Are you looking for the ultimate 3 day Grand Canyon itinerary? Do you want to spend your trip hiking, biking, and exploring the South Rim? Good news…you’ve come to the right place!
Three days is just the right amount of time to hike the trails (on the rim and below the rim), bike the roads/greenways, eat some delicious native tacos, and catch a few jaw-dropping sunrises and sunsets.
I created this 3 day Grand Canyon itinerary and implemented it on my recent southwest road trip, so I’m spilling the tea on what to do, where to stay, and when to go, and sharing many insights along the way.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on the links, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks so much for your support!
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE
Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to Grand Canyon National Park.
- Getting There: The closest major airports to Grand Canyon are Harry Reid International and Phoenix Sky Harbor International. Find affordable flights here.
- Entrance Fee: $35/vehicle or FREE with an America the Beautiful Pass
- Where to Stay: Camp in the park, reserve a room in the Bright Angel Lodge, or stay outside the park in the town of Tusayan, Williams, or Flagstaff. (Read my full Where to Stay guide!)
- How to Get Around: You’ll need to rent a personal vehicle to get around the Grand Canyon. You can utilize the park shuttles once you’re inside the park.
- Best Time to Visit: Spring and fall
- How Long to Visit: 2-3 days for one rim and 3-5 days for both rims
Ultimate 3 Day Grand Canyon Itinerary: 3 Epic Days on the South Rim
Day 1: Grand Canyon Itinerary
On day one, you’ll be dipping your toes into an exciting hike below the rim, cruising down one of the park’s picturesque scenic drives, and gazing at some of the canyon’s most beautiful viewpoints.
Bright Angel Trail
You guys, 90% of Grand Canyon National Park visitors never dip below the rim. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that because there’s honestly no better introduction to the Grand Canyon than dipping below the rim, even if it’s just for a short distance.
So without further ado, the first trail on this itinerary is Bright Angel!
I selected this as the first hike below the rim because the Bright Angel Trail has drinking water, is right behind the Bright Angel Lodge, and is a bit less steep than the South Kaibab Trail — emphasis on the bit. With plenty of waypoints to turn around at, this trail allows you to dip your toes into canyon hiking instead of diving headfirst.
The easiest way to get to the trailhead is to take the blue shuttle bus. If you’re staying at the Bright Angel Lodge, you can walk to the trailhead!
The Bright Angel Trail zigzags from the rim down to the Colorado River, but I would never recommend hiking to the river and back in one day, especially from May through September.
For your day hike to Bright Angel Trail, you have several options for turnaround spots:
- Upper Tunnel: 0.4 miles roundtrip – great for families with small children and for those who want to say they dipped below the rim but aren’t looking for a strenuous hike
- Lower Tunnel: 1.6 miles roundtrip – great for casual hikers or families with pre-teens/teens
- 1.5-Mile Resthouse: 3 miles roundtrip – great for first-time canyon hikers, casual hikers, and late starters. There are pit toilets, an emergency phone, and seasonal potable water.
- 3-Mile Resthouse: 6 miles roundtrip – great for seasoned hikers. There are pit toilets, an emergency phone, and seasonal potable water.
- Havasupai Gardens: 9 miles roundtrip – strong hikers only. Start early. There are pit toilets, an emergency phone, a campground, a ranger station, and year-round potable water.
Desert View Drive
After your exciting inner canyon hike, you’ll likely be ready to take it easy for the rest of the day. I know we were!
The perfect way to unwind after a morning of canyon hiking is by taking a relaxing scenic drive! Roll your windows down and get ready to feel the wind in your hair as you cruise down Desert View Drive.
Desert View Drive is a 23-mile scenic drive that runs along the rim, starting at the Grand Canyon Village and stretching to the park’s east entrance. The shuttle does not operate on Desert View Drive (aside from Pipe Creek Vista), so you’ll need to hop in your personal vehicle.
There are many points of interest along Desert View Drive, including scenic overlooks, picnic areas, hiking trails, and of course, the famous watchtower.
If you are short on time and don’t have time to make every stop, here are the stops I’d recommend prioritizing:
- Duck on a Rock – overlook
- Grandview Point – overlook and hiking trail
- Lipan Point – overlook (amazing at sunset!)
- Desert View – overlook, gift shop, restrooms, snack bar, market, gas station, campground, and watchtower
Pssst: On Day 2 of this itinerary, I will recommend a hiking trail on Desert View Drive!
Desert View Watchtower
The Desert View area is located on the far east side of the park, right off Desert View Drive. This is a great spot to stretch your legs, grab an ice cream cone, and gaze out at the canyon.
Here you will find an overlook, a gift shop, restrooms, a snack bar, a market, a gas station, a campground, and of course, the Desert View Watchtower.
The Desert View Watchtower, one of the most iconic structures on the South Rim, is a 70-foot circular stone tower perched on the canyon’s edge.
While there is a guarded viewpoint behind the watchtower that offers great views of the canyon, the best viewpoint is at the top of the watchtower.
Anyone can enter the lower level of the watchtower, but to climb to the top, you must first snag a free ticket. No reservations are accepted – simply show up at the watchtower and grab a ticket for the next available time slot.
25 people are allowed to enter the watchtower every 20 minutes, usually between 9 am – 5 pm, or whenever staff is available. Times are subject to change.
Getting to the top of the watchtower involves climbing four flights of stairs. Make sure to look at the petroglyphs that are printed all over the walls along the way.
The views from the top make the thigh-burning journey worth it!
Lipan Point at Sunset
Wrap up your first day in the Grand Canyon by catching an epic sunset!
Viewpoints off the Rim Trail, like Mather Point, Yavapai Point, and Hopi Point, can get pretty crowded. So I’d recommend venturing onto Desert View Drive for a more peaceful experience.
There are many spots off Desert View Drive where you can watch the sunset. Good news…I went to almost all of them on my trip, so I will tell you which one is the very best!
And the award goes to…
Lipan Point!
Driving east from the Grand Canyon Village about an hour before the sun went down, we started hunting for the best sunset spot. We stopped at three different overlooks before landing on Lipan Point.
I knew it was “the spot” as soon as we pulled up! Unlike many of the other overlooks, Lipan Point had a rocky outcropping that allowed visitors to spread out. No cramped overlook with guardrails – just wide, sweeping views!
Lipan Point is roughly 20 miles down Desert View Drive (from the Village). This scenic overlook faces the sun and boasts uninterrupted panoramic views of the canyon, making it the absolute perfect spot to watch the sun sink behind the canyon.
Though there are several parking spaces at the Lipan Point overlook, the lot will probably fill up by sunset, so make sure to arrive at least 30 minutes before the sun goes down.
Day 2: Grand Canyon Itinerary
On day two, you’ll be experiencing the Grand Canyon in a unique way and discovering one of the park’s best-kept secrets.
Bike Hermit Road
First on the agenda today is biking in the Grand Canyon!
Biking is a unique way to explore the park. Conveniently, there are bike rentals and bike tours available in the Grand Canyon Village, just steps from the Visitor Center.
Bright Angel Bicycle gives you a few options when it comes to biking in the Grand Canyon:
- Rentals
- Guided tours
- Self-guided tours with shuttle
Bike rentals (e-bikes and cruisers) are available on a one-hour, half-day, or full-day basis. Also, you can add all kinds of things to your rental like trailers, tag-alongs, water bottles, bike locks, backpacks, picnic lunches, etc.
Guided tours are available for Hermit Road and Yaki Point. On the Hermit Road Tour, you’ll be shuttled to Hopi Point, where you’ll bike with a guide along the scenic Hermit Road for 5.5 miles. On the Yaki Point Tour, you’ll depart from the bike shop and cycle with a guide for 7 miles on rimside trails to the scenic Yaki Point. (I’d recommend the Hermit Road Tour because you’ll be in a more remote area of the park, interact with fewer people, and still see some incredible landscapes).
NOTE: No vehicles are allowed on Hermit Road from March 1 – November 30, so you will only have to share the road with shuttles during this time!
Self-guided tours are available for Hermit Road. The shuttle will drop you off at Hopi Point, bypassing the crowds and steepest sections. You will bike the easiest stretch of Hermit Road to Hermit’s Rest at your own pace (no guide), and the shuttle will pick you up at Hermit’s Rest a couple of hours later and drive you back to the bike shop.
TIP: Book the self-guided tour (with shuttle) if you can. We booked that, but when we arrived, we were told there were not enough drivers. So we joined a guided tour group instead. It was still a lot of fun, but I think it would’ve been even more enjoyable to go at our own pace – just the two of us. Just something for y’all to think about!
Shoshone Point Trail
Next on the itinerary is one of the Grand Canyon’s best-kept secrets, the Shoshone Point Trail! Okay, it’s not a total secret, but it is definitely less popular/crowded than many of the other trails in the park.
Shoshone Point Trail is scenic, easy, and family-friendly, and the overlook at the end provides unending views of the canyon!
A big reason that this trail isn’t as popular or well-known as others is that it’s not marked. In fact, from Desert View Drive, it just looks like a nondescript dirt parking area. Even the trailhead isn’t marked!
To find the Shoshone Point trailhead, turn onto Desert View Drive from the Village and drive eastbound for about 2.5 miles. Look for a dirt parking area on your left. The parking area and trailhead will be unmarked, but this is where you need to park to hike to the overlook.
The trail, though unmarked, is easy to follow. It’s also flat!
After a peaceful one-mile stroll through the forest, you’ll come to a vault toilet and a covered picnic pavilion. Continue past those. Soon you’ll come upon an unguarded rock outcropping (watch your step!) that juts into the canyon. This overlook provides stunning panoramic views of the canyon.
PRO TIP: Our bike tour guide told us that Shoshone Point is a great sunset spot. So consider going back for sunset!
Day 3: Grand Canyon Itinerary
On day three, you’ll be snaking down into the canyon via my favorite below-the-rim trail!
South Kaibab Trail
For the last day, I’m just going to give you one trail to hike – the South Kaibab Trail! This is the steeper of the two main developed trails that dip into the canyon from the South Rim. (It’s also my favorite of the two!)
To get to the South Kaibab Trail, hop on the orange shuttle bus. Personal vehicles are not allowed on Yaki Road, the road that leads to the South Kaibab trailhead.
If you plan on hiking to Skeleton Point (I’ll share turnaround spots soon), I’d recommend catching the first shuttle bus of the day. Shuttle hours vary by season – you can check current times here.
We caught the 6:30 am shuttle bus and watched the sun fill the canyon as we descended into it. I highly recommend doing this to not only beat the crowds but also beat the mid-day heat! (If you’re hiking spring through fall).
Just like the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail snakes all the way down to the Colorado River. But again, I do not recommend hiking from rim to river (and back up) in one day, especially from May through September.
For your day hike to South Kaibab Trail, you have several options for turnaround spots:
- Ooh Aah Point – 1.8 miles roundtrip. Great for first-time canyon hikers. There are beautiful views of the inner canyon here.
- Cedar Ridge – 3 miles roundtrip. Great for casual hikers or late starters. There are pit toilets and beautiful panoramic canyon views here.
- Skeleton Point – 6 miles roundtrip – Ideal for seasoned hikers. There is an epic viewpoint of the canyon and Colorado River here. This is my recommended route!
NOTE: There is no water on the South Kaibab Trail, so please bring more than you think you’ll need! A good rule of thumb is 0.5 (16.9 ounces) liters per hour. Adjust depending on the weather.
READ NEXT: South Kaibab to Skeleton Point Trail Guide
What To Do If You Have More Than 3 Days
Are you going to be visiting the Grand Canyon for four days or longer?! Ahh, you’re so fortunate! Here are more fun things to add to your Grand Canyon itinerary:
- Visit the North Rim – Don’t miss the Transept Trail!
- Hike Rim to Rim – A backcountry permit is required to camp below the rim
- Hike part of the Rim Trail – Bright Angel Lodge to Powell Point is a great stretch
- Take a helicopter tour – Fly over the canyon on an unforgettable tour
Where to Stay in the Grand Canyon
There are many accommodation options in and near Grand Canyon’s South Rim! To maximize your time spent in the park, I’d highly recommend camping or staying in one of the park lodges.
Camping in the Park
There are two park-operated campgrounds on the South Rim – Mather and Desert View.
Mather is larger, more centrally located, and open year-round, while Desert View is smaller, more remote, and open seasonally.
We stayed four nights at Mather and highly enjoyed it! We tent camped in the Juniper Loop all four nights – one night at site 136 and three nights at site 115.
There is also a privately operated campground on the South Rim – Trailer Village RV Park. It is open year-round and is the only in-park campground with full RV hookups. (It’s pricey though!)
Camping Outside of the Park
If you can’t snag a campsite inside the park, camping outside of the park would be a great option.
Here are some campgrounds outside of the National Park boundaries:
- Canyon Gateway RV Park – Glamping sites are available, and the Grand Canyon Railroad Depot and William’s Golf Course are nearby.
- Grand Canyon KOA – Deluxe cabin, RV, and tent camping
Free Camping Outside of the Park
There are lots of great free campsites outside of the park!
- Long Jim Loop
- Forest Road 688
- Forest Road 306
Lodging Inside the Park
There are six lodges on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park: Bright Angel Lodge, El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge, Yavapai Lodge, and Maswik Lodge.
There is one lodge below the rim: Phantom Ranch. This is located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon near the Colorado River and is available on a lottery basis. It can only be reached on foot, by mule, or by rafting the Colorado River.
Lodging Outside the Park
These are the best towns to stay in when visiting Grand Canyon National Park:
- Tusayan – 15 minutes from the visitor center – the closest town to the South Rim
- Williams – 1 hour from the visitor center – small-town vibes off Route 66
- Flagstaff – 1.5 hours from the visitor center – wide array of lodging with lots to do
I’d recommend these stays:
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon – chain hotel in Tusayan – just 15 minutes from the visitor center
- Historic Grand Canyon Hotel – charming Victorian-themed hotel with modern comfort – 1 hour from the visitor center
- Little America Hotel – suites with lots of amenities like an outdoor pool, hot tub, and bar – 1.5 hours from the visitor center
Need more help deciding where to stay in or near the Grand Canyon? Read my full guide where I break down each rim and gateway town, sharing the best places to stay plus things to do in and around the accommodations!
Where to Eat
There is so much great food on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon! Here are some of my recs:
My favorite food in the Grand Canyon is the native taco! I ate it at the cafe inside the General Store, but I’m sure those are served at many of these restaurants!
Where to Watch the Sunrise and Sunset
I’ve shared a couple of great spots to watch the sunrise/sunset throughout this itinerary, but here’s a comprehensive list of my recommendations!
- Lipan Point
- Shoshone Point
- Mather Point
- Hopi Point
- Mohave Point
- Pima Point
- Yaki Point
When to Visit the Grand Canyon
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon South Rim is spring and fall (April, May, September, or October).
If you are adding a visit to Grand Canyon’s North Rim, plan on visiting in late May, September, or early October. We visited in mid-September, and it was the perfect time to hike and camp on both rims!
Finish Planning Your Trip to the Grand Canyon
- Where to Stay When Visiting the Grand Canyon: MAPPED!
- Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim: Which is Best?
- 6 Helpful Things to Know Before Visiting the Grand Canyon
- South Kaibab to Skeleton Point: Ultimate Trail Guide
- Should You Visit the Grand Canyon in March?
- Should You Visit the Grand Canyon in September? Yes! Here’s Why
- Ultimate Day Trip From Grand Canyon to Antelope Canyon Itinerary
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