How long to stay for Grand Canyon first time?

[23hotrodr]

Going to the South rim of Grand Canyon the first week of May. We have to stay in Williams since Trailer Village is full. Just wondering how many days wee need to stay for our first trip. Doubt if we will be able to do much where reservations are required since most will probably be booked up already.

We were thinking 2 or 3 days would probably do for our first time. Suggestions?

[2gypsies1]

North Rim closes around mid-October. Check the web site for accurate date. It's beautiful mid to late September with the yellow aspen.

[huachuca]

TragedyTrousers wrote:
Anyone know what kind of weather to expect on the North Rim? We were going in Sept but had to change plans and go in late October. Wife is hopes to see snow.

We were there for ten days in mid October of last year and had temps in the mid forties at night and lower eighties during the day.

To the OP, lots of awesome 4WD drive trails in Vermillion Cliffs NM and surrounding BLM lands if you want to get that TJ off-road. The Lee's Ferry CG in Glenn Canyon NRA was a good base for us.

[TragedyTrousers]

Anyone know what kind of weather to expect on the North Rim? We were going in Sept but had to change plans and go in late October. Wife is hopes to see snow.

[Lauren]

This, like many other things, is - - do want to say you have BEEN THERE (bus trips, train trips, other 3 hour stays) or do you want to SEE IT?

[tatest]

Depends on what you want to do. 2-3 days if you want to go down into the canyon. 2-3 hours if you just want to look over the rim from the places where you can park your own vehicle.

Commercial escorted "Circle" tours of the Arizona-Utah-Colorado National Parks seldom spend more than a half day at Grand Canyon NP unless it has been booked as an overnight in the Lodge. These tours are often trying to cover more than one park a day and sometimes use air travel for the longer stretches.

The Grand Canyon area, i.e. parts of northern Arizona reachable from day trips out of Williams, Flagstaff or Sedona, is easily good for one to two weeks depending on how much of the interesting stuff is interesting to you. Antique hunters might be good for several days, geologists can poke around studying and measuring rocks for months (but will usually travel farther around the plateau to tie things together).

[timandsusan]

As others have said--depends on what you like--hiking, photography, geology, ranger programs, helicopter flights, etc. More interests--more time. This year will be our second trip to both the North and South sides with 5 days at each. We will precede those camping days with a 6 day float trip thru the Grand Canyon. So, we like the GC and will look forward to getting more information and enjoying our time there.

[23hotrodr]

Veebyes wrote:
You don't say what you are in. If a class C or a <30' TT you might be able to get a spot in the Mather CG. Dry camping but you are right there. The shuttle is only steps away. No 2 hrs a day commuting.

We're in a 36' class A with a dinghy. We'll keep trying for Trailer Village and probably stay 3 nights for our first time. Tons of choices of where to go when we leave the GC.

Thanks to all for the advice!-- Mick

[Veebyes]

You don't say what you are in. If a class C or a <30' TT you might be able to get a spot in the Mather CG. Dry camping but you are right there. The shuttle is only steps away. No 2 hrs a day commuting.

[rexlion]

Isn't there a first-come-first-served CG at the south rim? Might be worth a try, if you show up there on a late morning/early afternoon, Sunday thru Thursday (forget weekends).

1 day was plenty for the family and me, back in the '90s. However, I would like to go back and spend a couple of days camping on the north rim, mainly for some light hiking and just sitting around watching the canyon shadows move faster than me. 😉

[2gypsies1]

Lauren wrote:
Dick B did his usual 3 hours thing but, even though I and others have asked him what documentation he had for that, I have never seen it.

Three hours is the time there for the train ride - most of that time on the train looking at nothing and then 2-3 hours at a very limited spot.

We have been to the South Rim many times and will continue to do so. From Williams it is tough to be there for the sunrises and sunsets which are the pristine time for the color and shadows - which is why I do not recommend it.

If possible, keep calling Trailer Village. Or even the rv park right outside the gate in Tusayan. Not good ratings but saves you about 55 miles each way drive.

Enjoy the G C -- it is amazing.

I agree with Lauren's post. He's been there often in all kinds of weather, as we have.

Dick B will always say "3 hours". The majority of visitors to Grand Canyon are bus loads of tours. They are the ones staying 3 hr. - if that. They will then move on to another national park and do the same thing. They are the ones who can say "I've been there". They have NOT experienced these national parks.

If you're staying in Williams and take the train, that will be your experience also. If you drive your own vehicle 60 miles I don't think you'd do it for more than 1 or 2 days. It's a long drive, you'll have a wait to get through the gate, and parking is terrible.

I think, also, that folks don't really read about what to do in the national parks. They just go willy-nilly with no plan. Each national park has an excellent web site to explore. The ranger programs are excellent for really learning about the park.

I would keep trying to obtain reservations at Trailer Village. It's the best place to stay - right near the Rim, and the free shuttle stops at the RV park. Try calling rather than just online. Keep trying until you're nearby. There are always cancellations and no-shows.

If you don't need hookups, Mather or Desert View are lovely dry campgrounds in the park. Just outside the park is Ten-X national forest campground - no hookups.

Good luck!

[mileshuff]

There is quite a bit to see and do in the Williams area. Plan 1 full day at the canyon itself.

In Williams is Bearizona, a drive thru wildlife park with numerous animals including bears. Also has a very nice walk thru zoo with a couple fun shows.

Nearby is a deer farm petting zoo. You can feed the numerous deer that follow you around. Other animals are there as well.

In town are several great restaurants (Pine Country for breakfast, 66 BBQ for dinner). There is also a zip line thats fun to ride.

If you go over a holiday weekend such as 4th of July there will be an old fashioned small town parade thru downtown, which is route 66.

South of the Grand Canyon is an air plane museum. Small but worth the stop.

[Lauren]

Dick B did his usual 3 hours thing but, even though I and others have asked him what documentation he had for that, I have never seen it.

Three hours is the time there for the train ride - most of that time on the train looking at nothing and then 2-3 hours at a very limited spot.

We have been to the South Rim many times and will continue to do so. From Williams it is tough to be there for the sunrises and sunsets which are the pristine time for the color and shadows - which is why I do not recommend it.

If possible, keep calling Trailer Village. Or even the rv park right outside the gate in Tusayan. Not good ratings but saves you about 55 miles each way drive.

Enjoy the G C -- it is amazing.

[obgraham]

I've been the contrarian on Grand Canyon for ages here. It really depends on each person's wishes.

You can see what you need to see in a day there.

I accept that if you want to hike a lot, especially if you wish to descend into the canyon to any degree, a longer time is needed.

[stripit]

We stayed a week inside the park. Made reservations a few months ahead and thought maybe a week was going to be too long. Wrong, we saw every single ranger talk, some twice. They were interesting, informative and educational. All the rangers were so knowledgable about their subject. Being in the park gave us the ability to go back to the rv for meals and rest if need be. Made the sun rise and sun set views much easier too as they were within walking distance from the rv park inside the park. Getting the bus ride also helped for those areas farther away. We are planning on a return trip this summer.