Recently, due to my travel logistics I had to plan a one day trip to the Grand Canyon. Yes the Grand Canyon in One Day is possible! I was not sure if it could be done, but found out that yes it can! Think of it as a reconnaissance mission for the next trip. I can say that for a fact, since we are already planning our next trip, which will include so much more - even Phantom Ranch! Keep reading for my secret of how to see the Grand Canyon in a day!
The answer I know you are thinking is YES. Yes you can have a lot of fun, see a lot and do a lot without having much time to see the Grand Canyon. One look out past the southern rim will tell you that the trip is worthy even if you just get a glimpse - YES a glimpse.
Then if you have some extra time after the views of the Grand Canyon, there is so much more to do and see.
Grand Canyon Facts
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado Riverin Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile per wikipedia.
It was formedover millions of years by erosion, wind, rain and water running through the Colorado River. It stretches 227 miles long (wow that is impressive) and it averages over ten miles wide. I never knew it was this wide.
I can tell you that seeing the Grand Canyon is something that is totally different than seeing it online or in someone’s photo. It is really one of those places that must be seen in person to truly caption it.
The Grand Canyon and all of the adjacent rim are currently contained within Grand Canyon National Park, the Kaibab National Forest, Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument, the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the Havasupai Indian Reservationand the Navajo Nation.
Did you know that President Theodore Rooseveltwas a major proponent of the preservation of the Grand Canyon? Many of the programs he implemented are still in place.
Grand Canyon Accommodations
One trip for seeing it all in a day is to make sure to do your driving the day before and awake at one of these best hotels near the Grand Canyonthe morning of your trip to see this wonder of the world. We stayed in Flagstaff at the Doubletree and enjoyed our stay. They are dog friendly and had an amazing breakfast. It was also extremely covid-friendly.
Before our day at the Grand Canyon, we spent a lovely Easter at The Phoenician Scottsdale.
Visitor Centers, Museums and More
You may want your first stop to be at the visitors center. Yes they will have tons of information and souvenirs for you to review and take home. Also, there you can learn about the historic Kolb Brothers Photography Studio and more.
Take a Pink Jeep Tour Secret
I do have a secret. We booked the first Pink Jeep tour of the day. That way the wait is shorter to get through the gate at the south rim and you also get done before the day gets so hot. You know it still gets hot, even though there can be a 30 degree difference as you drive up from the airport in Phoenix.
Our PInk Jeep Tour Guide was extremely knowledgeable about the Grand Canyon and also many other National Parks where she had worked. She knew all the best photo opps and was happy to help us take as many photos as we wanted. She also made sure we did not get too close to the edge of the rin. I saw many people doing unsafe things near the canyon rim - please do not be one of those.
Our PInk Jeep Tour and guide was so great, that I will now always take a Pink Jeep tour at any location I go that has one.
Pink Jeep Tourscreate experiences through breathtaking guided tour adventures. They depart from Sedona, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas & newly added Smoky Mountains. They will take you in their custom & one-of-a-kind Jeeps or Tour Trekkers.
Here is what we experienced on our signature adventure Pink Jeep Tour. Our guided Grand Canyon tour made the most out of our visit to the Grand Canyon. We toured the South Rim at Grand Canyon National Park in an open-air Pink® Jeep. We captured such amazing photos and memories. I will be posting Grand Canyon photos for years and never run out!
As we cruised in our open air custom Pink Jeep, we stopped at various viewing areas to see the desert floor of the Grand Canyon. We also saw various views of the Colorado River during our visit to the South Rim.
The tour also included tickets to the Grand Canyon IMAX Theatre at their meeting location. If you are staying a few days and it rains one day or there is an extremely hot afternoon, the tickets would come in really handy!
There are various other types of tours they offer in the area. You can choose from the Grand Entrance, the Grand Entrance Sunset, Desert View Sunset, a walking tour and many more.
The Grand Canyon is a world famous destination that attracts millions each year. The Pink Jeep tour guides know the canyon better than most locals. Their local guides live and work at the canyon. That means they offer unique insight into every nook and cranny, which they’ll share as you explore the canyon in open-air Pink®Jeep®Wranglers.
So what are you waiting for? Time for you to visit one of the seven wonders of the world - the Grand Canyon.
Widely considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the canyon, formed by millions of years of erosion, wind, rain and the Colorado River, stretches an impressive 227 miles long and averages over ten miles wide.