Visiting the Grand Canyon with Kids: A Complete Guide
Should you go to the Grand Canyon with kids? A huge, resounding YES!
This incredible geological feature is the most amazing place for a family trip as you’ll be able to hike, see fossils, learn about Native American history and geology, and more.
In this complete guide to the Grand Canyon National Park with kids, you’ll find everything you need to know for the easiest, most wonderful trip imaginable from accommodations suggestions to the best things to do while you’re in the park.
Let’s go explore!
Why You Should Visit the Grand Canyon with Kids
The Grand Canyon is one of the most iconic sites in America, and it’s a wonderful way to introduce your children to the national parks, geology, and history.
It’s also one of the national parks that doesn’t have a reservation requirement to enter the park, so you can have flexible arrival and departure days.
My daughter and I near the Bright Angel Lodge at sunset
Beyond that, there are SO many things to do around this area that you could easily spend a week here.
We also love the Grand Canyon for its appeal and flexibility. No matter if you’re visiting with a baby, toddler, preschooler, tween or teen, there’s something for the entire family to do.
If you’re more of a hiking family with older kids, there are plenty of moderate hikes to try.
If you’re more of a hang-out-by-the-campfire family, you’ll still find plenty to do!
We also love the Grand Canyon National Park because of its proximity to several other amazing places, including Las Vegas, Route 66, Monument Valley, and the 4 Corners Monument.
You could easily string together an incredible trip based in and around the Grand Canyon for the family vacation that everyone will remember for years.
When we say there’s intrigue and mystery around every corner, we’re not kidding!
There’s even a tiny, remote, hidden Native American village inside the Grand Canyon.
Plus, if you’re looking to create the trip of a lifetime through the West, the Grand Canyon is an excellent stop.
It's an iconic stop on this Denver to Grand Canyon road trip or part of a larger Arizona-based vacation.
NOTE: If this is your first trip to a national park, you’ll want to read through my comprehensive guide to the U.S. National Parks for beginners, which explains in detail everything from how the Junior Rangers program works to how to nab accommodations in the parks.
Dive more deeply into what you’re seeing and doing in the park with the Grand Canyon National Park tour on the GuideAlong App.
This app is our go-to when visiting national parks as the guide plays automatically based on your GPS location and doesn’t require a cell signal once the tour is downloaded to your phone.
You’ll get information on the park’s history, geology, wildlife, and more.
Since we can start and stop the tour as much as we’d like, it’s great for traveling with kids.
It’s like having a tour guide in your car with you—but at an extremely reasonable price.
South Rim, North Rim, or West Rim?
One of the biggest challenges when planning a Grand Canyon family trip is where to base your stay.
After all the Grand Canyon is massive, and there are very few roads in this area. That means that getting from the South Rim to the North Rim takes hours, not minutes.
And, if your kids are anything like mine, the last thing they’ll want to do after driving to the Grand Canyon is get back in the car for even more driving.
South Rim of the Grand Canyon near the trailhead of the Bright Angel Trail
My advice is to base your entire stay on the South Rim. This area has many more amenities than either the North or West Rim, and there’s plenty to do.
The North Rim is more remote than the South Rim, which is only about 45 minutes from Williams, Arizona. Williams has restaurants, pharmacies, grocery stores, and more if you’re missing essential items for your trip.
Compare that to the North Rim, which is more then 2 hours to the closest Walmart, pharmacy, and other stores (in Page, Arizona).
If you’ve been to the Grand Canyon before, try the North or West Rim. However, if it’s your first family trip to the Grand Canyon, stick with the South Rim.
But what about the West Rim, you might be asking?
The West Rim has a good number of things to do including the glass Skywalk overview (which is overpriced in my opinion), Colorado River tours, and several good hikes.
There are a few lodging options here including an RV park, but they lack the cohesive feel found in the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim.
What is in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon?
Here, you’ll find everything you need for an unforgettable family vacation, including many accommodations options, restaurants, paved walking trails along the rim, historic interpretive sites, ranger programs, and multiple hiking trails.
Family Camping in the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
Mather Campground and Trailer Village RV Park are both great options for camping on the South Rim.
Mather Campground is huge—it has over 320 spots! If you’re bringing your RV, you won’t have any hookups at the sites, but you can use the free water, trash receptacles, and dump stations around the park.
Most of the sites do allow generators so you can stay warm or cool depending on your family’s needs.
Trailer Village RV Park does have full hookups in about 2/3rds of its 123 sites. While it’s smaller than Mather, it’s the only place in the Grand Canyon Village with full hookups and is big rig accessible.
The campgrounds are next door to one another, and they’re about half a mile from the main section of Grand Canyon Village.
You can walk on the paved rim trail, or you can take the free shuttle that runs throughout the park.
If you prefer to stay at one of the hotels instead of the campground, you’ll be spoiled for choice. There are 7 hotels in the South Rim near the Grand Canyon Village, though I recommend staying in one of the 4 directly on the rim.
Those 4 are (from left to right looking out at the Grand Canyon): Bright Angel Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Kachina Lodge, and El Tovar Hotel.
The littlest Camping Kiddo in our room at the Bright Angel Lodge
We stayed at Bright Angel Lodge on our first trip to the Grand Canyon, and our room was small but quaint—and the incredible views from the lodge were worth it.
Keep in mind that Bright Angel Lodge has 3 different sections: free-standing cabins, a historic, smaller lodge with shared bathrooms, and a more modern lodge.
We stayed in the historic lodge, which came with two double beds, and an in-room sink and toilet. We had to go down the hall to use the college-dorm-like showers, but that wasn’t too bad for the price.
All sections of the Bright Angel Lodge are in a row with equally amazing access to the South Rim.
Headed to Arches National Park while exploring the West?
Check out our 1 Day in Arches National Park Itinerary!
If you’re staying longer, explore the 3 Days in Moab itinerary.
Top 6 Things to Do in the Grand Canyon with Kids
It’s not just a hole in the ground! The Grand Canyon is an incredible place for a family vacation that your kids will never forget.
Whether you’re spending just one day in Grand Canyon or a week, here are a few things that your kids are sure to love.
1) Grand Canyon Junior Ranger program
It’s free AND it will have your kids learning about the natural wonders of the Grand Canyon.
Our daughter with her newly earned Junior Ranger badge
My kids adore the U.S. National Parks Junior Ranger programs, and they proudly display the badges they’ve earned on their Junior Ranger vests.
My daughter earned her very first Junior Ranger badge here when she was almost 4, and it’s still in a place of honor on her vest.
If you’ve never done one of these programs before, they’re easy to access.
Simply ask at one of the gift shops for the free printed booklet, and see which activities need to be completed for your child’s age group.
Younger kids usually have to do a handful of fun activities such as coloring, drawing, or completing a scavenger hunt.
Older kids have harder workbook pages that dive into the history, science, geology, and geography of the park.
A ranger program is also required: these are also free, so get a ranger to sign off at the end.
Once you’ve completed your workbook requirements and program, take the filled book back to the visitors center. Here, a park ranger will lead you through the Junior Ranger pledge and you’ll be awarded a wooden badge.
2) Fossil hunting
Did you know that the Grand Canyon has fossils everywhere?
It does!
Thanks to an ever-changing landscape that’s been carved by water and wind over millions of years, it’s easy to see evidence of the animals, plants, and invertebrates that have lived here.
While you won’t find dinosaur fossils like you can elsewhere in the surrounding region, the fossils are still interesting for a budding paleontologist.
For the easiest to see fossils, start at the Bright Angel Lodge, and walk along the rim away from the hotels. Carefully look on the ground a few feet to the left and right of the trail to see fossilized shells, invertebrates, and bones.
Learn more about the types of fossils at the Grand Canyon here. Also, check out the daily ranger talks as fossils are one of the topics they cycle through in this series.
3) Hiking
PIN ME!
If you’re traveling with babies, toddlers, or less than enthusiastic hikers, there are still some amazing, short, easy hikes at the Grand Canyon.
Take the shuttle from the Grand Canyon Village over to Yavapi Geology Museum, where you can find the start of the Trail of Time.
This is a flat, paved, half-mile walk along the rim with interpretive signs detailing the different eras of the canyon.
Near the trailhead of the Bright Angel Trail
The Trail of Time is great for learners of all ages as it has different passages for kids and adults.
The first leg of the Bright Angel Trail is fairly easy and holds plenty of interesting sites for kids of all ages.
From the trailhead right next to the Bright Angel Lodge to the aptly named Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse is 1.6 miles.
While the trail is well marked and maintained, it does lose about 1000 feet in elevation over that mile and a half. Keep that in mind for the return trip, which is nearly all uphill.
The Greenway Trail runs along the rim for 14 miles on the South Rim. The paved, even surface makes it great for hikers or bikers.
Do a little of the Greenway Trail and take the shuttle back to your camper or hotel, or do the entire thing!
The first leg of the South Kaibab Trail is another good introduction to the park’s beauty and vastness.
While kids won’t be able to tackle the entire 14 mile round trip, they will probably do well on the 1.5 mile trek from the trailhead to Cedar Ridge (and the return 1.5 mile).
This portion of the South Kaibab Trail has about the same elevation change than the Bright Angel Trail’s first leg, and equally amazing views as you descend into the canyon.
Whichever trail you plan to tackle, remember to pack lots of water and sunscreen.
Plus, always have on proper hiking footwear (closed toed/closed heel is best), even on young children.
While flip flops might seem like a great idea on a sunny day, your feet will not be doing you any favors after a few hundred feet on an uneven trail.
Keep in mind, too, that the Grand Canyon gets very hot in the peak of summer, and, the landscape being what it is, you’re often hiking without any direct shade. Plan hikes for early in the morning to avoid potential heat-related issues.
Get your camping kiddo ready for Grand Canyon hikes and beyond with the best gifts for camping kids here!
4) Ranger talks
The rangers at the Grand Canyon are incredible, and they make every program fun and accessible.
During the winter months, ranger talks are held once a day, usually in the mid-afternoon (around 3 PM—ask at the visitors centers for exact times).
During the late spring, summer, and early fall—the peak visitation times—you’ll find more frequent ranger tours, with options in the mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and evenings.
You don’t need reservations, nor do you need to sign up for these. Just show up, and enjoy!
They’re also free, which makes them even better.
5) Train tour
You will NOT want to miss this amazing experience!
Hop aboard the 1950s vintage trains for an exciting day trip to Williams, Arizona.
On the way, your train will get up close and personal with some Wild West characters as you watch a gunfight outside of the windows.
You’ll also see plenty of amazing wildlife through the huge glass windows.
After being serenaded by roaming musicians, it will be time to explore Williams!
Book WAY ahead since this is a very popular choice for families visiting the Grand Canyon.
Extend your western U.S. road trip by exploring Monument Valley with kids!
6) Native American Demonstrations
These free programs occur daily and introduce visitors to a variety of crafts, customs, and experiences of the Zuni, Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, and other people who’ve long called this area home.
On any given day, you might learn about a traditional musical instrument, learn how to craft jewelry, experience a centuries-old dance routine, watch a painter work, or see the process of making pottery.
Depending on the time of year, the demonstrations are either near the Desert View Watchtower or at the Grand Canyon Village Visitors Center. (Check with the rangers at the visitors center at the start of your trip.)
The Grand Canyon is just one of the many incredible stops on our Monument Valley to Petrified Forest road trip and the ultimate Utah to Arizona road trip itinerary!
7) Trail rides
If you want to see the Grand Canyon and surrounding area from a new perspective, try one of the mule or horse trips available.
The mule rides on the South Rim of the canyon are available for kids 9 and up.
These very gentle mules take families down into the canyon and then back up again over the course of a few hours.
This is an excellent way to go deeply into the Grand Canyon without having to hike!
Apache Ranch provides horse rides for kids and adults, no experience necessary. This outfitter is located just outside of the Grand Canyon National Park, and the horse rides take visitors through the Kaibab National Forest.
This is an excellent way to show kids how greatly the terrain in this area varies.
If you have older children, absolutely do the overnight Phantom Ranch mule trip!
The age requirement on this trip is 9 and older, but kids have to be comfortable riding a mule for the 5.5 hour (10 mile) descent to the bottom of the canyon.
If they’re able to do that, they will stay overnight at the famed Phantom Ranch, where you’ll find dormitories and individual cabins.
You’ll also be treated to a huge dinner at the ranch, which will taste all the better after being in a saddle all day!
Explore more itinerary ideas with my guide to 7 days in Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.
Ready for another Arizona adventure? Head east on I-40 to experience historic Winslow AZ on Route 66!
