The Grand Hotel is the most comfortable all-round base in Tusayan, a mile outside the South Entrance, and a dependable alternative to in-park lodging. Expect lodge-style rooms, a steakhouse and an indoor pool.
Tusayan is the closest place to sleep to the South Rim, and The Grand Hotel is our pick of the town. It sits on Highway 64 about one mile south of the park's South Entrance and about 7 miles from Grand Canyon Village, so you can be at Mather Point for sunrise with a short drive. The hotel is run by Xanterra Travel Collection, the same company that operates most South Rim lodges, and it describes itself as the only AAA Three Diamond hotel near the canyon.
The building leans into the classic western lodge look, with a big stone-and-timber lobby, and the renovated rooms are more spacious and quieter than the historic lodges in the park. On site you have the Canyon Star Steakhouse and Saloon, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and takes reservations, plus an indoor heated pool and hot tub for the evening.
Wi-Fi is included, the front desk runs 24 hours, and a small business center has computers and a printer. EV drivers get 12 Tesla Superchargers, open around the clock. Check-in is after 4 p.m. and check-out is 11 a.m.; guests must be 21 to check in. Pets are not allowed, though service dogs are, and the park runs a kennel inside the South Rim.
The trade-offs are honest ones. You are outside the park, so you pay the entrance fee and drive or ride the seasonal free shuttle each day, and rates run higher than other Tusayan options, especially in spring and summer. Tusayan adds a city tax on top of the room rate, so budget for it.
Book early for weekends, holidays and the March to October season, since Tusayan fills quickly. If it is full, Grand Canyon Hotel & Suites across the street is a cheaper fallback, and Williams, about an hour south, has more choice at lower prices.
Why stay here
- ✓About one mile from the South Entrance and about 7 miles from Grand Canyon Village
- ✓Describes itself as the only AAA Three Diamond hotel near the Grand Canyon
- ✓Canyon Star Steakhouse and Saloon for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- ✓Indoor heated pool and hot tub
- ✓12 Tesla Superchargers on site, available 24/7
- ✓24-hour front desk; Wi-Fi included
- ✓Check-in after 4 p.m., check-out at 11 a.m.; guests must be 21 to check in
- ✓Pets are not allowed, though service dogs are welcome
Good questions
Is The Grand Hotel inside the national park?+
No. It is in Tusayan, just outside the park gate, so the status of lodging inside the park does not affect it. Check availability for your dates.
How far is it to the rim?+
About a mile to the South Entrance gate and about 7 miles to Grand Canyon Village. Allow extra time at the gate in summer, and consider the seasonal free Tusayan shuttle to the visitor center. For sunrise, leave about 30 minutes before first light so you can park and walk to the viewpoint.
Does the hotel have a restaurant and pool?+
Yes. The Canyon Star Steakhouse and Saloon serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there is an indoor heated pool and hot tub. Hours change by season, so check on arrival.
