Traffic/Parking alert: Grand Canyon South Rim September 8-11

Sep 03

Traffic/Parking alert: Grand Canyon South Rim September 8-11

Grand Canyon East Rim

As our old pal “Detective Monk” is fond of saying, “You’ll thank us later.”

Good morning travelers and hope you brought your hoodies this morning for the Canyon River Adventure and Colorado River Float Trips. As of 6.30 AM, the temperature at Grand Canyon Airport was a very brisk 43 degrees! Down on the river, though, it will be up around 100 with a chance of a thunderstorm moving through around the time you’re getting ready to dock at Lees Ferry. Where else can you start the morning in a sweatshirt and be in a bathing suit by lunchtime?

Anyway, we’ll discuss Grand Canyon touring attire at another time. The subject of today’s post is Traffic at Grand Canyon National Park Entrance Gate parking at the Grand Canyon. And yes, it’s been a rather sore subject for quite some time. Ever since day 1 of my tenure at the El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Transportation Desk and other departments at the Grand Canyon, I heard complaints about the parking situation. And that was back in 1987! At the present time – and please don’t quote me on this – there are maybe 1,200 parking spaces at Grand Canyon South Rim, give or take a few dozen “improvised” parking spots that might get you a ticket from the National Park Service. Even as far back as the 1990’s, 4,000 cars and busses a day might visit the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Have you done the math yet? That means that 2,800 cars – or roughly 60% of vehicular visitors to the South Rim – may not be able to find a parking space in a timely manner when visiting the Grand Canyon. And just because you have reservations at one of the hotels inside the park doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a parking space. It can be especially bad between the hours of 10.00 AM and 3:00 PM when the day trippers are rolling in from Phoenix, Las Vegas and elsewhere. Well, as another loveable oddball “Auntie Mame” once said, “help is on the way, darlings!” – in the form of 600 more parking spaces.

Phase 1 of the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor Transportation plan is nearing completion (read more about it at the Grand Canyon National Park Service Website). The next step: realignment of the South Rim Entrance road. Unfortunately, for those of you visiting the park between Tuesday September 8th and Friday September 11th, this will mean enduring some minor inconveniences. In summary, these are:

* There will be no cars allowed at Mather Point, only commercial tour vehicles and shuttle busses will be allowed to park at Canyon View Information Plaza (CVIP). Want to see Mather Point? Gotta park somewhere and walk to it via the rim trail or grab a shuttle from either inside the park or Tusayan, get off at CVIP, then walk to it.

* All vehicles entering the South Rim will be diverted onto Center Road by flaggers. Flaggers should be on duty between 7 AM and 7 PM. Keep in mind this is a school zone, so you’ll be required to slow down during the day. If entering the park for any time-sensitive activities, allow extra time to get there. Likewise, if you’re leaving the park for any time-sensitive activities such as the Inner Canyon Jeep Tour, Grand Discovery Air Tour or Imperial Helicopter Tour, allow extra time to get there as well (it normally takes 15 minutes to get from Grand Canyon South Rim to Tusayan).

* Parking will be limited. So unless you have reservations for one of the hotels or campgrounds inside the park, try to avoid driving into the park if at all possible.

Now hooooold on a minute, before you panic and say “then how the heck do I get to the South Rim when I’ve come all this way to see it?” The National Park Service and our Grand Canyon tour suppliers offer some excellent and economical solutions!

Canyon View Information Plaza * Take advantage of the park and ride shuttle service from Tusayan to CVIP. This wonderful and FREE service starts running from Tusayan at 8 AM and from CVIP (photo on left) at 8.40 AM. Busses come around every 15 minutes until 9.30 PM. Pickups in Tusayan are available at: The IMAX Theatre/RP’s Stage Stop, the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, then they go onto the Grand Canyon Airlines Terminal at Grand Canyon Airport (GCN), and Canyon Flight Trading Company also at GCN (more on them in the future!). From CVIP, you can then get on the Grand Canyon Village Loop Shuttle to get around to the hotels, restaurants and gift shops. You can even transfer to the Hermit’s Rest Line and explore the many beautiful viewpoints on this 8-mile road near Grand Canyon Village. Reminder: you must have proof of having paid your Grand Canyon Park Entrance Fee! You can purchase these at any of the Grand Canyon hotels in Tusayan (Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, Grand Hotel, Red Feather Lodge, Holiday Inn Express, and Canyon Plaza Resort) or the IMAX Theatre.

* Take advantage of one of our many Grand Canyon tour options which will pick you up outside the park and take you into the park (meaning: no parking hassles!), such as:

The Grand Canyon Jeep Safari & Rim Walk: Beginning at 9.30 AM, this 3 hour tour will take you back through history as you venture deep into the Kaibab National Forest searching for elk, deer, and other species of wildlife as you travel along an 1880’s era stagecoach route to the canyon rim. At Yavapai Point, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the complex geological forces that shaped the Grand Canyon as well as walk along the canyon rim. Continuing on the Grand Canyon Village, you’ll learn about the diverse and unique architecture of the area’s many historic landmarks, all while taking in more spectacular canyon views as you stroll leisurely down the rim trail. You might find it hard to decide which is more interesting – the buildings themselves, or the people who Grand Canyon Jeep Tours & Safaris designed them and in some cases, called them home. At $69 for adults and $54 for children, this tour is not only fun, but a great buy! For more information, click here: Grand Canyon Jeep Tours

The Grand Sunset Tour: Also 3 hours in length, this tour also combines sightseeing in the Kaibab National Forest (which in all fairness, sometimes gets upstaged by the big hole up North!). ventures deep into the woods searching for elk, deer, and other species of wildlife, and concludes with sunset at the edge of the Grand Canyon. During this Grand Canyon tour you will have the (optional) opportunity to climb an eighty foot lookout tower that views the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, and San Francisco Peaks. You’ll conclude your adventure at Grandview Point, which is not only beautiful, but slightly removed from the main sightseeing areas of the park, so you won’t be competing with everybody and his brother to get that perfect photo! Bring your camera on this expedition – you don’t want to miss any of the awesome scenery and abundant wildlife. Also $69/adult, $54/child. Click here for more information: Grand Canyon Jeep Tours

The Grand Canyon Railway: Originating in Williams, Arizona, this vintage locomotive powers up every day at 9.30 AM, traveling the original rail line that brought passengers to the brink of the mighty gorge starting over a century ago. After settling into your seats, you’ll be entertained by cowboy poets, musicians and other Old West characters as you enjoy this historic two hour and 15 minute journey to the park. When you arrive at Grand Canyon South Rim, you’ll be dropped off at the Grand Canyon Depot in the heart of Grand Canyon Village. Here you can take a stroll along the canyon rim trail, enjoying the breathtaking canyon views, and old-world architecture of the Historic District. Or, ride the free shuttles around the Grand Canyon Village. You might also add a guided rim tour with lunch on to your day. After approximately a 3 hour layover in the park, you’ll reboard the train for the return trip to Williams, which has a few more surprises in store!

T Grand Canyon Railway travels through the Kaibab National Forest he Grand Canyon Railway has five classes of service: Coach, First Class, Observation Dome and Luxury Parlor Car. Coach is the most economical class of service, featuring bench style seating and with complimentary soft drinks served during the trip. The First Class Car is a 1950’s era passenger train car featuring individual padded reclining seats. The price of your ticket includes continental breakfast service on the Northbound ride, and afternoon snack service for the return trip to Williams. You can even toast your day’s adventure’s with a glass of champagne! The Observation Dome is an extension of the First Class Car featuring top and side panels made entirely of glass. Continental breakfast and afternoon snack service is also included in your ticket price. Lastly, there’s the Luxury Parlor Car. Here, you can ride like a rail baron in overstuffed leather chairs and walk about the car through generously sized aisles. Parlor car service also includes continental breakfast and afternoon snack service, and you can purchase cocktails and fine spirits at the on-board bar. Another unique feature of the Luxury Parlor car is the open-air rear platform, where you can enjoy Arizona’s fresh air and wide open countryside. For more information on the Grand Canyon Railway, click here: Grand Canyon Train Tours

Or, just get off your wheels and get into the air! Choose from a 30- or 50-minute helicopter flight over the canyon, or a 50-minute airplane tour. After all, these are the Grand Canyon tours that will offer you the most “bang for your buck” allowing you to see the most of the Grand Canyon in the shortest amount of time. For more information on Grand Canyon touring options by air, click here: Grand Canyon Air Tours.

But again, folks, this construction will only be going on from September 8th through the 11th. Just 3 short days, thankfully after Labor Day weekend.

As always, we thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. You are the “grandest!”

Have a good one,