Mother Nature can surprise us in plenty of ways and while it can vary from good to bad, there’s no lack of things to prove that sometimes what nature does can bring out the best and positive outcome as well. And to prove the same, the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is the best example we can give, that has been created over centuries of wind, water, and ice erosion. The Grand Canyon is not only one of the most popular destinations in the US, but it is also one of the most visited national parks in the world that draw millions and millions of visitors each year. And don’t think of it as a regular-sized national park, this area is so vast that it takes almost 5 hours drive to reach the remote North Rim from the South Rim.
The Grand Canyon is one of those places that can be found on almost every traveler’s bucket list and a trip to this place doesn’t have to break your account. It’s very much possible to visit this place on a budget. And to help you with that, we have created a guide for you that will make your time spent here every bit of worthy, memorable, and budget-friendly.
When you should visit
Being a worldwide popular destination, seeing this place packed with tourists shouldn’t come as a surprise to you especially if you’re visiting it in summer. However, you can totally skip that crowd by choosing to visit in spring or fall season especially when you’re on a budget, the prices for hotels are much affordable during this time and also, the weather remains bearable. On the other hand, if you visit this place during summers, you won’t only have to pay so much extra price to get a hotel room but the hot weather and crazy crowd will make it extremely difficult for you to explore this place in the best possible way. And during winters, it tends to snow, which results in the closing of shops, service stations, and campgrounds as well as road blockage.
Means to reach the destination
The only downside to visiting the Grand Canyon is a limited amount of options for transportation. If you’re planning to travel via plane, then the Flagstaff airport is the closest commercial airport in the locality, from where it is a 90-minute drive to the Grand Canyon. You can either rent a car or take a bus tour from Flagstaff; however, it’s recommended to choose an overnight tour so that you don’t waste your time on the route during day time. And if you’re willing to take your exploration game one step ahead, then opt for a helicopter tour, which will give you a bird’s eye view of the Grand Canyon.
Accommodation
Two of the best spots to stay at during your visit to the Grand Canyon for cheap are Flagstaff and Kanab (a city in Utah). Both places have plenty of hotels where you can stay for much cheaper than the lodges that are available on the national park property. If you plan on staying at the Grand Canyon to soak in the beauty of sunrise and sunset, then you can consider staying at one of these on-location lodges. They are easy to find at both North Rim and South Rim, however, the South Rim has plenty and budget-friendly options (if the weather permits).
Things to do
The Grand Canyon provides a plethora of options to visitors of all kinds. It is basically a playground where you can participate in so many fascinating, thrilling, and fun activities such as enjoy sunset and sunrise, photography, hiking, and much more. All these fun activities can be done without spending a fortune. However, when it comes to hiking, the weather here can get pretty hot under the scorching sun. While you will find myriad of water sources at the top of the rim, once you have hiked down, you won’t find anything. Therefore, make sure to pack water and slather sunscreen all over your body so that you don’t get dehydrated or sunburnt.