Frequently Asked Questions

Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

Parking near the canyon’s rim, including parking for El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, and Bright Angel Lodge, can be very limited. To best plan your Grand Canyon visit, please click here for additional information on road conditions and Historic Village parking locations.

N36°3.38472, W112°8.1894

The standard mailing:
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges
PO Box 699
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

For express shipping:
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges
10 Albright Street
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is open year-round; however, some of Grand Canyon National Park Lodges’ lodging, restaurants and gift shops are open seasonally and with limited hours.

The elevation is 6,900 feet above sea level.

Summers are pleasant with temperatures ranging from 50°-80°F. If you do venture down into the canyon the temperatures increase, sometimes exceeding over 100°F. The sun is powerful in the high-altitude, so wearing hats and sunscreen is highly advised. Evenings are cool around 40°-50°F and wearing light jackets or sweaters is a good idea.

Winters are cold with temperatures between 40°-50°F or lower. We recommend you bring warm clothes and prepare for icy roads and trails, potential road closures and snow.

Spring and fall at Grand Canyon can be unpredictable. Generally days are comfortably warm around 50°-60°F and the nights cooler. This time of year can have some of the best weather for hiking.

We advise you to check weather Web sites for current forecasts as the weather can fluctuate.

Yes, all major carriers currently offer service; however, we cannot make any guarantees to the signal strength.

Unfortunately, we do not offer a business center.

The National Park Service currently charges $30 per private vehicle at each of the entrance gates. This fee varies when entering by foot, bicycle or motorcycle and commercial vehicle. Please visit the National Park Service for the most current fee information. This fee is waived with a valid National Park pass.

Gasoline is only available inside of the park seasonally at Desert View. Gasoline is available year-round just outside of the park to the South in Tusayan.

Our Grand Canyon Mule Ride DVD and many more related souvenirs can be purchased at any of our in-park gift stores or from the Online Store. This DVD is the perfect pre-trip DVD to help you prepare for a colorful and exciting mule riding experience to the bottom of Grand Canyon.

We are currently accepting reservations for stays up to 13 months in advance. On the first of each month, we will begin accepting reservations for the entire month of the following year. For example, on March 1 we will accept reservations through March 31 for the following year. For more information, please visit our Reservations page.

In total, there are 29 accessible rooms, eight with roll-in showers. These rooms are available at El Tovar, Kachina, Thunderbird, Maswik and Yavapai East. For additional details, please call Central Reservations at (888) 297-2757.

A wait list for room reservations is not available.

Cancellations do occur; however, they can occur at random with limited success in obtaining the dates and accommodations desired. If your first choice is not available, rather than scheduling your vacation around the possibility of a cancellation, we suggest checking alternate dates instead. If you want to continue to check for cancellations, you may call 1-888-29-PARKS (888-297-2757) or view our Reservations Overview page.

Currently our online reservation system will only allow modifications or cancellations to reservations booked initially online.

Cooking is not allowed in any of the guestrooms or cabins inside Grand Canyon National Park.

Pets of any kind are not permitted in the lodges inside Grand Canyon National Park. A kennel is available for boarding cats and dogs.

Advance dinner reservations are recommended for dinner at El Tovar Dining Room and can be made by calling 928.638.2631, ext. 6432 or sending an e-mail. Dinner reservations can be made six months in advance with El Tovar room reservations and 30 days in advance without El Tovar room reservations. Breakfast and lunch reservations are not accepted at El Tovar Dining Room.

For information about each of our dining options and dinner reservations throughout the park, please visit our Dine page.

Working in a National Park can be an excellent experience for people of all ages. Visit our Career Opportunities for additional information.