Enjoy one of the seven wonders of the natural world

Boy, are you in for an experience of a lifetime when you visit the Grand Canyon. There’s plenty for outdoor lovers and sightseers alike to do at this park, and there’s no way you can enjoy every aspect of it and see everything there is to see at one time. You’ll definitely want to plan an extended stay, and whether you want to remain in your RV while you’re there, or pitch a tent for a back-to-nature vacation, there are accommodations for all of it.

Plan ahead

Like, way ahead. The Grand Canyon is a hot place to visit, and if you’re going to the Southern Rim, it’s even more popular. You’ll want to make sure you have your space reserved – or your lodging if you want to spend some time outside your RV – and know what kind of reservation times you need to consider for the various activities you’d like to enjoy.

Another part of planning is knowing where you want to focus your time. It’s great to imagine that we will see all of the Grand Canyon in one trip, but realistically it may not happen. From the North Rim to the South Rim, it is roughly 280 miles of driving on tourist roads. So, check out what you’d like to do, know where the majority of those activities are located, and plan to stay in that vicinity.

Create a realistic budget

Time and budgeting are both huge factors when it comes to planning a vacation in the Grand Canyon. You’ll want more money than you would for the typical trip, and you’ll want to plan for activities that cost money rather than just food and souvenirs. Many people who travel there say that they wish they’d saved out more money so they could enjoy all there was to see and do.

The best way to make sure you’ve set aside enough money is to make plans for what you’d like to do, and check out the prices and save a little extra for surprises. This is an adventure, and as much as we’d like to control every aspect of it, emergencies do happen, and exciting new opportunities may present themselves once we get there.

Once you’re there

Take a deep breath. You’ve finally arrived. Let yourself drink in the moment and get to know your surroundings. Stretch your legs some and take a look around. Many people never get the chance to be where you are, standing on so much history and so much wonder. Now your adventure can begin.

• Cathedral Rock. If you love capturing moments or getting great Instagram pictures of all your travels, Cathedral Rock is a picture you have to snap. It’s so picturesque that it’s photographed more often than any other place in the Grand Canyon!
• Havasu Falls. Swim in the basin at the foot of these double waterfalls. Listen to the roar of water and the blues and greens that are a stark contrast to the reds and browns of the rest of the Grand Canyon. Think about how they were formed and how many persistent years the water took to create them.
• Rafting on the Colorado River. There’s more water fun to enjoy than the falls. If you’re in for a thrill while you’re at the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River and its rapids are ready to deliver!
• See beneath you on the skywalk. A newer addition to the Grand Canyon, the skywalk is a must see if you’ve budgeted for it properly. This is a glass observation deck that allows visitors to step out and see the Grand Canyon as the birds would!
• Get your hiking in on the Rim Trail. There are 13 miles for you to spend the day traversing, so make sure you’ve brought a lot of water, your camera, sun block, and binoculars for the stunning sights in store for you.
• See the bottom. Get used to spending time in a saddle, because mules are used to help you reach the bottom. Of course, that’s not the only way to reach the bottom, but it’s the most popular and most authentic way!

These are just a few of the things you can plan for when visiting the Grand Canyon. This location is rife with history, so if you can’t get enough of times past, just wait until you visit, there’s a ton of history just waiting for you.

Surprises happen along the way, and when that surprise is a mechanical issue, it’s not a good one. You may not be a mechanic, but that doesn’t mean you can diagnose what’s happening to your rig. We offer virtual diagnostics to help you understand what’s happening and just how serious it is.