It mentions several look-out points and pull-out areas so a private vehicle should be fine, right? I was reading online that they're expecting incredibly huge crowds this weekend so I have no illusions that it would be peaceful or serene - I just don't want to be waiting hours for shuttle buses and jockeying for a good photo spot with 50 other people like I'd imagine would happen if we took the traditional way in. I do like that the Desert View Drive is not for shuttle buses so it seems to be a "quieter" route - relative to the chaos on the other paths, that is. What time does everyone recommend we arrive? We'll be driving up from Phoenix, but since we're coming from Central Time our body clocks will still be 2 hours ahead so 9:00am is really "our" 11:00am, so if the early hours are best we could probably swing it. Do the crowds dissipate some as the day goes on? Or does it just get busier and busier? Thanks!

We were there last year in May. The crowds definitely thinned out as the day went on; not sure if that holds true in summer or on holiday weekend.

Get there as early as you can. Sun is up by 5:30 AM, since we are not on daylight savings time, so if you can leave shortly after that, it would be good. I would suggest maybe having breakfast at the Cameron Trading Post, around 3 hours from Phoenix (really depending on where in Phoenix you overnight), then driving in. Actually, if you can get an early enough flight, you could drive straight there from the airport. Besides Desert View, you will want to stop at (at least) Grandview, Moran, and Lipan Points, then head to the main, congested, areas.

Try, try, try for in-park lodging. Crowds tend to thin out quite a bit as the afternoon wears on. The big tour buses are mostly gone by 3 PM, then the people who are just day tripping start to leave starting around 4-5 PM. Then, as the sun starts its slow descent to the horizon, the walls and formations in the canyon come alive with shadows and colors. If at all possible, you want to be there for sunset and sunrise the following morning.

Beat the crowds.
Reserve a mule trip down the GC (will be hot), stay overnight at Phantom Ranch, and ride up the next day

No crowds
Reserve NOW

Indians will be selling jewelry. It is all cosmetic.
IF you want authentic jewelery, Cameron Trading post sells it - ask for the real stuff including Hopi (small display) ! They have motel rooms, historic dining room (ask about the ceiling and medical cabinets) and gorgeous authentic Navajo hanging rugs.

Vaga

Phantom Ranch books up a year in advance. Chance of getting anything the this weekend are nonexistent. This post by RVvagabond makes absolutely no sense.