Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
547
(reservations not accepted for other months). Contact the National Recreation Reserva-
tion Service (
&
877/444-6777
or 518/885-3639; www.recreation.gov). Between late
spring and early fall, don't even think of coming up here without a reservation; you'll just
set yourself up for disappointment. If you don't have a reservation, your next-best bet is
to arrive in the morning, when sites are being vacated. Campsites are $18 per night ($15
per night Dec-Feb; reservations not accepted).
Desert View Campground,
with 50 sites, is 25 miles east of Grand Canyon Village
and open from May to mid-October only. No reservations are accepted. Campsites are
$12 per night.
The
Trailer Village RV park,
with 79 RV sites, is in Grand Canyon Village and
charges $30 per night (for two adults) for full hookup. Reservations can be made up to
13 months in advance by contacting
Xanterra South Rim/Xanterra Parks & Resorts,
6312 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Ste. 600N, Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (
&
888/297-
2757
or 303/297-2757; www.xanterra.com or www.grandcanyonlodges.com). For same-
day reservations, call
&
928/638-2631.
Outside the Park
Two miles south of Tusayan is the U.S. Forest Service's
Ten-X Campground.
This camp-
ground has 70 campsites, is open May through September, and charges $10. It's usually
your best bet for finding a site late in the day.
You can also camp just about anywhere within the
Kaibab National Forest,
which
borders Grand Canyon National Park. Several dirt roads lead into the forest from the
highway, and although you won't find designated campsites or toilets along these roads,
you will find spots where others have obviously camped before. This so-called dispersed
camping is usually used by campers who have been unable to find sites in campgrounds.
One of the most popular roads for this sort of camping is on the west side of the highway
between Tusayan and the park's south entrance. For more information, contact the
Tusayan Ranger District,
Kaibab National Forest, P.O. Box 3088, Grand Canyon, AZ
86023 (
&
928/638-2443;
www.fs.fed.us/r3/kai).
WHERE TO DINE
Inside the Park
If you're looking for a quick, inexpensive meal, there are plenty of options. In Grand
Canyon Village, choices include
cafeterias
at the Yavapai and Maswik lodges and a
delicatessen
at Canyon Village Marketplace on Market Plaza. The
Bright Angel Foun-
tain
serves hot dogs, sandwiches, and ice cream. At the west end of Hermit Road, there
is the
Hermit's Rest Snack Bar.
The stone building that houses this snack bar was
designed by Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter, who also designed several other buildings on the
South Rim. At Desert View, there's the
Desert View Trading Post Cafeteria.
All of these
places are open daily and serve meals for $10 and under.
The Arizona Room
SOUTHWESTERN Because this restaurant has the best view
of the three dining establishments right on the South Rim, it is immensely popular. Add
to this the fact that the Arizona Room has a Southwestern menu almost as creative as that
of El Tovar Dining Room, and you'll understand why there is often a long wait for a table
here. To avoid the wait and take in the views, arrive early, which should assure you of
getting a good table without too much of a wait. The pan-seared salmon with melon salsa
and the baby back ribs with either the prickly pear or chipotle glaze are both good bets.
Because this restaurant is open for lunch part of the year, you've got another great option
for dining with a billion-dollar view.
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