We’ve had a few February Hawaii trips in the past with rainstorms and dreary weather so with the airfare prices for peak school breaks getting higher from Seattle we’ve been looking for other sunny outdoor destinations. I researched places with 70+ degree weather near Seattle in February and we started to debate going to Palm Springs (where I went last year for Alt Summit and saw all the photogenic hotels) and Joshua Tree or Phoenix and the Grand Canyon South Rim. We like trips that balance rest and relaxation with outdoor exploration and this year Phoenix had the best outlook for the warmest weather (79ish degrees) the week we wanted to visit. Once we learned the Grand Canyon was reachable from Phoenix too, we booked our airplane tickets.
How Far is The Grand Canyon From Phoenix?
The Grand Canyon is actually only a three and a half hour drive from Phoenix and when I looked it up on the National Parks website I learned the South Rim is open all year while the North Rim closes for winter. I thought we would try to stay in Flagstaff or Sedona for a night to visit the Grand Canyon but my husband asked me to check if there were any Grand Canyon hotels on the South Rim. This is why collaborative trip planning helps so much. Sure enough there were a few hotel rooms available-even though we were booking only three weeks before the trip. (I’m actually not sure if there are ever a ton of options available-looking farther ahead there is very little availability ANY time on the calendar at the Grand Canyon South Rim so I think maybe getting specific lodging here might be unpredictable.)
Is it worth it to book a hotel at the Grand Canyon and what is a good Grand Canyon South Rim hotel?
I read many reviews online where people felt it wasn’t worth it to book a hotel at the Grand Canyon-that they were overpriced for what they were and that you get better value outside the Grand Canyon National Park. This made me a little hesitant to book but I think that being able to be RIGHT next to the Grand Canyon makes all the lodging here pretty worth it. One night we were even warned to walk with caution when we left dinner at the Fred Harvey Burger restaurant because the edge of the Grand Canyon was only 20 feet away. It was so dark that you couldn’t see the edge very well but you could see so many stars in the sky above and knowing that the Canyon was so nearby was really thought-provoking too. (I actually became a little overwhelmed by how enormous the Grand Canyon is, and being so close to it I felt really really small.)
El Tovar was most luxurious hotel but that one was not available when I checked online. We ended up eating breakfast there one morning and that was good enough for me. I had a choice between the Thunderbird and Maswik Lodges. Thunderbird was right near the rim of the Grand Canyon so I booked that hotel- there was a bed and breakfast package deal that helped with the cost. I was a bit sad that our room was not a view room but we were only steps away from the Grand Canyon once we got outside. The Maswik Lodge was further away from the Grand Canyon and in February the evenings get quite chilly (in the low teens when we visited) so this would be a longer walk in the cold from the Grand Canyon Rim.
Where to eat in the Grand Canyon when you are visiting the South Rim
I forgot there might be a fridge in my room or I would have bought some yogurt, granola and fruit for an easy breakfast when we stopped in Flagstaff en route. We ate at a Wildflower Cafe that was near a Whole Foods and REI which was a really easy stop and only about an hour and a half away from the Grand Canyon. So if you are staying at the Thunderbird Lodge know that there is a fridge in your room.
Our room came with two breakfast vouchers each night to Fred Harvey Burger restaurant but we used them all on one morning for our whole family so we could go to El Tovar on our second day. One of the guys ordered a fry bread breakfast at the Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant that was absolutely delicious. At El Tovar, we had a table that was near a window overlooking the Grand Canyon and this hotel really does have spectacular views. We ate dinner at the Fred Harvey Burger Restaurant one evening as well after watching the sunset and that seemed like the busiest time to go for dinner. We also enjoyed pizza one night at Maswik Lodge. Along with the pizza pub, they have a cafeteria style eating area there that seems to work really well for families.
I was also really surprised when we made the drive from our hotel to the Desert View Watchtower that there is actually a general store that has hot food and ice cream and a coffee shop. There are even flush toilets here too. (I was not expecting any of this.). And the Watchtower is spectacular.
What to do in the Grand Canyon with kids
I didn’t think we would have enough to do for two nights in the Grand Canyon with our kids in a hotel without a swimming pool but there is a lot to see. We stopped by the Visitor Centre and watched a movie and got ideas for things we could do. We drove out to the Desert View Watchtower and stopped at a few viewpoints along the way. We wandered the hotel area where there is a pathway along the canyon rim that goes on for miles. We did a hike to Ooh Ah point. And we didn’t have very good internet here so we couldn’t even spend a ton of time watching shows or playing video games or doing whatever we do on our phones. We ended up having a lot of fun together and the kids mentioned a few times that they were thankful to see the Grand Canyon.
Stops between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon
On the way to the Grand Canyon we stopped in Flagstaff and on the way back to Phoenix we stopped in Sedona and did a short hike. We were surprised at the difference in temperature between Phoenix (high of 80 degrees) and the Grand Canyon (lows around 15 degrees) and it was warm enough to swim in Phoenix and there was snow on the ground in the Grand Canyon.
Where to stay in Phoenix
Our favorite stay in Phoenix was at the Westin Kierland Hotel because of its comfortable rooms and fabulous pool. We stayed there when the kids were really small and wanted to revisit because of the good memories we had there. I managed to book our hotel on points with Marriott Bonvoy and American Express.
Have you ever stayed in Phoenix and the Grand Canyon with kids? Do you have any favorite places to eat or things to do?
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
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