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The first stop on our 10-day road trip through the southwest was an American icon that has long captivated my imagination. Covering almost two thousand square miles of land, the Grand Canyon sees over 4.5 million visitors a year (making it one of the most popular national parks in the country). With only 24 hours to spend and a great deal to see, we strategically planned our Grand Canyon one day itinerary with as many epic viewpoints as we could to make the most of our time.
Navajo point at sunset
It’s important to note that within the park there are 2 main sections: South rim (more popular), which is open year round and North rim which is open between May 15 and October 15. This grand canyon one day itinerary will be based solely on the south rim section of the park.
This easily accessible view point is located along the rim trail and is one of the most crowded stops in the park. I would recommended starting the day here for sunrise. You will beat a lot of the crowd by going early and you’ll be able to secure a great parking spot at the visitor’s center to start the rest of your day.
The South Kaibab trail to Ooh Ahh Point is a great day hiking option at 1.8 miles round trip. The trail has approximately 700 feet of elevation gain and provides great views of the canyon.
There are many view points to stop off at while driving along the rim of the Grand Canyon but this one has a special rock formation for some added fun.
This was my favorite view point in the National Park and I would recommend watching the sunset here. It is much less crowded then the other points on this itinerary which made the experience much more enjoyable.
There are 2 campgrounds on the South Rim, Mather campground and Desert view campground. Since we did not have a reservation, we stayed at Desert view (first come first serve site) and appreciated how quiet it was after a long day.
Fees: The entrance fee for Grand Canyon National Park is $35 per vehicle if you don’t have an America the Beautiful pass ($80).
Permits: No permits are required for day hikes, only if you plan to do overnight hiking.
Campground Reservations: There are 2 tent campgrounds on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Mather Campground and Desert View Campground.
Weather: Be prepared for extreme temperature drops as day turns to night! We visited in early May and had a High of 71 and a low of 37 degrees.
Mather Point by the National Park Services
Mather point is one of the most popular view points in the entire national park, so I would recommend getting here as early as possible for the best experience. It’s located a short walk up from the visitors center parking lot. On clear days, Mather point allows you to see 30-60 miles of canyon, intersected beautifully by the emerald green, Colorado river. To get away from the crowds you can walk a bit along the rim, as most people will only stay in the designated lookout.
Visitor Center Map by the National Park Services
Once parked, the Grand Canyon Visitors Center also serves as a great place to leave your car for the day because it’s the central hub for the shuttle system. From the months of March-November, many roads are closed to private vehicles requiring visitors to utilize the national park shuttle system. This was started as a way to control traffic at trailhead lots during the busiest time of year.
Shuttle bus map – orange line by the National Park Services
The shuttle schedules and run times can be found here.
Descent into the canyon on the South Kaibab trail
The South Kaibab trail, is the hike of choice for the Grand Canyon one day itinerary because its steep elevation provides stunning panoramic views without having to go too far. The trail itself starts at the canyon rim and descends in a zig-zag pattern all the way down to the Colorado River. For a day trip, it’s recommended to stop and turn around at one of the following points:
Ooh Aah Point
Keep in mind that temperatures are much warmer in the canyon than they are at that start. As a general rule, for every 100 feet down in elevation the temperature will increase by about 5 degrees. Summer months can be especially brutal so be prepared.
Can you see the duck?
Once back at the visitors center we started the drive East to visit some view points. About 10 minutes down the road, you’ll hit Yaki point and then Duck on a rock viewpoint, both of which are worth stopping at.
Rounding out the Grand Canyon one day itinerary is Navajo Point and let me tell you… Navajo Point for sunset, is a sight to be seen. Located about 30 minutes from duck on a rock viewpoint, Navajo point is the highest vista on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. It’s the perfect place to take iconic photos without the crowds in your way.
As the sun sinks heavier into the horizon, light rays dance through the canyon walls illuminating the Colorado River. An absolutely breathtaking site to see.
There are two campgrounds on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park:
Reservations for Mather Campground can be made at Recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance and they fill up quick! Especially for summer months. We attempted to book a South Rim site in March for a trip planned in May but weren’t able to do so. Instead we had to bank on getting a walk up site at Desert View Campground.
Relying on a walk-up site campsite can be pretty nerve racking, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances:
Have you been to any of the spots listed in this post? Do you have others you’d recommended for a one day trip to Grand Canyon National Park? Let others know in the comments below.
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