Insider’s Guide to Grand Canyon Lodges

Overnight guests at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim have a wealth of options on where to lay their heads. And while the lodgings differ in ambiance and historical significance, they share a key attribute: a front-row seat at one of the world’s great wonders.

Check out this primer on six rim-adjacent lodges to determine which one suits you best.

This celebrated historic hotel located directly on the rim of the Grand Canyon first opened its doors in 1905. The hotel was designed by Charles Whittlesey, Chief Architect for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway.  The Chicago architect envisioned the hotel as a cross between a Swiss chalet and a Norwegian Villa. This was done in an effort to appeal to the tastes of the elite from that era, who at the time considered European culture the epitome of refinement. El Tovar was one of a chain of hotels and restaurants owned and operated by the Fred Harvey Company in conjunction with the Santa Fe Railway. The hotel was built from local limestone and Oregon pine. It cost $250,000 to build, and many considered it the most elegant hotel west of the Mississippi River. In 1987 the Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark.  In the past, the hotel has hosted such luminaries as Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, Western author Zane Grey, President Bill Clinton, Sir Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, and countless others.

Today, El Tovar retains its elegant charm and is widely considered the crown jewel of Historic National Park Lodges. Located directly on the canyon rim, El Tovar features a fine dining room, lounge, gift shop, and newsstand. El Tovar offers guests full bell service, and in-room dining for breakfast and dinner.  El Tovar is a world-class travel destination.

What it Offers

El Tovar has 78 rooms, many of which are suites. Due to the historic nature of the hotel, no two rooms are alike, giving the hotel distinctive charm. There are 12 hotel suites, each one with a unique name, identity and decor. For example, the Zane Grey Suite – complete with an attached sitting area and balcony – is appointed with unique wall art specific to the author.

Standout Feature

Its striking Swiss chalet-style design. Even if you’re not staying here, enjoy a meal in the elegant El Tovar Dining Room, relax on its expansive porch, or spend some time in the splendid main lobby.

Best For

Couples and architecture fans with a taste for deluxe digs.

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Bright Angel Lodge, designed in 1935 by famed Southwest architect Mary E.J. Colter, has a natural rustic character and is a Registered National Historic Landmark. This iconic lodge and its surrounding cabins are rich with cultural history. Over the years it has gone through many transformations – originally a hotel, then a camp, and finally a lodge. All of its changes were to accommodate increased visitation after the arrival of the train in 1901. Under the direction of the Santa Fe Railroad, Colter was tasked to design a fresh look for Bright Angel Lodge in an effort to provide more moderately priced lodging in contrast to El Tovar “up the hill.” She drew inspirations from many local sources in her architecture. For example the ”geologic” fireplace in the History Room featuring all of the rock layers of Grand Canyon, from the river cobbles to the youngest stone strata on the rim. Included in this lodge design were a couple of historically significant structures that might well have been demolished without her intervention – the Buckey O’Neill Cabin, originally home to one of Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, and the Red Horse Station, which served as the post office for 20 years. Both are currently available as overnight accommodations.

Visit the Bright Angel History Room where you will find information on the Harvey Girls, the Harvey Indian Detour Couriers, historic postcards, a 100-year-old El Tovar menu, original surrey carriage, and much more.

Today, the Bright Angel Lodge and surrounding cabins serves as an iconic remembrance of its colorful past. Located at the top of Bright Angel Trail Head, the facility sees visitors from all around the world. Bright Angel Lodge also features Fred Harvey Burger, a family-friendly restaurant serving diner classics prepared in the Fred Harvey tradition from huevos rancheros to gourmet burgers and fajitas. Fred Harvey Burger is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Another option is the Arizona Steakhouse featuring steaks, chicken and ribs prepared with the flavors of Arizona and the Southwest. Open seasonally, visit the old-fashioned ice-cream Soda Fountain just steps from the rim. There is also a gift shop, coffee house, and old-style saloon.

What it Offers

Bright Angel has 90 lodging units ranging from cozy historic units with shared bathrooms to standard lodge rooms and historic cabins to the one of a kind “Buckey O’Neill Cabin”. Accommodations range from rustic cabins to lodge rooms.

Standout Feature

Colter’s floor-to-ceiling “geologic” fireplace in the Bright Angel History Room whose rocks echo the layers of the canyon itself. The mini museum also boasts a display of colorful artifacts and photos from the early days of tourism.

Best For

History buffs.

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Built in the late 1960s, Kachina Lodge sits directly on the rim of Grand Canyon. For guests seeking a more contemporary lodging option, Kachina lodge is a great choice. The guest rooms have a comfortable modern ambiance and are all similar in size and amenities. The lodge rooms are designated canyon-side and street-side related to the view. Many guests choose Kachina due to its prominent location in the center of the historic district. Kachina Lodge is also walking distance to restaurants, gifts shops, Kolb Studio, Verkamp’s Visitor Center, and Bright Angel Trail Head. It’s a great choice for active guests as it is located directly on the Rim Trail. This trail spans from Hermits Rest to the Kaibab Trailhead, approximately 12.8 miles. From your room you can hike in either direction, and the views along this trail are exceptional.

What They Offer

Situated directly on the canyon rim, many of the rooms at Kachina Lodge have partial canyon views available, called canyon-side rooms.

Standout Feature

Location. Set between El Tovar Lodge and the Bright Angel Trailhead, the lodging is just off the rim trail, which winds through the South Rim Historic Village and beyond.

Best For

Active travelers seeking convenient access to South Rim facilities and hiking trails.

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Contemporary style blended with natural touches make Thunderbird Lodge an ideal accommodation choice at the south rim of the canyon. Family-focused, the lodge has ample amenities to make for a memorable stay in the heart of the Historic District. Many of the comfortable, modern rooms offer canyon views while others overlook Historic Village streets. Thunderbird Lodge is walking distance to restaurants, gift shops, Kolb Studio, Verkamp’s Visitor Center and Bright Angel Trail Head. Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the lodge’s location directly on the Rim Trail, which spans from Hermits Rest to the Kaibab Trailhead—approximately 12.8 miles.

What They Offer

Situated directly on the canyon rim, many of the rooms at Thunderbird Lodge have partial canyon views available, called canyon-side rooms.

Standout Feature

Location. Set between El Tovar Lodge and the Bright Angel Trailhead, the lodging is just off the rim trail, which winds through the South Rim Historic Village and beyond.

Best For

Active travelers seeking convenient access to South Rim facilities and hiking trails.

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Maswik Lodge building and adjacent hotel rooms are contemporary in style. The area, however, is rich cultural in history. The original “Motor Lodge” was constructed in 1927 by the Fred Harvey Company and the Santa Fe Railroad. Traveling by automobile to the parks was quickly becoming fashionable. Rather than having to travel by train or carriage, guests could journey to the Grand Canyon in their own automobiles. In the 1940s, 36 cabins were added and 22 cabins were moved from Bright Angel. Many of the 120 cabins were demolished in the 1960s and replaced by more contemporary two-story hotel rooms in 1972 and 1981. The only architectural component remaining from historic lodge buildings are the original stone pillars.

Maswik is named for a Hopi Kachina who is said to guard the Grand Canyon.

Maswik Lodge is a 280-room lodging complex nestled within several acres of Ponderosa pine forest. It is located just a short quarter-mile walk or bus ride from the canyon’s edge. The complex consists of the main lodge building that houses the Registration Desk, Gift Shop, Maswik Food Court, and Pizza Pub.

What it Offers

Maswik South rooms are located in four 2-story buildings featuring 90-standard guest rooms and 30 kitchenettes. All guest rooms have a small outdoor patio and rooms are accessed from an interior hallway with stairs or an elevator available for second floor rooms.

Maswik North rooms are located in 12, two-story buildings. The guest rooms are accessed from outside walkways and stairwells (there are no elevators).

Standout Feature

Its main lodge building features a large food court with lots of family-friendly options, including a pizza restaurant.

Best For

Families and budget-minded travelers.

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In the 1920’s, the National Park Service selected the Fred Harvey Company to build a tourist facility within the canyon. Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter was commissioned to draft the plans for the facility. She produced sketches for a series of cabins. Everyone was pleased, and it was soon announced that the accommodations would be named Roosevelt’s Chalets. Upon which Colter snatched up her blueprints and declared, “Not if you are going to be using my work.” A consummate perfectionist, she had already chosen the name: Phantom Ranch. The rustic cabins and main lodge are built of wood and native stone blending with the natural beauty of the setting.

What it Offers

All Phantom Ranch reservations must be made in advance. Space is extremely limited. Have questions about the lottery process? Click here for the lottery schedule, additional information and/or FAQs regarding the Phantom Ranch Lottery.

Standout Feature

Phantom Ranch is a historic oasis nestled at the bottom of Grand Canyon. It is on the north side of the Colorado River tucked in beside Bright Angel Creek. Phantom Ranch is the only lodging below the canyon rim, and can only be reached by mule, on foot, or by rafting the Colorado River.

Best For

Adventure seekers and hikers.

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Grand Canyon National Park Lodges provides the premier in-park lodging, managing six distinct historic lodges. From the El Tovar Hotel, long considered the crown jewel of national park hotels, to Phantom Ranch, the only lodging on the floor of the canyon, you’ll find accommodations to help you get the most out of your visit to the Grand Canyon. At any time of year, whether you come for a day or a week, you’ll find more than enough to fill your hours including visits to the Historic Village District, and rafting, railway and motorcoach tours. For more information, visit grandcanyonlodges.com or call 888-297-2757.

For more travel experiences available from the Xanterra Travel Collection^® and its affiliated properties, visit xanterra.com/stories.