How much does it cost to travel to Grand Canyon National Park?
You should plan to spend around $168 per day on your vacation in Grand Canyon National Park. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $49 on meals
- $43 on local transportation
- $178 on hotels
A one week trip to Grand Canyon National Park for two people costs, on average, $2,348. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Grand Canyon National Park has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Grand Canyon National Park expensive to visit?
Prices in Grand Canyon National Park are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Grand Canyon National Park is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Memphis or Monterey.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Grand Canyon National Park Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Grand Canyon National Park?
The average Grand Canyon National Park trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Grand Canyon National Park travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$178
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$43
|
|
Food 2
|
$49
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$35
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$5 -
16
|
Accommodation Budget in Grand Canyon National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Grand Canyon National Park is $89. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Grand Canyon National Park is $178. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Grand Canyon National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Grand Canyon National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Grand Canyon National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $43 per person, per day, on local transportation in Grand Canyon National Park.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$43
How much does it cost to go to Grand Canyon National Park? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Grand Canyon National Park will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Grand Canyon National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Grand Canyon National Park can vary, the average cost of food in Grand Canyon National Park is $49 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Grand Canyon National Park should cost around $19 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Grand Canyon National Park is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$49
Entertainment Budget in Grand Canyon National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Grand Canyon National Park typically cost an average of $35 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$35
Alcohol Budget in Grand Canyon National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Grand Canyon National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$11
Last Updated: Apr 9, 2023
Grand Canyon National Park on a Budget
The Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is a national landmark in the United States. It is also one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country and the colors, particularly at sunrise and sunset, will never cease to amaze you. The canyon is entirely within the state of Arizona and has been carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. It stands at over a mile deep and you can easily see the layers of geology with the Canyon's dramatic colors. The Grand Canyon National Park itself was created by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 as a national monument. It was later upgraded to a national park in 1919. It currently covers an area of more than 1.2 million acres and is visited yearly by more than four million guests.
There are hotel and accommodation options at both the North and South Rim, but more options are available at the South Rim. Lodges range in quality from luxurious and expensive to mid range or budget. Camping is also available within the park, and is a wonderful experience.
Sights
There are countless overlooks where you can see the stunning views of
Grand Canyon National Park. One of the more popular places to stop is Desert View, which is a historic Watchtower where you can view the canyon and the Colorado River. Hermits Rest at the West end is also a popular place to stop.
Havasupai Indian Reservation and Hualapai Indian Reservation are both popular destinations near the canyon.
Neighborhoods
You can visit either the more isolated North Rim or the more popular South Rim. Both areas are within the national park, but the South Rim is more accessible. At the South Rim you will find Grand Canyon Village which has several historic buildings and the trailhead for Bright Angel Trail. The North Rim is ten miles from the South Rim as the bird flies, but 215 miles, or a five hour drive by road from Grand Canyon Village. It's higher than the South Rim and has far less visitors, making it a pleasant and beautiful place to visit.
Activities
There is no shortage of outdoor activities that you can enjoy in or around the Grand Canyon. Hiking is the most obvious and popular way to enjoy the canyon, as many hikes are considered to be
some of the best hikes in the USA. Always carry plenty of water as the temperatures can climb surprisingly high and shade is limited on most hikes. Popular trails in the area include Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab Trail, Hermit Trail, and Grandview Trail. Bright Angel Trail is the park's most popular trail. It starts at Bright Angel Lodge and follows a series of switchbacks into the canyon until it reaches Indian Gardens.
Another terrific route in the Grand Canyon is
hiking to Skeleton Point, which can be long and tiresome, but well worth the views and adventure.
Other activities include whitewater rafting, flightseeing, ranger programs, mule rides, and educational courses.
Food and Dining
There are a handful of restaurants and markets where you can stock up on food and supplies within the park. Food and camping supplies are generally overpriced within the park however, so it is best to arrive prepared.
On the South Rim your options include the
Arizona Room, the Bright Angel Restaurant, and El Tovar Hotel Dining Room. There are cafeterias at both the Maswik and Yavapai Lodges and a grocery store at Market Plaza. There are some options just outside the park as well.
Options along the North Rim include Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room, Cafe on the Rim, Coffee Saloon, and Jacob Lake Inn and Gift Shop.
Transportation
The only real way to reach the Grand Canyon is by private car. There are no buses or trains to the area, and without your own car, your experience will be extremely limited if not impossible. There are tours you can use to reach the Canyon if you do not have access to a vehicle. Tours can be arranged in nearby Las Vegas or other major cities. There are also several outside tour groups, including Contiki, that include the Grand Canyon on their itineraries.
The cost to enter the Grand Canyon is on a per vehicle basis and currently set to
$35 (for 7 days). It is possible to purchase a national park pass which will give you access to all United States national parks (prices vary). There's a discounted senior national park pass as well.
Once you're in the park there is a park shuttle system. This system runs along the South Rim on three routes. Service is free and runs from sunrise until after sunset. It is most frequent during the summer months when additional shuttles are added. During the summer months there is also a park service shuttle that travels from Tusayan into the park.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Camping is the way to go if you want to fully experience the park and not spend tons of money. But make sure you make reservations well in advance.