Travelers to the Grand Canyon often reach confusion over where hotels in The Grand Canyon are located. There are two distinct areas of Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim, and the North Rim. It takes five hours to reach one rim from the other, although it is only 10 miles across The Grand Canyon. Some people choose to visit both rims, but you must plan ahead. You will want to make reservations for hotels in The Grand Canyon well ahead of time.
The most popular rim is the South Rim. A highlight of the South Rim is that is it open all year, 24 hours a day. It is easier to get to and more developed than the North Rim. This can translate to parking and congestion issues but also more visitor highlights, such as gas stations, stores, and visitor centers. South Rim visitors enjoy an extremely wide array of ranger talks.
When searching through hotels in The Grand Canyon, a great South Rim hotel is The Grand Hotel. The décor embodies the rich cultural history of the Southwest with rustic wooden highlights, Native American artwork, and a huge flagstone fireplace. The Grand Hotel provides evening entertainment, restaurants, gift shops and will arrange a number of activities for you and your party. The Grand Hotel takes reservations up to six months in advance. If you know you want to stay at The Grand Hotel, make your reservations as soon as you know the dates. Availability will be limited in other hotels in The Grand Canyon area, as well. The Grand Hotel is an affordable choice as well as one of the most luxurious hotels in The Grand Canyon.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is less popular, but much more wild than the cultivated South Rim. At the North Rim, you can actually experience solitude and listen to the wind whistle through the Blue Spruce. You can take an exploratory walk along the rim uninterrupted by hordes of other visitors. The North Rim's season is considerably shorter with facilities operating from the mid-May to mid-October. An 8000-foot average elevation is considerable, as well as being a full 1000 feet higher than the South Rim. Despite the pristine nature of the North Rim, there are still plenty of activities and amenities analogous to those of the South Rim.
The North Rim hotel in The Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon Lodge. It is the only hotel in The Grand Canyon's North Rim, but the luxury will impress you. The Grand Canyon Lodge serves excellent cuisine all day long. Aside from the motel, there are several cabin types to choose from. Some cabins have a view of the Grand Canyon's rim. The solitude and luxury of the Grand Canyon Lodge combine to make a vacation you will cherish forever on the North Rim. The Grand Canyon Lodge views are at a higher elevation than any other hotels in The Grand Canyon. This perspective will be a pleasant surprise to the Grand Canyon visitor.