Overview
Tusayan is a town of 600 people (2019) just 2 miles (3.2 km) from the South Rim entrance of Grand Canyon National Park. It is most often used by travelers to the park for overnight lodging.
1 sights · 1 things to do · 1 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Tusayan
Grand Canyon Visitor Center
Grand Canyon IMAX Theater
Visitors to the South Rim can go to the National Geographic IMAX theatre to see half hour presentation of Grand Canyon, the Hidden Secrets. Showtimes are every hour on the half hour.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Jul and Aug. (climate data from nearby Grand Canyon)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- GCN Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Grand Canyon - Tusayan — 2 mi away. Directions
- FLG Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Flagstaff — 64 mi away. Directions
- LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 169 mi away (major hub). Directions
Travelers would arrive on Arizona State Route 64 (AZ 64) passes through the center of town. North of town through the South Entrance is the Grand Canyon. AZ 64 continues east through the park to the East Entrance and on to Cameron and Arizona State Route 89 (AZ 89), which runs between Flagstaff and Page. South of town is Grand Canyon Junction, where AZ 64 continues south to Williams and ends at Interstate 40. For travelers to/from Flagstaff, a more direct route is US 180 northwest from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Junction, then north on AZ 64 to Tusayan.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Grand Canyon Visitor Center
- Lunch We Cook Pizza and Pasta
- Afternoon Grand Canyon IMAX Theater
- Evening Big E Steakhouse and Saloon
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Surrounded by the Kaibab forest and just 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the Grand Canyon, Tusayan is a tourist-oriented town providing easy lodging, camping and dining for visitors.
Get in
By car
Travelers would arrive on Arizona State Route 64 (AZ 64) passes through the center of town. North of town through the South Entrance is the Grand Canyon. AZ 64 continues east through the park to the East Entrance and on to Cameron and Arizona State Route 89 (AZ 89), which runs between Flagstaff and Page. South of town is Grand Canyon Junction, where AZ 64 continues south to Williams and ends at Interstate 40. For travelers to/from Flagstaff, a more direct route is US 180 northwest from Flagstaff to Grand Canyon Junction, then north on AZ 64 to Tusayan.
By plane
Go Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN)
It is primarily used by companies who provide Grand Canyon air tours and private aircraft. Grand Canyon Airlines flights from Boulder City, Nevada
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is the nearest commercial airport to the South Rim.
Many Grand Canyon visitors fly into one of two major metropolitan airports within half a day's drive of the South Rim:
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – 275 mi west then north from the South Rim.
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) – 230 mi south from the South Rim.
Get around
By shuttle
The National Park Service provides a shuttle bus service that connects the town and the park. The ride is free. Buses run from before sunrise to after sunset, on four routes: two routes run year-round and two run seasonally. There are several bus stop locations in town, including a park-and-ride on the north end of town.
Do
Eat
Drink
Drink Big E Steakhouse and Saloon
Sleep
Hotels
Camping
Go next
- Grand Canyon National Park. Unless you have relatives in town you're here to see the Grand Canyon, located just north of town.
Nearby
Grand Canyon
Park · 62 listings · 5 mi away
Cameron
City / town · 3 listings · 41 mi away
Williams
City / town · 33 listings · 51 mi away
Tuba City
City / town · 8 listings · 51 mi away
Kaibab Plateau
Park · 7 listings · 51 mi away
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Park · 3 listings · 55 mi away
Ash Fork
City / town · 4 listings · 56 mi away
Flagstaff
City / town · 87 listings · 61 mi away
My experience
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