Mark and Kristen Morgan are experts at finding and booking hotels. They have been traveling the world non-stop for over 6 years, staying at more than 500 hotels across 4 continents.
They only write about places they have personally visited themselves, which means every article you read is created directly from first hand experience.
Are you looking for the best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim? Perfect! We’re going to show you the 10 top rated hotels available to you, including cheap, mid range and more expensive hotel options in Tusayan and Grand Canyon Junction, the two closest places you can stay near South Rim.
Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotels around Grand Canyon South Rim for your visit based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own experiences.
We have personally stayed at 4 different hotels in and around Grand Canyon South Rim, which we will briefly discuss first below.
Afterwards, this is how we will break down the best hotels at Grand Canyon South Rim to help you find the perfect place to stay:
- The 7 Grand Canyon National Park lodges
- The best places to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim
- 10 best Grand Canyon South Rim hotels
- Best cheap, luxury and pet friendly hotels in the area
Let’s find you the perfect hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim!
*Please note this guide contains affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*
Our Grand Canyon South Rim Hotels Experience
First things first, where have we personally stayed in and around the South Rim?
During 2 separate visits to the Grand Canyon, we have stayed at the following hotels:
- Bright Angel Lodge – National park lodge on the edge of South Rim
- Best Western Premier – Popular hotel in Tusayan, AZ
- Grand Canyon Inn – The only cheap motel style hotel in Grand Canyon Junction, AZ
- Best Western Plus – Affordable mid range hotel in Williams, AZ
Each was a completely different hotel experience with respective pros and cons, including distance to Grand Canyon South Rim, price, quality and amenities.
You can rest assured that we know the area well and that we have stayed at hotels in each of the four closest places to Grand Canyon South Rim.
We have written extensively about Grand Canyon South Rim on our sister site Where Are Those Morgans. If you need a hand figuring out your plans for South Rim, take a look at our popular guides next:
What Can You Expect?
In this guide we are going to explain your lodging options right on the South Rim, before featuring the 10 top rated hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim, which includes places to stay in Tusayan and Grand Canyon Junction.
At the end we will summarize the best places to stay a little further out from the National Park entrance in Williams and Flagstaff, AZ.
Our only goal is help you decide on the best Grand Canyon South Rim hotel for your trip to northern Arizona.
What Is The Best Place To Stay For Grand Canyon South Rim?
So, hypothetically if money is no object and there is plenty of availability at every single lodge, hotel and campground inside or close to Grand Canyon South Rim, where is the best place to stay?
The short answer is: It depends entirely on your travel style, itinerary and budget.
But we won’t leave you with a “it depends” answer, we know they are irritating!
Who Should Stay On South Rim?
Here is who we think should stay at a Grand Canyon National Park lodge right on edge of South Rim:
- Hikers who want to spend more time hitting trails like South Kaibab to Bright Angel.
- Anyone interested in Grand Canyon sunrise and sunset photography.
- First time visitors who want easy access to the best Grand Canyon views.
Staying at a lodge on South Rim is great for convenience, a splurge or for those seeking that quintessential Grand Canyon experience.
It is a better place to stay to easily complete your itinerary in a short period of time.
However, National Park run lodges are more expensive, have fewer amenities and food options are surprisingly limited.
Who Should Stay Near South Rim?
Here is who we think should stay at a hotel near South Rim:
- Visitors who want more control over hotel prices and restaurants.
- Families with kids who might enjoy a hotel swimming pool.
- Couples who want to spend the evening in a hot tub.
- Day trippers who are also visiting several other nearby places.
National Park run lodges have no competition so you will pay whatever price they decide just to stay on the rim. Whereas the hotels near South Rim are competing for customers, so you stand a better chance of picking up a good deal.
Staying near South Rim means you will likely have access to a swimming pool, hot tub, breakfast, a kitchen or even a tent under the stars.
It is a completely different experience and one we think is better suited to families on longer visits to the Grand Canyon or those who prefer to unwind in a jacuzzi after a long day hiking in the park.
Eating Out At South Rim
Restaurant options aren’t great anywhere near Grand Canyon South Rim, which we find baffling because around 4.5 million people pass through the area each year.
The food is OK at lodges located on the South Rim, but it isn’t great.
If you stay in Tusayan you will still be limited by quality but at least there are more options. Grand Canyon Junction also has very few places to eat.
It isn’t until you reach the likes of Williams or Flagstaff that you finally have a better selection of food choice and quality.
This is something we hope will be improved in the near future, but we wanted to let you know as a heads up so you won’t be expecting fine dining or top notch food.
Right, let’s get into the hotels!
Grand Canyon South Rim Hotels
There are a total of 7 different lodges you can book inside Grand Canyon National Park boundaries at the South Rim.
Let’s take a summarized look at each:
1. El Tovar – The only luxury hotel at Grand Canyon South Rim is expensive but well worth the splurge. Stay here for the ultimate South Rim experience.
>> Book El Tovar: Grand Canyon Lodges | Hotels.com
2. Bright Angel Lodge – Perched on the edge of the rim atop Bright Angel Trail, this is one of the most popular and cheapest Grand Canyon South Rim lodges. We stayed here and it was busy but fun.
>> Book Bright Angel Lodge: Grand Canyon Lodges | Hotels.com
3. Yavapai Lodge – Set back closer to Mather Point, this is the largest lodging option on South Rim with the most amenities, including a small but expensive grocery market.
>> Book Yavapai Lodge: Visit Grand Canyon | Hotels.com
4. Maswik Lodge – Another huge complex with plenty of rooms available but also set back around 5 minutes walk from the rim. After recent redevelopments, this is the most modern and updated lodge.
>> Book Maswik Lodge: Grand Canyon Lodges | Hotels.com
5. Kachina Lodge – One of the better mid range hotels at Grand Canyon South Rim. Strikes a good balance between cost and quality when compared to the luxury El Tovar and the no frills Bright Angel Lodge.
>> Book Kachina Lodge: Grand Canyon Lodges | Hotels.com
6. Thunderbird Lodge – Very similar lodging option to Kachina Lodge. This is another mid range budget place but it has a wider range of prices and is considered as a more family friendly proposition.
>> Book Thunderbird Lodge: Grand Canyon Lodges | Hotels.com
7. Phantom Ranch – This is the only Grand Canyon South Rim lodging located at the bottom of the canyon. The only way to access the lodge is by hiking down and back up the rim, and it is notoriously difficult to find availability.
>> Book Phantom Ranch: Grand Canyon Lodges
Where To Stay Near Grand Canyon South Rim
So you know about the lodging options within National Park boundaries, but what are the best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim and why would you stay there instead?
We really like Williams and Flagstaff (which we will cover briefly later) but they are better suited to day trips into Grand Canyon South Rim, along with visiting other popular nearby places like Sedona AZ.
When you are looking for the best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim, we suggest you start with Tusayan and then move further south to Grand Canyon Junction (which is also known as Valle).
Here are the two places you should consider:
1. Tusayan – The closest built up area to the National Park boundary has 5 solid hotel options. You can either book a hotel with a pool and hot tub, or you can book an apartment with a kitchen for longer stays and to have more control over meals or dietary requirements.
2. Grand Canyon Junction – Further south, this remote area has a handful of unique lodging options close to the park. It is a quiet place to stay with very little going on but it is popular among couples, stargazers and those who prefer a different type of experience to typical hotel chains.
Are Hotels Near Grand Canyon South Rim Expensive?
We would consider hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim to be moderately priced. There is enough variety in lodging style and location for visitors to have a fair amount of control over hotel expenses.
In direct comparison, hotels are expensive in Bar Harbor when visiting Acadia National Park and hotels are certainly more expensive on average in nearby Sedona, AZ.
Staying in a hotel at Grand Canyon South Rim is generally going to cost you more than staying at a hotel a little further from the rim, which makes sense from a convenience perspective.
With that said, there are two important things we want to make you aware of before booking your hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim.
1. Hotel Tax At Grand Canyon South Rim Hotels
The first thing you should bear in mind when booking hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim is “Hotel Tax“, which is officially known as Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Hotels in the Tusayan area are typically subject to added tax of around 10.9%
So let’s say a room costs $200.00 for one night in a hotel near Grand Canyon, your total cost is going to be $221.80.
Also, be sure to look out for resort fees, service fees, cleaning fees and other lesser known fee types. This area has several accommodation styles, which usually means open season on fee types.
- When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for “includes taxes and fees“. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
- Conversely, if you see text reading something like “+$30 for taxes and fees“, that means you will pay the hotel room cost + the additional 10% fee for bed tax and other fees.
This is something to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay!
2. Seasonality At The Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon National Park has a clear peak season and a clear low season:
- Peak season in Grand Canyon consists of spring, summer and fall months between April and November.
- Off season in Grand Canyon is made up of the colder winter season months from December through March.
Grand Canyon South Rim hotel rooms are in high demand between May and October especially. It helps to book in advance and you should expect to pay higher peak season prices.
We have personally visited the Grand Canyon in winter and it was a wonderful experience. Hotels were cheap and available, there were no crowds on trails and it even snowed one day.
Grand Canyon South Rim Hotels Map
Let’s take a quick look at an interactive Google Map showing the locations of the 7 National Park lodges and the 10 best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim featured in this guide.
Map Key
Hotels:
- Purple icons – Grand Canyon National Park lodges
- Green icons – Cheap hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim
- Red icons – Mid range budget hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim
- Blue icons – Expensive hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim
Areas:
- Green outline – Grand Canyon Village
- Red outline – Tusayan
- Yellow outline – Grand Canyon Junction
Click or touch the map of Grand Canyon South Rim hotels to activate.
Zoom in and out, move around the South Rim area and see exactly where each lodging option is located.
10 Best Hotels Near Grand Canyon National Park
OK, let’s take a look at each of the best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim located in Tusayan and Grand Canyon Junction.
We have hand picked the top 10 Grand Canyon hotels by compiling and comparing previous guest ratings, location and value for money.
Hotels are listed in order of average nightly cost within three price range categories; cheap, mid range and expensive.
You will find 4 x cheap hotels, 4 x mid range hotels and 2 x expensive hotel.
Look out for the “Location” next to each hotel which will either be Tusayan or Grand Canyon Junction.
Let’s kick things off with the best cheap hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim!
1. Red Feather Lodge
Guest ratings:
- Hotels.com – 9.0 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, pet friendly, on site restaurant and bar, fitness center, seasonal outdoor pool, laundry
- Location: Tusayan
Red Feather Lodge is one of the very best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim. It has excellent ratings, it is pet friendly and it is usually the most affordable of the several hotel chains in Tusayan. Guests can relax in a small triangular shaped swimming pool in the summer and use the basic on site fitness center.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Red Feather Lodge. Prices will fluctuate throughout the year based on demand, but this hotel is a fantastic starting point for visitors who want a cheap hotel close to South Rim but also with amenities on the doorstep.
>> Book Hotel: Red Feather Lodge
2. Grand Canyon Plaza
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 7.7 / 10
- Google – 3.9 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, fitness center, indoor jacuzzi, seasonal outdoor pool, laundry, on site restaurant and bar
- Location: Tusayan
Grand Canyon Plaza is another solid cheap hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim. This place has lower overall scores on both Booking and Google but it is great for families with plenty of amenities, and it has a decent on site restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Grand Canyon Plaza. It is a little dated and could do with an update, but it has an outdoor pool and hot tub, indoor hot tub and fitness center. We think if you can get cheap rates here, this is a top place to stay for one or two nights on a low budget.
>> Book Hotel: Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel
3. Grand Canyon Inn
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 7.1 / 10
- Google – 3.9 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, outdoor swimming pool, on site restaurant and bar
- Location: Grand Canyon Junction
Grand Canyon Inn is hands down the cheapest hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim. If you are visiting the area on a low budget or you need to balance expenses on a long road trip with loads of hotel stays, consider booking this affordable accommodation. We stayed here for a night and it was perfectly fine.
Reviewers rate staff and location the highest at Grand Canyon Inn. This is a no frills place to crash in a remote area between Williams and the National Park, but it is cheap and it has a solid on site restaurant to eat at each night after visiting South Rim.
>> Book Hotel: Grand Canyon Inn
4. Wander Camp Grand Canyon
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.1 / 10
- Google – 4.6 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Amenities: Free parking, pet friendly
- Location: Grand Canyon Junction
Wander Camp is a fun and unique alternative for a cheap place to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim at super low nightly prices. This is a glamping accommodation with beds in large tents, shared bathrooms and incredible stargazing opportunities, but it obviously won’t suit everyone.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Wander Camp. Comments are mostly positive about cost, uniqueness and experience but we would suggest only considering this type of stay in warmer months of the year.
>> Book Hotel: Wander Camp Grand Canyon
5. Best Western Premier
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 7.7 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools and hot tubs, breakfast available (extra fee), on site restaurant and bar, fitness center, games room, bowling alley
- Location: Tusayan
Best Western Premier is the best place to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim for families. It has so many great amenities to keep the kids entertained when you are not in the National Park, which even includes a bowling alley! The only downside is the hotel charges an additional $20 nightly resort fee.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Best Western Premier. We stayed at this Best Western for a night and genuinely had a fantastic experience. The outdoor pools were open on a freezing cold night in December and we were given a huge room with a comfy sofa.
>> Book Hotel: Best Western Premier Squire Inn
6. Holiday Inn Express
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.1 / 10
- Google – 4.1 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, indoor swimming pool and hot tub, breakfast included
- Location: Tusayan
Holiday Inn Express is the only hotel in Tusayan offering a free breakfast included with the room rate. It is arguably the most down the middle hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim, offering a nice balance between quality, amenities and cost when compared to its competition.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Holiday Inn Express. We have all stayed in plenty of Holiday Inn’s and we all know what to expect. If you can find affordable rates at this hotel for your travel dates, you can’t go wrong with a stay here.
>> Book Hotel: Holiday Inn Express
7. Canyon Plaza Apartments
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.3 / 10
- Google – 4.7 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, rooms with kitchens, restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool
- Location: Tusayan
Canyon Plaza Apartments is the best hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim with studio apartments or two bedroom apartments featuring full kitchens. This is the best place to stay if you plan to be at South Rim for a longer trip such as a week or 10 days because you can cook your own meals.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Canyon Plaza Apartments. Suites here are excellent and guests can use the facilities at Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel. Comments are very positive and we think this should be one for your shortlist if prices work out.
>> Book Hotel: Canyon Plaza Apartments
8. The Dumplin Patch B+B
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.7 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking,
- Location: Grand Canyon Junction
The Dumplin Patch is the only traditional bed and breakfast near Grand Canyon South Rim. It is a fantastic family friendly place to stay with quiet rooms and a homemade American breakfast cooked each morning for guests, around 30 minutes from the National Park.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Dumplin Patch B+B. The ownership changed hands at the end of 2022 and comments are extremely positive, which means the overall ratings of this place should continue to trend upwards.
>> Book Hotel: The Dumplin Patch B+B
9. The Grand Hotel At The Grand Canyon
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.1 / 10
- Google – 4.1 / 5
- Price: Expensive $$$
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, on site restaurant and bar, indoor swimming pool and hot tub, fitness center,
- Location: Tusayan
The Grand Hotel is the best luxury hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim. But while it is the classiest and most upscale place to stay nearby if you choose not to book a lodge inside the park, don’t expect The Ritz-Carlton! The amenities and rooms are slightly better quality for the area.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at The Grand Hotel. The hotel has thousands of reviews across several platforms, so it is very popular. If the price is only slightly more than the competition in Tusayan, book it. Otherwise, it probably isn’t worth the extra $100 a night.
>> Book Hotel: The Grand Hotel At The Grand Canyon
10. Under Canvas Grand Canyon
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
- Google – 4.5 / 5
- Price: Expensive $$$
- Amenities: Free parking, on site restaurant, pet friendly
- Location: Grand Canyon Junction
Under Canvas is a the place to stay for luxury glamping near Grand Canyon South Rim. This hugely popular upscale camping experience is very highly regarded, featuring live music at night, yoga in the morning and an overall positive vibe. You won’t want to leave to visit the canyon!
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities and location the highest at Under Canvas Grand Canyon. It is expensive, but you will meet plenty of likeminded travelers around a campfire each evening which you can’t put a price on. Definitely one to consider if you love the great outdoors.
>> Book Hotel: Under Canvas Grand Canyon
What About Williams And Flagstaff?
There are several reasons as to why you might prefer a hotel in either Williams or Flagstaff over any of the places already mentioned in this guide.
For starters, you have a much larger selection of quality hotels at cheaper price points. Next, you have restaurant options that are lightyears better than anything near South Rim.
Or it might simply come down to your itinerary.
Are you driving a road trip through the area with plenty of places to see? For many visitors, one day is easily enough to see the Grand Canyon.
That means you could drive up, see the canyon, drive back down to a Williams or Flagstaff hotel. The following morning you are already in a better position to get started on driving to your next destination like Sedona or Las Vegas.
Best Hotels In Williams
Let’s take a summarized look at the top rated hotels in Williams, AZ:
Cheap:
Mid Range:
Expensive:
Want to stay in Williams? Take a closer look at our guide to the 10 best hotels in Williams AZ to see if a hotel here will better suit your travel plans.
Best Hotels In Flagstaff
And now let’s take a summarized look at the top rated hotels in Flagstaff, AZ:
Cheap:
- 1. Super 8 Downtown
- 2. Hotel Aspen
Mid Range:
Expensive:
Best Hotels Near Grand Canyon South Rim FAQ’s
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about places to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona.
What is the best cheap hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim?
Red Feather Lodge is the best hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim according to reviews from several online sources. However, the cheapest hotel near South Rim is the Grand Canyon Inn, which is located in Grand Canyon Junction.
What is the best luxury hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim?
The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon is the most luxurious hotel near Grand Canyon South Rim if you are looking for a traditional stay close to the park. However, Under Canvas also offers a luxury glamping experience in nearby Grand Canyon Junction.
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We hope this guide to the best hotels near Grand Canyon South Rim helps with planning your visit to Arizona!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of the hotels in our list of best places to stay around the Grand Canyon by commenting below.
Happy Booking,
Mark and Kristen
Best Hotels Anywhere
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