Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs is the Hualapai Tribe's own hotel on Route 66, the base for one-day rafting trips and a calm alternative to Las Vegas for a Grand Canyon West visit.
Grand Canyon West is not part of Grand Canyon National Park. It is run by the Hualapai Tribe on its own land, sells its own tickets, and is separate from the national park and its lodging. Most people visit on a long day trip from Las Vegas, but if you want to slow down, Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs is the tribe's own hotel.
It sits at 900 Route 66, on the longest remaining stretch of the old highway, about a two-hour drive from the Grand Canyon West attractions such as the Skywalk at Eagle Point and Guano Point.
The lodge's biggest draw is the river. It is the starting point for Hualapai River Runners, the Hualapai-guided one-day whitewater trips on the Colorado River that leave from Peach Springs, so staying here the night before makes an early start much easier. On site you have the Diamond Creek Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, a heated pool and spa, and a fitness center.
The rooms are comfortable and practical rather than luxurious, the setting is a small reservation town rather than a resort, and booking is handled through Grand Canyon West's lodging pages and direct-booking links.
Be clear about the geography before you book. From Peach Springs it is about two hours to Grand Canyon West, and about four hours to the national park's South Rim, so this is a West Rim and Route 66 base, not a South Rim one. If you would rather wake up near the rim, Grand Canyon West also rents rustic cabins for up to six guests near Hualapai Point; online cabin bookings include a discount on the All-Access Pass.
Fill up with fuel and supplies before you head out, since services are sparse in this part of Arizona, and remember that Grand Canyon West needs its own admission, separate from any national park pass.
Why stay here
- ✓On the longest remaining stretch of Historic Route 66 in Peach Springs
- ✓About a two-hour drive to Grand Canyon West, the Skywalk and Eagle Point
- ✓Starting point for Hualapai River Runners one-day whitewater rafting trips
- ✓Diamond Creek Restaurant on site for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- ✓Heated pool, spa and fitness center
- ✓Run by the Hualapai Tribe's Grand Canyon West tourism operation
- ✓Convenient for a night before an early rafting departure
- ✓On Hualapai land, separate from the national park
Good questions
Is Hualapai Lodge part of Grand Canyon National Park?+
No. Hualapai Lodge and Grand Canyon West are on Hualapai land and operate separately from the national park.
How far is it to the Skywalk?+
About two hours by road from Peach Springs to Grand Canyon West, where the Skywalk is at Eagle Point. Admission to Grand Canyon West is sold separately and is not covered by national park passes. Leave early to beat the midday tour-bus arrivals from Las Vegas.
Can I go rafting from the lodge?+
Yes. Hualapai River Runners one-day whitewater trips start from Peach Springs, so the lodge is the natural place to stay the night before. Check the season, age and weight limits when you book the trip, and plan on a very early start and a long day in the canyon.
