Best Grand Canyon 2 Day Itinerary: How To Spend Your Time

Use our Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary to help plan an unforgettable trip to Grand Canyon National Park. Start your adventure at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. First, spend one day exploring the eastern area of the South Rim along with the Bright Angel Trail.

Second, spend another day trekking to Hermit’s Rest on the Rim Trail. The Grand Canyon is something that you really can’t miss. Pictures will never do justice to this national park. It truly is amazing.

This post is part of our guide on visiting all 3 amazing Arizona National Parks. Read on to get the full details. Our guide is based on NOT hiking down into the canyon (too far). There are plenty of things to do along the rim!

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Before You Venture Out

• Fees to enter Grand Canyon National Park are required. Use your interagency pass! Cash is not accepted. Visit our Gear page to purchase your America the Beautiful Pass online at REI’s website. In some cases, you can purchase an annual pass at the entrance of some parks.
• Stay in the park if you can. This will save you time, but not money! We really enjoyed our stay in the newly updated rooms at the Maswik Lodge.
  • If you want to stay in the park, book your accommodations early! We are talking at least 9-12 months in advance.
• Arrive in the offseason, early, or late. Grand Canyon National Park sees about 5 million visitors per year. It’s safe to say that this is a VERY busy park.
  • Visit during the summer season for fewer crowds; however, heat is an issue during this time
  • Enter the park on a weekday
  • Enter the park before 10 am or after 2 pm. Wait times for entry can be up to 2 hours during peak season!
• If you travel here during the peak season like us, it will be busy. You can expect:
  • Large amounts of visitors at all overlooks – try to get to these spots as early as you can if you’d like to enjoy them without others. Additionally, hiking away from the popular spots will help you find areas with fewer crowds.
  • Long lines to get on a shuttle bus – don’t use it/use it early. Walk as much as you can! We used the Red Shuttle only on our trip as a way to return from Hermit’s Rest.
  • Limited parking – We stayed inside the park, but parked at the South Rim Visitor Center lot one day. We got there at 7 am, and the lot was empty. When we returned, folks were parking in no-parking zones, next to no-parking signs, on the side of the roads, blocking others, etc. It was a madhouse!

Weather and General Safety when Spending 2 Days at Grand Canyon National Park

• Cell phone coverage is fairly good here. Connectivity with our carrier was spotty in some areas away from Grand Canyon Village.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. Water bottle filling stations are located around the park. Click here for details.
• Pack PB&J and other snacks to eat around lunchtime on the trails. Snack time is the best time!
• Always carry a first aid kit.
• Make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be on each day in case something happens.
• Reduce your risk by preparing and having the proper gear for all hikes you plan to complete. This means good shoes and proper hiking attire. No flip-flops!
• Be aware of heat-related illness – you may be okay along the South Rim, but temperatures within the canyon can be up to 100+F.
• Thunderstorm season is from July through September. Dangerous lightning is a concern. Lightning has killed and injured visitors to the park. Click here for more information on lightning safety.
• Please stay on trails and behind any barricades. Park in designated spots only.
• Do not throw objects into the canyon.

Animal Safety at Grand Canyon National Park

• Grand Canyon National Park is home to many animals, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, rattlesnakes, lizards, and more.
  • Review the steps to take if you encounter a mountain lion along the trail. Though it’s probably safe to say you won’t see one.
• Do not approach wildlife! You should be at least 100 feet away from elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain lions.

Arrival at Grand Canyon National Park

First, head to the South Rim Entrance at Grand Canyon National Park. As noted above, try to arrive at a time outside the busy window. We arrived at 4:15 pm and still had to wait about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get in!

Also, stay in the right lane when entering. For whatever reason, this lane seemed to go a bit quicker than the left lane. The right lane opened up into entry stations 3, 4, and 5, whereas the left lane was only entering into stations 1 and 2.

Additionally, the “prepay” lane was closed, and we would have been able to use that one, having had an Interagency Pass!

Where to Stay – Lodging and Food

Then, when you are through the entry station, check in at your hotel based on your hotel’s specific check-in time. Below are the best places to stay in Grand Canyon National Park.

Click the links for pricing and reviews. Depending on where you are staying, there are a few food options in the park to visit as well.

• Maswik Lodge
  • Maswik Food Court – this is basically a cafeteria-style eatery. It was not as bad as people say, but one day it appeared as though they were running out of items to purchase!
  • Maswik Pizza Pub – this was excellent pizza! It’s located right near the Maswik Food Court
• Bright Angel Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge
  • Harvey House Cafe – Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner. First come, first served. No dress code.
  • Arizona Steakhouse – Lunch and dinner, first come, first served. No dress code.
  • Bright Angel Fountain – Coffee!
• El Tovar Hotel, Kachina Lodge
  • El Tovar Dining Room – RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, lounge, and patio.
  • Dress code: Suit jackets are not required, but dress appropriately (shorts and flip-flops discouraged).
• Yavapai Lodge
  • Yavapai Cafe and Tavern – grab and go, pizza by the slice (dinner), market deli, limited sit-down.

🛏️Check out the prices and ratings for all of the accommodations at Grand Canyon National Park here. It may cost a bit more, but staying in the park will save you so much time that the cost is worth it.

Map

Our Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary is mapped out above, which gives a better picture and overview of the things we did.

Day 1 – South Kaibab Trail (or not!), South Rim Trail, Shoshone Point, Desert View Watchtower, & Bright Angel Trail.

Are you asking yourself, “Huh?! There are a lot of trails and activities listed there to complete in one day.” Well, if you like hiking, it is doable! Our Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary includes many of the trails at the South Rim, and you can pick and choose what you want, or do them all.

We did not venture too far down into the canyon, so this is the perfect guide for those who want to take it easy. The most strenuous hike we planned was to head to Ooh Ahh Point. Let’s start there.

South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Ahh Point – strenuous, 7+ miles, out and back, 800 ft elevation change

First, the best way to get to this trail is to park near the visitor center in the South Rim Parking Lot. Additionally, there is street parking along Desert View Drive closer to this trailhead, but if you don’t get there early enough, it will be full.

If you park in the South Rim Lot, head east on the South Rim Trail until you reach the South Kaibab Trailhead and parking lot.

Next, take the trail down into the canyon about 1 mile. The trail is very steep along the first section of switchbacks and levels out after this. Once you reach Ooh Ahh Point, you can continue on about a half mile to Cedar Ridge if you want, but then it is advised to hike back out at this point.

From the trailhead, Ooh Aah Point is a 1.8-mile round trip, and Cedar Ridge is a 3-mile round trip.

Funny story! We got to this trailhead very early, probably around 8 am. We were super excited to travel a little way into the canyon. NOT!

Thanks to a sheet of ice on the trail, we couldn’t complete this hike. Sadly, we also left our crampons at home. You never know what kind of weather you will encounter in spring!

South Rim Trail

Afterward, head back the way you came using the South Rim Trail. This trail runs most of the length of the Grand Canyon along the rim, offering various overlooks and viewpoints. Head back toward the visitor center and be sure to make a stop at Mather Point with all the other tourists.

Shoshone Point – easy – 2 miles, out and back

Need a break from the hordes of people near the visitor center? This next one is for you! First, head east on Desert View Drive to the Shoshone Point Trailhead. This is a very small dirt lot just after the South Kaibab Trailhead area.

If you are here in the spring, be prepared for mud, and lots of it. This short trail through a Ponderosa pine forest will lead you to Shoshone Point, which offers excellent views of the Grand Canyon without all the people.

You will be really happy you did this quick and easy hike. Finally, retrace your steps back to the parking lot. Don’t forget – expect mud. We mean it!

Desert View Watchtower

A Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary would not be complete without a visit to Desert View Watchtower. Now, take a scenic drive on Desert View Drive east to visit this location. There are plenty of parking spots here, and you can take a short trip down to view Devil’s Tower and the Grand Canyon.

Further, if you would like to go up into the tower, a ticket system allows 25 people up into the tower at a time. There is a 20-minute time limit. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis and can’t be held for later times.

The tower was built in 1932 and offers an interesting perspective of the Grand Canyon.

🛎️ Check out the Maswik Lodge on Expedia and book your room today.

Bright Angel Trail

Finally, after you stop at Desert View Watchtower, head back to your hotel and park your car. If you are in one of the hotels with proximity to the Bright Angel Trail, this is a great time to take a quick hike down into the canyon.

We were really looking forward to this area since our trip to Ooh Ahh Point did not work out. It turns out, however, that the Bright Angel Trail was also (mostly) closed due to a water line construction project.

We were able to hike about a half mile to the closure point and back. If you hike down, don’t forget…you’ll have to hike back up!

Need a Break From Hiking?

🚙Check out some options on tours and other activities near Grand Canyon National Park from Viator!

Day 2 – South Rim Trail to Hermit’s Rest – easy – 8 miles, point-to-point

Finish up your Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary with another hike. First, head out early to beat the crowds. No need to move your car. Begin at the Red Shuttle Stop, which is located near the Maswik Lodge and Bright Angel Lodge.

Note that this road is closed during peak season, and you must take the Red Shuttle or hike/bike if you want to visit Hermit’s Rest.

South Rim Trail

Next, get ready to do some hiking. This time, head west on the South Rim Trail toward Hermit’s Rest. This trail will lead you to 9 overlooks along the 8-mile trail. It’s mostly flat with little elevation gain except for the beginning of the trail.

There are parts of this trail that go very close to the canyon edge, so be very careful. Once you reach the end of this trail, explore Hermit’s Rest, get some ice cream, and take the shuttle back!

Additionally, you also have the option to hike as little or as much as you want using the Red Shuttle. For example, hike halfway and take the shuttle to Hermit’s Rest and back to the main park.

You can get off at any point, but note that the shuttle returning to the main area of the park will only stop at specific locations instead of all 9.

➡️Read next: How to Visit Devil’s Bridge and Hike Spectacular Trails in Sedona: Day 1

Drive to Sedona, AZ

If you are following our Arizona National Park itinerary, finish up your Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary by heading south to Sedona. Be sure to travel on Route 89 through Oak Creek Canyon. There are a few places to stop and/or hike along this scenic road, including the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook.

West Fork Oak Creek – moderate – 6.5 miles (with option for less), out and back

Next, if you want to hike more, stop at the West Fork Oak Creek Trailhead. Unfortunately, you will have to pay $12.00/vehicle to visit (unless you have a Red Rocks Pass) and hike here, as this location does not accept Interagency Passes.

If you do stop, be prepared to get wet as there are multiple creek crossings along this trail. We did stop here, but only completed part of the hike as it was getting late in the day.

This is one of the most popular trails in the area, and you’ll see why. Traveling through the towering canyon walls along the creek offers a unique and fun experience for all. Hike as little or as much as you want and turn around at any point.

We imagine this trail to be very refreshing in the hot summer months.

Final Thoughts

We enjoyed our busy Grand Canyon 2 day itinerary. Even though this national park was extremely busy, we still had a great time, and Grand Canyon National Park is definitely a must-visit destination.

If you can get down into the canyon, this will help with crowds as well. One thing that bummed us out was the South Kaibab Trail being so icy. We were unprepared for this with proper footwear, so that was a failure on our part. I guess we will have to return someday to explore more of this trail.

We ate most of our dinners in the park and visited the Maswik Food Court as well as the Maswik Pizza Pub. The pizza was a favorite of the two. Arizona Steakhouse was a backup plan, but let’s be honest, the Maswik facilities were closer, and we didn’t want to walk back toward the canyon for dinner after hiking all day!

👉🏽📖Keep exploring Arizona and check out details for Sedona here! BUT! Before you go, get your lodging booked for the Grand Canyon before everything books up.