Budget Travel to the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular natural sights on earth, so it’s not surprising that it’s not only one of the most popular U.S. National Parks but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This popularity means that it’s hard to find a time when the Grand Canyon’s main visitor centers aren’t swarmed with people, and high demand means high prices. In other words, planning a trip on a budget can be tough.

Adding to the complication is the fact that the Grand Canyon’s high season is longer than most – it has essentially swallowed what are normally the shoulder season months. Still, it’s possible to avoid paying the highest prices for a trip to see the canyon, but you’ve got to do your research well in advance. Here are some tips to help you do the Grand Canyon on a budget.

Best Airports to Use for the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is huge, and because the two access points – the North Rim and South Rim – are so far apart, the best airports to use to get to the Grand Canyon are different for each. There are small airports that are closer to the canyon itself than the ones listed below, but they’re primarily used for flights down into the canyon – flying into those small airports from elsewhere in the country is generally too expensive for budget travelers.

Here are the airports to look at when you’re flying to the Grand Canyon.

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – Phoenix’s airport is a good option if you’re going to the South Rim. It’s served by budget airlines Southwest, AirTran, Frontier, jetBlue, Sun Country, US Airways, and WestJet, as well as many other major airlines. It’s about a 4-hour drive to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix. Find cheap airfare to Phoenix
• Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) – For visits to the North Rim, Las Vegas’ airport is a good choice. It’s also usually easy to find cheap flights in and out of Vegas. McCarran is served by budget airlines including AirTran, Allegiant, Frontier, jetBlue, Southwest, Spirit Air, Sun Country, US Airways, Virgin America, and WestJet, plus a long list of major carriers. It’s about a 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Find cheap airfare to Las Vegas
• Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) – Although it’s a bit further from the canyon, Salt Lake City’s airport is another option if you’re going to the North Rim. SLC is served by budget airlines Frontier, Southwest, jetBlue, and US Airways in addition to several major carriers. It’s about a 6.5-hour drive from Salt Lake City to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Find cheap airfare to Salt Lake City

Times of Year When the Grand Canyon is Cheaper to Visit

The Grand Canyon is an incredibly popular park to visit, not just for Americans on summer road trips but as one of the natural wonders of the world. Visiting during the summer high season will mean higher prices, so if you’re really trying to stay on a tight budget you can save money by going in the shoulder seasons.

While the South Rim is open year-round, the North Rim is not – it’s only open from mid-May through mid-October, which are traditionally shoulder season months. On the South Rim, the high season typically stretches from March through October – the summer months are the peak in terms of visitor numbers and prices, but the long high season means there isn’t much of a shoulder season on either side of it. Instead, it’s more of an “off-season.” The weather may not always be ideal during the off-season, so that’s something to keep in mind when you’re planning your activities.

For the North Rim, visitors may find the best deals available right when the park opens and just before it closes for the season. In general, the North Rim is far less visited than the South Rim, which can lead to lower prices in general. This isn’t always the case, however.

Anyone planning to hike into the canyon itself should plan their trips for October, November, or April – temperatures inside the canyon can be as much as 20-25F degrees warmer than the temperature on the rim, so it’s definitely not something you want to try in the summer.

Finding Cheap Accommodation in the Grand Canyon

There are several accommodation options within the Grand Canyon National Park, but they don’t tend to be the cheapest out there (not to mention the fact that you’ll need to book a year or more in advance to get a room). There’s an RV/trailer campground on the South Rim that can be a good budget alternative. Otherwise, camping in or near the park is generally the cheapest way to go (and you’ll still need to book a year or more ahead of your trip to get a campsite).

You can choose to stay in a city like Flagstaff, which is about 80 miles driving distance from the Grand Canyon – it makes the canyon a day trip rather than a place you’re staying, but it’s close enough for multiple day trips and there are a couple of hostels in Flagstaff that will help cut your accommodation budget.

>> Find hostels in Flagstaff

General Grand Canyon Visitor Information

You can get current information on everything from the park’s entry fees to what roads are closed on the official Grand Canyon website (part of the National Park Service site).

>> Official Grand Canyon National Park website

If you plan to visit the Grand Canyon at least twice during one year – or other national parks – consider buying an annual pass that covers the national parks and federal recreational lands, as you might save money in the long run over individual passes.

>> Grand Canyon National Park fees

photo by chucklepix