What kind of car should I rent for this trip?

A midsize SUV is recommended to comfortably fit four people, daypacks, and booster seats for the three-day rental period from Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Where will the family stay in Grand Canyon National Park?

The itinerary includes two nights in a motel-section room with two queen beds at Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan, located just outside the park entrance.

Can we drive our own car on Hermit Road to Hopi Point?

Hermit Road is normally closed to private vehicles in May, so the red Hermits Rest Route shuttle will be used to reach Hopi Point for sunset.

How strenuous is the South Kaibab Trail hike?

The plan includes a 1.8-mile round trip hike to Ooh Aah Point with about 600 feet of elevation change, so be prepared for a moderate climb on the return.

When should I book lodging for this trip?

Reserve the Red Feather motel room as soon as inventory opens for May, as South Rim lodging can fill months in advance.

Layered red and tan cliffs of the Grand Canyon dropping away under soft morning light

Sample itinerary · 3 days

3-Day Grand Canyon Itinerary with Kids

You sleep on the rim, so sunrise is a walk outside, not a 4am drive.

Going to: Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim, Arizona
Length: 3 days
Travelers: Families
Trip total: $745–$1,110

$745–$1,110

The total covers lodging, getting around and tickets and tours for the whole party, plus food, gas and parking estimated in the breakdown below.

Things to do

Trail of Time (Day 1)
Sunset at Hopi Point (Day 1)
Family stargazing at Mather Point (Day 1)
South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point (Day 2)
Recovery snack · Bright Angel Bicycles café (Day 2)
Yavapai Geology Museum (Day 2)
Geology Glimpse ranger program (Day 2)
Desert View Watchtower (Day 2)
Flexible family evening (Day 2)
Bright Angel Trailhead (Day 3)
Junior Ranger program at Verkamp's Visitor Center (Day 3)
Road snack · Thanks A Latte (Day 3)

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Why this plan works

The drive is broken by an easy lunch, followed by only three rim activities clustered along the Village and Hermit Road shuttle corridor. A substantial afternoon gap preserves the requested moderate pace before sunset and stargazing.

Open the Drive Phoenix → Camp Verde leg in Maps Open the Drive Camp Verde → Tusayan leg in Maps Open the Check in · Red Feather Lodge motel room leg in Maps

7:00 AM–7:30 AM
Pick up family rental car
7:00 AM–7:30 AM
An SUV gives four people and hiking gear useful room without the fuel cost of a full-size vehicle.
Book ahead · Hire cars: reserve 3–6 weeks ahead; most bookings cancel free
Collect a midsize SUV at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Rental Car Center, check that four small daypacks fit and install two belt-positioning boosters if required.
7:30 AM–9:00 AM
Drive Phoenix → Camp Verde
7:30 AM–9:00 AM
An early departure avoids much of Phoenix traffic and protects the afternoon at the rim.
Take I-17 north for approximately 95 miles. Grab breakfast before leaving home or eat the packed breakfast brought for the drive; there is no starting-city breakfast stop.
9:00 AM–9:25 AM
Breakfast break · Thanks A Latte
9:00 AM–9:25 AM
It is directly along the route and keeps the first travel morning low-effort.
Stop in Camp Verde for breakfast burritos, bagels, pastries or oatmeal; use the restroom and refill water before continuing.
9:25 AM–11:45 AM
Drive Camp Verde → Tusayan
9:25 AM–11:45 AM
This direct route reaches Tusayan before lunch without an unnecessary sightseeing detour.
Continue via I-17, I-40 and AZ-64 for approximately 145 miles. Allow extra time for construction or the park entrance approach.
11:45 AM–12:35 PM
Lunch · Foodie Club
11:45 AM–12:35 PM
It is close to the motel and park entrance, with a broad menu for a low-adventurousness family meal.
Order burgers, sandwiches, salads or a simple children's meal at this casual Tusayan counter-service stop.
12:35 PM–1:05 PM
Drive into Grand Canyon National Park
12:35 PM–1:05 PM
The seven-day vehicle pass covers the entire family and all three park days.
Book ahead · Entry is a gate fee — buy the pass online any time before you travel
Drive roughly seven miles to the South Entrance and continue to Grand Canyon Village. Keep the admission receipt with the vehicle.
1:05 PM–2:25 PM
Trail of Time
1:05 PM–2:25 PM
This combines scenery, history and a short, child-friendly first walk without descending below the rim.
Walk an easy section of the paved rim trail between Verkamp's Visitor Center and Yavapai Point, using the bronze markers and rock samples to trace canyon geology. Cover about 1.5–2 miles, then use the Village shuttle to return if needed.
2:25 PM–2:50 PM
Return to Tusayan
2:25 PM–2:50 PM
Checking in now creates a genuine rest period before the evening outing.
Retrieve the car and drive approximately 15 minutes to Red Feather Lodge.
2:50 PM–3:10 PM
Red Feather Lodge
2:50 PM–3:10 PM
The motel wing follows the literal nearby-town motel preference and sits about a 15-minute drive from the South Rim entrance; no nearby chain motel reliably meets the requested quality threshold.
Check into a motel-section room with two queen beds for two adults and two children. Confirm that the selected room is specifically in the exterior-corridor motel building rather than the main hotel building.
3:10 PM–5:00 PM
Unhurried motel rest
3:10 PM–5:00 PM
The open afternoon prevents the sunset and stargazing plans from turning the arrival day into a rush.
Settle in, refill bottles and let the children rest before the late evening. Pack warm layers and headlamps for the return after dark.
5:00 PM–5:45 PM
Early dinner · Plaza Bonita
5:00 PM–5:45 PM
An early, familiar dinner leaves enough time to park and reach Hopi Point before sunset.
Book ahead · Call ahead: most restaurants open tables about a month out, and large parties often need longer
Choose tacos, quesadillas, fajitas or rice-and-bean plates at this casual Tusayan Mexican restaurant.
5:45 PM–6:35 PM
Drive and shuttle to Hopi Point
5:45 PM–6:35 PM
Private cars are normally restricted on Hermit Road in May, making the shuttle the practical route.
Drive to the Grand Canyon Village area, park near the Village Route Transfer stop and take the red Hermits Rest Route shuttle to Hopi Point. Allow queue time.
6:35 PM–7:40 PM
Sunset at Hopi Point
6:35 PM–7:40 PM
Hopi Point provides broad west-facing canyon views and directly fulfills the sunset and scenery priorities.
Choose a safe spot behind the railing and watch the light move across the canyon; sunset is roughly 7:20 p.m. in early May. Stay together near drop-offs.
7:40 PM–8:25 PM
Shuttle to the Village and drive to Mather Point
7:40 PM–8:25 PM
Mather Point has a straightforward nighttime approach and nearby parking.
Queue for the return shuttle, retrieve the car and relocate to the Grand Canyon Visitor Center parking area. Use headlamps without shining them at other visitors.
8:25 PM–9:10 PM
Family stargazing at Mather Point
8:25 PM–9:10 PM
The South Rim's dark sky makes this a genuine headline experience rather than an afterthought.
Spend about 45 minutes identifying bright constellations and watching the sky darken. Remain on paved paths and use red-light mode if available.
9:10 PM–9:30 PM
Return to Red Feather Lodge
9:10 PM–9:30 PM
The short return keeps the late evening manageable for children.
Drive approximately 15 minutes south to Tusayan and settle in for the night.

If you fall behind

What to cut if you fall behind: skip the Trail of Time and go directly to check-in; keep sunset and stargazing.

Plan a trip like this

Bookings & costs

$745–$1,110

0 of 5 bookable items booked

Food not included: about $470, listed below

About $1,270 under your $2,200 budget

0 of 5 bookable items booked

Locked in

paid or reserved

Still to book

$740

est. $595–$875 · 5 items

Gas & parking

$190

est. $150–$235

Booked prices are exact. Everything else is an estimate.Budget $2,200

Know before you go

Practical notes for this trip — the things worth sorting before you leave.

Booking windows & timing

Reserve the Red Feather motel room as soon as May inventory opens; South Rim lodging can fill months ahead even on weekdays.
Time-sensitiveCheck in · Red Feather Lodge motel room
The ranger calendar will not be final until closer to the trip. Reconfirm the Geology Glimpse and Junior Ranger programs, then shift nearby meals rather than adding another activity.
Time-sensitiveGeology Glimpse ranger program

Set up before you go

Download the NPS app and save Grand Canyon National Park for offline use. Also download the current South Rim shuttle map because mobile service is unreliable along the rim.

Getting around & driving

Hermit Road is normally closed to private vehicles during May, so use the red shuttle for Hopi Point. Board well before sunset because return queues form immediately afterward.
Sunset at Hopi Point

Weather & packing

May can bring strong sun, freezing mornings, wind and occasional late snow at 7,000 feet. Pack warm layers, gloves and wind shells as well as hats and sunscreen.

Health & safety

Each person should carry water on every trail, even in cool weather. Turn around if either child develops headache, nausea or unusual fatigue from the elevation.
South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point
Arizona generally requires an appropriate child restraint for children under eight who are not yet 4 feet 9 inches tall. Bring or reserve two belt-positioning boosters unless both children clearly exceed the legal threshold.
Time-sensitivePick up family rental car

Crowds & timing

Enter the park before 8:00 a.m. on the full day; the Tusayan entrance can develop long vehicle lines later in the morning. Once parked, leave the car and use the shuttles.

Want this trip on your dates?

Make this yours — free, no account, no card.

Plan a trip like this

Questions about this plan

What kind of car should I rent for this trip?: A midsize SUV is recommended to comfortably fit four people, daypacks, and booster seats for the three-day rental period from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Where will the family stay in Grand Canyon National Park?: The itinerary includes two nights in a motel-section room with two queen beds at Red Feather Lodge in Tusayan, located just outside the park entrance.
Can we drive our own car on Hermit Road to Hopi Point?: Hermit Road is normally closed to private vehicles in May, so the red Hermits Rest Route shuttle will be used to reach Hopi Point for sunset.
How strenuous is the South Kaibab Trail hike?: The plan includes a 1.8-mile round trip hike to Ooh Aah Point with about 600 feet of elevation change, so be prepared for a moderate climb on the return.
When should I book lodging for this trip?: Reserve the Red Feather motel room as soon as inventory opens for May, as South Rim lodging can fill months in advance.