Are you in the mood for the greatest road trip of your life?
If so, there’s no time like the present to gas up the car and head out on the highway in search of amazing destinations. And when it comes to choosing the most scenic places in the United States, you can’t beat the Grand Canyon.
Planning a Grand Canyon trip is obviously exciting, but it can also become overwhelming. This is especially true when you’re a first-timer. Fortunately, this article can help. Here we take a look at some essential tips for making travel plans to Grand Canyon National Park. Keep reading to learn more.
Best Time of Year to Visit the Grand Canyon
Let’s start by discussing the optimal time of year for making a road trip with your family to Grand Canyon National Park.
It’s important to remember that the Grand Canyon is one of the most famous and popular tourist destinations in the world. Because of this, you’d be wise to avoid the most crowded months of the year.
Keep in mind that people typically take family vacations when their kids are out of school. Thus the summer months are by far the most crowded. The best strategy for missing the crowds is to avoid the summer months if possible. This means steering clear of the Grand Canyon from June to August.
The best bet for avoiding crowds and having the most relaxing vacation experience possible is to visit from March to May or September to November.
Best Lodging Options
When visiting Grand Canyon National Park, there are plenty of great lodging options. But again, you’d be wise to book as early as possible or skip the heavy tourist season from June to August.
The two most popular lodging options include staying at a hotel or camping. This is a national park, after all, so you can pitch a tent or park your RV to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors to the fullest.
If you prefer to sleep in style, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of lodges and hotels, located both inside and outside of the park. For those who prefer to sleep closer to nature, you can choose between Mather Campground, North Rim Campground, Desert View Campground, and Trailer Village.
Keep in mind that whichever option you prefer, you’ll need to make reservations as far in advance as possible to ensure you have a spot upon arrival.
What Type of Clothing to Pack
Now let’s talk about what kind of clothing you’ll need for your Grand Canyon adventure. The most important thing to remember is that the weather in and around Grand Canyon National Park can change without much notice. Thus you’ll need to be prepared for just about anything.
The Grand Canyon is a natural wonder that covers a lot of territories, including different elevations and climates. This means you’ll need to pack a variety of clothes, ranging from shorts and T-shirts to jackets or warm winter coats.
The best strategy for enjoying your time outdoors is to dress in layers. When it’s cold in the morning, you should wear a T-shirt under a long-sleeve shirt, and wear a jacket or heavy coat over everything until the temperature starts to warm up later in the day.
You’ll also want to bring a hooded rain jacket just in case of afternoon showers while you’re there.
And don’t forget to pack sturdy shoes that are good for walking over uneven terrain, especially if you plan to hike down a trail into the canyon.
Choosing Between the West Rim vs South Rim
When planning your visit, it’s important to remember that the Grand Canyon is massive. In fact, it’s so big that you could never explore it all. That’s why you’ll need to decide in advance whether or not you’ll be visiting the South Rim or the North Rim.
The South Rim is by far the most visited section of the Grand Canyon. It’s open throughout the year and very easy to access. The North Rim is more challenging to access, thus it’s less popular. Plus, its higher elevation means you might get snowed on.
Here’s a resource where you can learn the difference between the west rim vs south rim of the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Skywalk
For those wanting to experience the Grand Canyon from a very special perspective, the Grand Canyon Skywalk allows you to literally walk out past the rim. This is an exhilarating experience that places you 4,000 feet above the canyon floor.
Hiking the Canyon
Hiking down into the Grand Canyon is an amazing and memorable experience. Just make sure to walk with a group, take plenty of water and snacks, wear the proper type of shoes for trail hiking on rough terrain, and stop to rest as often as possible.
Tips for Planning Your Grand Canyon Trip
It’s no secret that the Grand Canyon is one of the most beautiful site seeing destinations in the United States. Fortunately, this guide to planning your first Grand Canyon trip will help make your upcoming road trip the best ever.
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