Jul 12

Jul 12 10 Cities Near the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim

These towns and cities near the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim are the best places to stay during your vacation.

These towns near the Grand Canyon include Williams, pictured here with a downtown hotel building close up with windows and a large sign that hotels on the second floor.

If you’re looking for the closest city to the Grand Canyon National Park, this list has you covered. I’ve included Arizona cities, communities, and towns near the South Rim Grand Canyon that are convenient to stay in for your national park vacation.

The closest towns to Grand Canyon National Park with hotels range from a historic village on the South Rim to a remote ranch on the canyon floor to gateway cities full of shopping and dining.

I’ve visited Grand Canyon National Park several times over the past 20 years and stayed in hotels and cabins inside and outside the national park on the South Rim. Below are my recommendations for the best places to stay near the Grand Canyon, whether you’re looking for rustic lodges, campgrounds, or hotels with a pool.

Keep reading to find where to stay at the Grand Canyon.

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Cities and Towns Near the Grand Canyon

This is my quick list of cities near the Grand Canyon! Scroll down for the pros and cons of each and to find out which ones I recommend for your first visit!

Phantom Ranch (in the park)
Grand Canyon Village (in the park)
Tusayan (2 miles from South Entrance Station)
Grand Canyon Junction (24 miles from South Entrance Station)
Williams (55 miles from South Entrance Station)
Cameron (32 miles from East Entrance Station)
Tuba City (58 miles from East Entrance Station)
Flagstaff (74 miles from South Entrance Station)
Sedona (109 miles from East Entrance Station)
Page (109 miles from East Entrance Station)

Map of Cities Near Grand Canyon

This map shows the proximity of towns and cities near the Grand Canyon South Rim. You can click on it to open a larger map and zoom in on different locations.

What is the Best Town Near the Grand Canyon?

Phantom Ranch

For a unique place to stay in Grand Canyon National Park, you can try to get a reservation at Phantom Ranch, the historic lodge at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

The property has both cabins and dormitory bunks, but space is extremely limited. A lottery system is used for reservations over a year in advance.

The lodge has a canteen that serves breakfast and dinner. You need to reserve your meals in advance since supplies are brought in by mule.

To get to Phantom Ranch, you can hike down from the North or South Rim, ride a mule, or raft in.

ENTER THE LOTTERY TO STAY AT PHANTOM RANCH

Grand Canyon Village

Grand Canyon Village in the national park is the closest town to the Grand Canyon South Rim. The historic district on the rim has five hotels built in the early to mid-1900s — Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Thunderbird Lodge, Kachina Lodge, and Maswik Lodge. This area also has a few restaurants and gift shops, plus canyon views right outside the accommodations.

Near the Grand Canyon Park Headquarters, you’ll find the Yavapai Lodge, Mather Campground, and Trailer Village RV Park. In this zone, you’ll be within walking distance to the Market Plaza with its grocery store, post office, and bank, plus a restaurant and coffee shop at the lodge.

The only other place to stay on the South Rim in the national park is the Desert View Campground, about 20 miles from the Visitor Center and right by the park's east entrance. This area has sites for tents and small RVs, plus a gas station, market, coffee and ice cream shop, and viewing tower on the canyon edge.

While the village is one of the most convenient towns near the Grand Canyon South Rim, accommodations do fill quickly and are more expensive than staying outside the park.

A more budget-friendly way to stay in Grand Canyon National Park is to rent a fully-equipped campervan from Phoenix, Las Vegas, or another nearby hub. You can reserve a spot at the campground to park, and the van has a built-in bed, dining table, and kitchenette with a fridge and cooktop.

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Where to Stay in Grand Canyon Village

I stayed at Yavapai Lodge and loved how the hotel buildings were surrounded by trees. It’s also convenient having a walk-in dining hall onsite for quick meals.

SEARCH FOR HOTELS NEAR GRAND CANYON VILLAGE

Tusayan

Tusayan is the closest city to the Grand Canyon, located just 2 miles outside the park’s south entrance station. A shuttle route typically runs between the town and the Visitor Center for the summer season so that you don’t need to drive and park at the rim.

A few different lodgings are available here, including popular hotel chains, but prices are definitely inflated for the convenient location. There is also a general store, gift shops and restaurants in the small town.

Where to Stay in Tusayan

The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon is reviewed highly but I have not stayed there myself yet. It has a restaurant, pool and family roooms.

SEARCH FOR HOTEL DEALS IN TUSAYAN

Grand Canyon Junction

Valle, or Grand Canyon Junction, is a small community about 25 miles south of the national park’s south entrance at the intersection of two routes leading in from Flagstaff and Williams.

While there’s only a single hotel, a couple of gas stations and very few amenities, more camping and glamping sites are starting to pop up in this area. Plus, it’s generally much cheaper to stay here than in Tusayan but much closer to the Grand Canyon than Williams or Flagstaff.

Where to Stay in Grand Canyon Junction

I stayed in the historic motel building of the Grand Canyon Inn and Motel and found it affordable and comfortable with fun Western vibes. The inn has a restaurant and pool onsite.

SEARCH FOR DEALS IN GRAND CANYON JUNCTION

Williams

One of the biggest cities near Grand Canyon National Park, Williams has just over 3,000 residents. The town is located on Historic Route 66 and is full of retro diners and kitschy souvenir shops with a blend of mid-century and Old West vibes.

The Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel is located here, with daily train rides to and from the South Rim and Western entertainment.

While Williams is about 55 miles from the south entrance, there is a much larger selection of restaurants, affordable hotels and other amenities than in Tusayan or Grand Canyon Junction.

Where to Stay in Williams

I stayed at the historic Grand Canyon Hotel, said to be the oldest hotel in the state. The rooms were all uniquely decorated with antiques throughout the cozy common spaces. The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel is perfect for riding the train up the South Rim as it is located right by the depot.

SEARCH FOR HOTELS AND LODGES IN WILLIAMS

Cities near Grand Canyon National Park include William. Pictured here is the upper floors of a downtown block in Williams, with a big light up signs that says HOTEL and a small vacancy sign underneath it with the blue sky in the background.

Cameron

Cameron is a small community about 30 miles from the east entrance station of the Grand Canyon South Rim. Amenities are scarce, but you’ll find a place to eat, fill up the tank, and stay the night. This town near Grand Canyon National Park is best if you need a place to stay on the way in coming from the east.

Where to Stay in Cameron

The only hotel in town, the Cameron Trading Post and Motel dates to the early 1900s and is decorated with Native American and Southwest-inspired fabrics and art.

SEARCH FOR HOTELS NEAR CAMERON

Tuba City

If you’re looking for cities near Grand Canyon National Park’s east entrance, Tuba City is a little under 60 miles from the Desert View Watchtower on the South Rim and 80 miles from the Visitor Center on the South Rim.

It’s a small community, but larger than Cameron with a few more hotel options near the Grand Canyon plus fast-food drive-throughs for quick bites.

Where to Stay in Tuba City

NavajoLand Hotel is highly reviewed on Booking.com and has a restaurant and trading post onsite.

SEARCH FOR HOTEL DEALS IN TUBA CITY

Flagstaff

Flagstaff is the closest major city near the Grand Canyon, located about 80 miles from both the south and east entrance stations to the South Rim.

You’ll be spoiled for choices of Grand Canyon hotels here, with many major chains represented. Most accommodations are located along Interstate 40 and Historic Route 66, which passes through the downtown core.

Flagstaff is a great place to stay for a blend of big-city amenities and a walkable downtown district with shops and cafes in old brick buildings.

The city is also just 30 miles from Sedona and a couple of hours from Page, Phoenix and Petrified Forest National Park. It makes a great base for Arizona road trips.

Where to Stay in Flagstaff

Flagstaff has tons of options, but a couple of the best-reviewed properties on Booking.com are the Residence Inn by Marriott and the Fairfield Inn and Suites, both of which have modern rooms, indoor pools and breakfast.

SEARCH FOR HOTEL DEALS IN FLAGSTAFF

What City is Closest to the Grand Canyon?

Tusayan is the closest town to the Grand Canyon, just 2 miles outside of the national park boundaries. Though it’s very small, Williams is the closest city to the Grand Canyon, about 55 miles from the South Entrance.

What is the Biggest City Near the Grand Canyon?

With a population of about 75,000, Flagstaff is the nearest major city to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It’s about 75 miles away and it takes around an hour and half to drive from the city to the Grand Canyon South Entrance.

What City Should I Stay in to Visit the Grand Canyon?

If it’s your first trip to Grand Canyon National Park, I recommend staying in Grand Canyon Village or Tusayan. Both options are very close to the views and activities in the park and offer shuttle transit options.

My next recommendation would be Williams. Even though it’s a little further away, it has a fun Route 66 and Western vibe and it’s connected to the national park via a fun train ride.

Grand Canyon Airports: Is Las Vegas or Phoenix Closer?

Phoenix is 225 miles from the Grand Canyon South Rim and the drive takes about 3.5 hours. The Las Vegas airport is nearly 275 miles away and it takes about 4 hours to drive to the Grand Canyon.

The best city to fly into for visiting the Grand Canyon might depend on where you can get a better direct route or deal. If you plan to visit other nearby national parks or towns, you can also pick an airport that makes the most sense for your whole road trip.

If you’re also visiting Sedona, for example, it would make more sense to fly into Phoenix. If you plan to go to Zion National Park after the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas would be a shorter return trip.