The former Best Western Squire Inn is now The Squire at Grand Canyon, a Holiday Inn Resort, and it is the most activity-packed family base in Tusayan, minutes from the South Entrance. Tusayan hotels sit outside the park gate, so they are a dependable alternative to in-park lodging.
If you remember this hotel as the Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn, it has changed names: it now trades as The Squire at Grand Canyon, a Holiday Inn Resort (you may also see it called Holiday Inn Resort Grand Canyon). It sits at 74 Highway 64 in Tusayan, a couple of minutes' drive from the South Entrance, and it is a convenient alternative to lodging inside the park. With 322 rooms, it is one of the largest hotels at the South Rim and a good bet when smaller places are full.
This is the hotel for families who want the evenings sorted. There is an indoor heated pool open year-round, a seasonal outdoor heated pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs and a seasonal splash pad, plus an arcade, billiards, air hockey, ping-pong and cornhole. Food is covered on site: the Canyon Room for breakfast, the Desert Lounge + Grill, the Squire Pub + Social and poolside bites at the Watchtower Pool + Patio.
In winter the pub may open on a reduced schedule, so check hours. Room types run from standard queens and kings to premium rooms with bunk beds or a sofa bed, and suites with a kitchenette or wet bar. Some rooms are pet-friendly and come with a kennel for a nightly fee.
Know the extras before you book. A nightly amenity fee applies to all reservations on top of the room rate and Tusayan's 12.9% city tax, and the resort can feel busy with tour groups and families in summer. The upside is convenience: the free seasonal Tusayan shuttle (Purple Route) stops in front of the hotel and runs to the park visitor center, which saves you the parking hunt at the rim. E-bike rentals on site are seasonal and usually closed in winter.
Why stay here
- ✓Formerly the Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn; now part of the Holiday Inn Resort brand
- ✓Indoor heated pool year-round plus a seasonal outdoor heated pool, hot tubs and splash pad
- ✓Canyon Room, Squire Pub + Social, Desert Lounge + Grill and Watchtower Pool + Patio
- ✓Arcade, billiards, air hockey, ping-pong and cornhole for kids and teens
- ✓Pet-friendly rooms with a kennel, for a nightly fee
- ✓Seasonal free Tusayan shuttle stops out front for the park visitor center
- ✓At 74 Highway 64, a couple of minutes' drive from the South Entrance
- ✓A nightly amenity fee applies on top of the room rate
Good questions
Is this the same hotel as the Best Western Squire Inn?+
Yes. It was rebranded as The Squire at Grand Canyon, a Holiday Inn Resort. Some booking sites still show the old Best Western name, so check the address, 74 Highway 64 in Tusayan.
Is it a good alternative to staying in the park?+
Yes. It is in Tusayan, just outside the park gate, and a few minutes from the South Entrance. Demand is high in the main season, so book early for peak dates.
Are there extra fees?+
Yes. The operator lists a nightly amenity fee on all reservations, and pet-friendly rooms carry a per-pet nightly fee. Tusayan also adds a city tax.
