Things You Need to Know Before Visiting The Grand Canyon With Kids

Visiting the Grand Canyon with kids is more than staring at one of the world’s most incredible natural wonders. A Grand Canyon family vacation is all about adventure. It’s about the journey, whether by car or train (or both!). It’s about stopping along the way to enjoy the desert’s beauty and mystery. Here are 4 tips you need to know before you plan your family trip to the Grand Canyon.

1. Know when to visit the Grand Canyon

Beautiful year-round, there’s no bad time to visit the Grand Canyon. Keep in mind, though, that winter conditions can be extreme with snow and ice causing road closures. Also, the North Rim is only open from mid-May to the end of October (or the first good snowfall). Most travelers, however, will visit just the South Rim of the Canyon. On weekends in high season, you may need to contend with heavy crowds both within the National Park and on the roads. Summer and spring break is especially popular, with loads of visitors making their way to the Grand Canyon during school breaks. In summer, add Phoenicians escaping the Valley’s soaring temperatures for the relatively cool temps of the Canyon’s high desert. Expect temperatures at the South Rim to be around 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months, with much toastier temps within the inner canyon.

2. Be careful when taking photos at the Grand Canyon

The first order of business at the Grand Canyon is oohing and ahh-ing at nature’s magnificence. Next up, you’ll want to snap a family photo in front of the Canyon, of course! Be ever watchful when visiting the Grand Canyon with kids. When travelling with young children, this may be the time to invest in a safety harness or toddler carrier, for peace of mind. Do not take any risks to grab that selfie, either. On average two people die by falling into the Grand Canyon each year. The instances are rare — about one per every 400,000 visitors — but they usually occur when people are acting carelessly in order to capture the perfect picture or from hopping about from rock to rock.

3. Learn how to get to the Grand Canyon

The closest city to the Grand Canyon is Las Vegas. It’s about 125 miles from the Strip to Grand Canyon West. Those driving from Las Vegas will be pleased to know it takes about 2 hours to drive from the city to Skywalk. The drive from Phoenix to Grand Canyon South Rim will take about 4 hours if you don’t encounter heavy tourist traffic or make any pitstops. Oh, but what a shame it would be to not stop along the way! There are some serious treasures to be found on your road trip from the Valley of the Sun to the Grand Canyon. Stop in gorgeous Sedona to hike among red rocks or cool off in summer months at the Slide Rock State Park, a natural waterpark of sorts. You might also want to visit impressive Native American ruins at Walnut Canyon or Montezuma Castle. A trip to Meteor Crater near Winslow is a bit off-course but well worth the extra drive to see the massive hole that could fit 20 football fields. It was created by a flying space rock around 50 thousand years ago. These side trips are part of the joy of the journey to the Grand Canyon.

4. Book family-friendly accommodations at the Grand Canyon

Accommodations at the rim of the Grand Canyon are limited. Plan to make your hotel reservations about a year in advance if you want to stay within the National Park. For more affordable and easier-to-book options a few miles outside Grand Canyon National Park, consider hotel options in Tusayan or Williams instead.

5. Choose the right snacks for your Grand Canyon road trip

It’s fun to stop along the way at offbeat dinners during your Grand Canyon road trip. Keep in mind, though, that there will be long stretches with little to eat along your path. Bring along some tasty treats like Cape Cod Chips. Take a look at additional travel snack ideas for your trip.

6. Hike the Grand Canyon with kids…or not?

When visiting the Grand Canyon with kids, honestly, a few hours is all you need to explore the South Rim unless you’re a family of serious hikers. If you’re thinking you’ll hike down the canyon and back in a day, then think again! It takes about 4 hours to descend to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and another six to eight to climb back up, and even longer if hiking with young children. Believe me, going up is MUCH harder than going down! Sturdy closed-toe athletic or hiking shoes are a must, no matter how long the hike. If hiking down the Canyon is on your family’s bucket list, then plan to spend a few months training for the strenuous climb. You should also bring strategically packed daypacks. Not sure what to bring? Take a look at this Grand Canyon backpacking packing list. For camping opportunities, be sure to make campground reservations about one year in advance to spend the night mid-way or on the Canyon floor. So, do you feel like visiting the Canyon this February with your family? Then what are you waiting for? Plan and Book Your Trip with Sweetours today!

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