If you’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, I’m guessing you don’t want to camp, so you’d like to stay within the National Park in a hotel of some sort. The Yavapai Lodge on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is a fantastic option that’s both in a great location and it’s actually affordable. We’ve got all the details about staying at the Yavapai Lodge, tips for visiting the Grand Canyon and how to plan a trip to this beautiful National Park.
Have you stayed here at the Yavapai Lodge before or do you have another Grand Canyon hotel you love? I think the lodging options at the Grand Canyon are some of the best and most practical for families or people doing an Arizona road trip on a budget, and the Yavapai Lodge adds a bit of a vintage vibe to it. Take a look at this great National Park option and let us know if you have any questions about planning a Grand Canyon trip. Please leave a comment or send us a note and we’ll be sure to share more tips and tricks!
Room Options at the Yavapai Lodge
The Yavapai Lodge is interesting as it’s kind of a combination of vintage roadside motel and cool National Park lodge. It’s similar to the Canyon Lodge in Yellowstone National Park or the Rising Sun Motor Inn in Glacier National Park. It’s not overly fancy, but is very well maintained and mellow. It’s a great homebase for hiking and taking in the Grand Canyon, but it’s not the sort of place that you want to just go and relax in the room for a while. This isn’t a bad thing in the slightest, but I want to be clear that the level of fancy is NOT that of the Glacier Park Lodge’s renovated rooms or the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite.
The room types you can book at the Yavapai Lodge at the Grand Canyon include:
- King room
- Two Queen room
- And Family room – 2 Twin over Queen Bunk setups
The king and two queen rooms each can accommodate a rollaway bed, so if you need the extra sleeping space, you’re all good; just add a $10 fee and the king can then sleep 3 and the two queen rooms can sleep 5. You won’t find any suites at the Yavapai Lodge, but there are amenities on-property and the public spaces at the main lodge building are comfortable if you need to split up to relax.
We had a two queen room in the East lodge building and it was just fine for being our home base for three days in Grand Canyon National Park.
Book the Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park here!
Yavapai Lodge Amenities
I chose the Yavapai Lodge for our Grand Canyon trip because of its central location and great price. We’re here to see the best sights of the Southwest, not take hotel naps. The amenities aren’t much to speak of as you’re not staying at the Yavapai Lodge for its spa or swimming pools… because it doesn’t have them. It’s your homebase for experiencing the Grand Canyon. There are some solid perks to it though that fifteen years ago I wouldn’t have expected in any National Park lodge.
The wifi both in the rooms and in the lobby of the Yavapai Lodge is really much better than I would’ve expected. I’ve come to dismiss the ability to do any work when we’re traveling to National Parks, but that wasn’t the case here. Also, there are good places both in the lobby and the restaurant area that you can set up with a laptop if you really must do some form of work while you’re there. Keep in mind that you’re in a remote location though, so don’t count on the wifi being fast enough for corporate Zoom meeting with execs.
There’s no gym on site, so plan to wake up before the heat of the day for some running or plan for hiking to get your exercise in while you’re here. I found that even in the winter, our morning walks got me huffing and puffing (probably from the altitude; we live at sea level).
In the main lobby building, there is a great gift shop / general store. From local artisan crafts to National Park gear and vintage travel swag, you can find it all. They also have some basic sundries and snacks, postcards, and sweatshirts (in case you’re there in winter and forgot how cold it can be). The Canyon Village Market is also just across the parking lot from the main lobby building if you need anything else.
Parking Details at the Yavapai Lodge
Almost everyone staying at the Yavapai Lodge will be driving into Grand Canyon National Park, so you’ll have a car most likely. Don’t worry! Parking is free and there is plenty of it at the Yavapai Lodge. A lot of people plan a visit to the Grand Canyon as a trip from Las Vegas, so lots of people drive into the park. You’ll check in at the main lobby building and then you’ll need to drive to your section of the lodge property. It’s a big campus, so get instructions for how to get to your room. Once you’ve gotten to your room, there are trails leading back to the main lobby, Yavapai Dining Room and the Canyon Village Market.
Dining at the Yavapai Lodge
In the main lobby building of the Yavapai Lodge there are actually three dining options, which is great if you’re not planning on packing a cooler with you everywhere you go. I really liked the breakfast in the Yavapai Dining Hall. With great breakfast burritos and even gluten free options, the Dining Hall is a good value for food in Grand Canyon National Park.
There’s also a coffee bar, the Yavapai Cafe, that has grab and go food, coffee and cold drinks. If you’re in a hurry, the coffee bar is great for quick service, but the options are limited.
Lastly, the Yavapai Tavern is also available for easy lunch and dinner options. It’s very Southwest themed for the menu, with tacos and salads and such, but they also have standard burgers and sandwiches. The Yavapai Tavern also serves alcohol, so if you want a local beer or a cocktail, this is the spot to get it when you’re staying at the Yavapai Lodge. The highlight though is getting a drink or snack and sitting outside around the fire pits. I love it here!
Nearby Dining in Grand Canyon National Park
When you’re on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, as this is the most developed part of the National Park, you actually have quite a few options for dining and picking up food to go. The nicest place to eat in the park is the El Tovar Dining Room (and the food is wonderful too), located in the coolest of the Grand Canyon lodges, El Tovar Hotel. The lounge at El Tovar is also wonderful, being more cozy and with a cocktail menu full of character. I love it here!
There are more options though. Here are the dining options on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon from West to East:
- Hermit’s Rest Snack Bar – at the end of the South Rim Road
- Bright Angel Lodge – Arizona Steakhouse, Fred Harvey Burgers, Bright Angel Tavern and the cafe at the Bright Angel Lodge
- Maswik Food Court – very similar to the Yavapai Dining Hall, but located at the Maswik Lodge
- Cafe at Mather Point
- Canyon Village Market and Deli
- Bright Angel Bicycle Rentals and Cafe – this is actually at the main Visitor Center, not at the Bright Angel Lodge.
- Desert View Market and Deli – this is at the far east end before exiting Grand Canyon National Park
As you can see, within Grand Canyon National Park, there are lots of options for dining. I think a good plan is to start your day at the Yavapai Dining Hall and then go exploring, grabbing lunch wherever you are. If you’re planning a big hike, you’ll need to get food and water in advance, so take advantage of the market before you hit the trail!
Book the Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon National Park here!
Where is the Yavapai Lodge?
The Yavapai Lodge is located within the boundary of Grand Canyon National Park in the South Rim section. It is not located directly on the rim of the canyon like the Bright Angel or El Tovar Hotels, but it’s pretty close. I like that it’s not far from the entrance to the park or either direction of the South Rim road. The main road has a few names depending on where you are:
- South Entrance Road
- Desert View Road
- Hermit Road
The Yavapai Lodge is far enough away from the main Visitor Center that you don’t have to face the crowds, but it’s also close enough that you can pop over to chat with rangers about trail conditions or rent bikes and it’s not a journey to plan for.
And in case you’re unclear about the layout of Grand Canyon National Park, the Yavapai Lodge is on the SOUTH rim, not the north. The North Rim is hours’ drive away and the lodge over there is called the Grand Canyon Lodge – North Rim. It’s very different and not an easy visit if you’re staying on the South Rim.
Transportation within Grand Canyon National Park
During peak season, transportation within Grand Canyon National Park is very different than if you visit in the off season. All open roads in the park are accessible by private vehicle from December 1 through February 28 (or 29). Starting March 1st each year, the Hermit’s Rest Road is only accessible by free shuttle bus until November 30th. The only other restriction like this is access to the Kaibab Trailhead, which always requires a shuttle to get you there.
To make things easy and keep traffic to a minimum, the full shuttle system operates in Grand Canyon National Park from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend. This means that you can park at one of the designated spots and then not worry about driving for exploring most of the South Rim area. The BLUE LINE can pick you up from the Yavapai Lodge and take you to either the Grand Canyon Visitor Center or the Hermit’s Rest shuttle transfer. To plan your time using the shuttle system, check out the National Park Service site or talk to a ranger once you’re at the park.
Note: to go beyond the Kaibab Trailhead onto Desert View, you will need to drive yourself. It’s a beautiful drive with lots of viewpoints to stop at along the way.
Can I Walk from the Yavapai Lodge to the Grand Canyon Rim Trail?
If you want to walk to the edge of the Grand Canyon when you’re staying at the Yavapai Lodge, it’s an easy 20 minute walk over to Yavapai Point. There are paths off the road so you can walk safely, and from here you can connect to the Rim Trail that goes all along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Visitor Center is the same distance, so you choose just how you want to get around during your time.
Ten Great Things to Do at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
The Yavapai Lodge is the best place to stay on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon both for location and for budget. I love the layout of the property and how easy it is to launch into all the hikes and activities in Grand Canyon National Park. Here are my top picks for my favorite things to do on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and if you do half of them even, you’ll have an amazing experience.
- Walk the Rim Trail from Mather Point to Yavapai Point
- Visit the Hopi House and Verkamp’s Visitor Center
- Drive to Desert View making stops along the way (I love the Pink Jeep Tour if you are looking for a tour)
- Rent bikes to ride to Desert View or Hermit’s Rest
- Have a nice meal at the El Tovar Dining Room
- Catch the ORANGE shuttle to the South Kaibab Trail to hike to Ooh-ahh Point
- Visit the Yavapai Geology Museum and attend a ranger talk
- Take the RED shuttle to Hermit’s Rest or Maricopa Point (closer) for sunset
- Do a scenic flight over the Grand Canyon (this was the first place I ever did it and it’s amazing) The airplane version is cool, but the HELICOPTER experience is something else!
- Enjoy the Off-road Grand Canyon tour – actually really cool for sightseeing and experiencing the park differently
The Yavapai Lodge at the Grand Canyon is one of the best options for staying in the park, having a central location and is one of the best budget places to stay, particularly in the off season. There are lots of great things to do on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon even if you’re not into hiking. If you have any questions about staying at the Yavapai Lodge, planning a trip to Grand Canyon National Park or need more tips for exploring Arizona, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
