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    Thunderbird Lodge

    3.5 (70 reviews)
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    How do you beat sunsets like this?
    Sammy B.

    Most of the time people want a hotel room where every wish is granted. Perfect styling, the softest of beds, the most channels on the television, and the fanciest of bathrooms. You won't get that here at Thunderbird Lodge. What you will get instead is a comfortable bed to stay in after a long day exploring a natural world wonder. What you'll get is air conditioning that will be welcomed after sweating in the AZ heat whilst hiking all around the southern rim. What you'll get is a view outside your window you can't find anywhere else in the world. Thunderbird Lodge is literally steps away from the edge of the south rim of the Grand Canyon. You can walk out and be within the majesty of it within a minute. The room itself isn't meant to be glamorous. It is meant to be sustainable so you don't stay in the room when you have so much more to do outside of it. As long as you understand this you'll see the beauty of this fantastic hotel and why if you visit the Grand Canyon for more than a day this place is a god-send. Yes, it looks like a college dorm but trust me it'll be an inviting space with Wi-Fi that'll make streaming till you pass out a fantastic idea after a packed day at the Grand Canyon. Just make sure you bring lots of snacks with you before you get here as food is limited to 2 restaurants that often have reservations booked and a gift shop with only to-go quick foods like sandwiches, soda, and candy.

    Perfect place for a family to stay in a visit to Grand Canyon! We got lucky to get a room last minute on a day before New Year's. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The room was warm and cozy with a balcony to a great view to the National Park. Parking was easy access and close to the room. The room was clean with amenities and a mini kitchen with all the supplies. We love it.

    Pic of the lodge from the walkway next to the Rim of the Grand Canyon
    J N.

    The location of this place is pretty amazing. Since it is situated next to the canyon along with the Kachina Lodge, you can't go wrong when you book this place. Good luck if you can find parking though because spots are limited. If you do find parking, and you want to stay in the area, there are a number of shuttles that run around the clock and they will take you wherever you want to go to see the various South Rim viewpoints. Restaurants around town are sort of meh and a little pricey so don't expect to eat well. The lodge is near Mary Coulter's Studio Lookout which you have to check out. It looks small from the outside but it's a few levels and the views are pretty cool. Pack a little light because there is no elevator to help you get from the first to the second level. The TV in the room was a small 32" but you probably won't spend much time in the room except to recharge your batteries and get sleep in prep to get in your way the next day. The lodge is a bit overpriced at over 300 per night so maybe do some research before you book. This lodge has been around for decades so kudos to it and the surrounding lodges for keeping up with the times and continuing to provide a cool place to stay.

    Hand soap
    Ronnie V.

    This lodge is pretty clean and you are on the entrance of the rim and a brisk walk to bright angel trail. Complementary body wash , shampoo and conditioner in case you came without. They smelled funky but it works if you came without. Would definitely stay again! Clovid update. Staff wears mask but guest do not so beware. And of course there are large gatherings everywhere .

    View from the partial canyon view room for an extra $100
    Dwight B.

    Long story short your paying to be at the hotel closest to the rim. For 2 nights we paid over $650 for the partial canyon view - forgo that unless you have money to burn. If the price doesn't scare you away then here is the pros on the room itself, it was clean, seemed well maintained, AC worked well, the beds were comfy, had a nice desk and chair with tech plugins and the bathroom and shower were fine. The two downsides were the WiFi - almost non existent and although they had a fridge they had no microwave. We were here just after they opened from Covid so things were not operating at 100% but that's understandable. Best advice, stop in Williams AZ buy plenty of water ($7.50 for two cans - yes cans here) snacks and stuff to make your breakfast and lunch in the room. Did I mention bring plenty of water.

    Jim B.

    Clean motel style throwback room RIGHT ON THE RIM OF GRAND CANYON. I mean you step out the door and you get the million dollar view. Unfortunately, our room looked at the parking lot but just there to prep for the rim to river to rim hike just hanging our hat there for the night. Good beds, but the thermostat worked but seemed to hot. I guess fair price what ya gonna do it's a million dollar view. A bed and a toilet and shower are just that...no fuss no muss just clean.

    rm 6213 bathroom
    Jolanda D.

    Very clean, well maintained, not upscale for the price but nice and if you can afford it I suggest getting a Grand Canyon view room. My wife and I were treated to the site of canyon deer climbing out of the canyon and coming to sip sprinkler water right outside of our window. If you're only going to come to the Grand Canyon once then stay right on the canyon at this lodge. The places to get food shut down relatively early at night and the food that is available is kinda overpriced and not very good. The parking situation is park where you can so be forewarned. I stayed in rm 6213

    Dominique M.

    Boy, am I surprised this has not been review yet, the hotel was close to sold out but I am glad to do it. I feel slightly guilty as I only took pics of the view inside the room instead of the room itself... This place was much nicer than I expected!!! As far as the inside of the hotel room. Decent sized tv I watched (JI Jane my first night), small single cup kureg coffee marker with options of tea or coffee. A-ok bathroom and a firm bed. I actually got the perfect view room with just a small tree from the window unlike the others rooms which had medium sized trees obstructing a from a full panoramic view. Lucky me! Reason being for minus two stars was the noise. Ahhh the noise!!! There were people yelling from one room and kids laughing/screaming blasting TV from another. Threw out the night you could here the security woman walk the halls talking loudly on her walkie talking. It was a pain as I need serious sleep for the hike the following morning... Other than the noise the room more than exceeded my needs.

    Closet
    Jerry C.

    Expect a Days Inn style room at Marriott!/Hilton prices. No elevator to 2nd floor so keep that in mind if there is someone who has needs. The room does have a digital safe, ironing board and a frig but no microwave. You are paying for convenience of being right at the canyon. Food and drink here are ball park prices so pack ahead of time. For example a pbj sandwich is $7. Yes the same sandwich you make at home! If your vegan they do have accommodations. So pack your friends and family in and bring sleeping bags to keep the cost down. And there is no pic or vid that can capture the shear majestic view of the Grand Canyon!

    Albert M.

    Location 5/5 Hotel room 2/5 Hospitality 2/5 Food 2/5 Parking -10/5 It's right on the rim of one of world's greatest natural wonders! Location can't be any better. Hotel room is old, ugly paint job, Walmart furniture, so don't look for a 4 star experience. A lot of foreign student work on staff. They may think they are pretty nice to you, but you get more warmth at drive through window at Taco Bell. At at the Bright Angel Louge. Their long tradition did not help the food. Mine was bad, my girlfriend felt her food was horrible. And the parking. There is none. After circling the maze of narrow roads for 45 minutes after our 8 hour drive to the park, we parked on dirt, climbed over railroad track, a hill, and made it to the hotel room all angry. But I don't regret staying here. You can't beat the location!

    Street-side view of Thunderbird Lodge 11/2017

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    Nice spacious and comfortable rooms. There was no replenishment of toilet paper or towels, and no coffee maker or microwave in the room.

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    Thunderbird Lodge Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Thunderbird Lodge

    What are things we can do around here? Are there easily accessible hikes? Do they have tours around here? Is there food around here?

    The entrance to the south rim of the Grand Canyon is right there. There are souvenir shops and an art gallery. There are a few restaurants. Try and make reservations when possible.

    It seems that car parking at Thunderbird Lodge is quite challenging. Are there any alternative places for parking nearby the lodge?

    If walking isn't a problem for you, there's a parking lot located just on the other side of the train tracks (you'll see it on any map of the village). It's not a very long walk but no clear, direct path connecting it to the Lodge; we didn't mind… Read more

    Is there a free shuttle in this lodge area?

    Yes there's a shuttle that leaves from the Bright Angel lodge which is next door.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Thunderbird Lodge

    Great dining options in walking distance (Arizona Room, Bright Angel Restaurant, El Tovar Restaurant).

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Phantom Ranch

    Phantom Ranch

    (67 reviews)

    $$$

    It is very silly to write a Yelp review of a place that's nearly impossible to get a reservation…read moreat. But I do compulsively write Yelp reviews of everywhere I eat, so here goes. Location aside, the "hiker's stew" is genuinely an excellent stew. Good quality big chunks of beef and a really savory broth that lets you know just how long it was cooked. Some vegetables (corn) are likely canned, but that was both a minor issue and to be expected given the location. Overall it's genuinely very tasty. Salad was fresh but unremarkable. Cornbread was excellent. Cake was average. I do wish they had ice cream, but I understand the logistical difficulties there...

    Phantom Ranch is a unique experience in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. From the south rim, it is…read moreabout 7.5 miles down the South Kaibab trail or 10 miles via the Bright Angel trail. There's cabins and bunk houses that require a lottery 15 months in advance, which adds to the exclusivity of the experience. Steak dinner is offered by reservations only for $70pp U.S. From 8am- 8pm, there's a cantina open selling all the things you'd want while backpacking, including cold lemonade, beer, wine, snacks, and first aid items. This week, the canyon was bursting with color from all the flowers and vegetation growing after the heavy snow season. This was truly a special experience! The trail to Ribbon Falls/North Rim was closed at one of the bridges and the creek running too high to attempt a safe crossing, so we enjoyed a rest day and cooled off on the banks of the stunning Colorado River. We took pictures of the current ranch as big changes are underway with a new water system getting installed, which will impact access to the ranch for a while. Special mention to the staff, particularly Zach, who went above and beyond to show us hospitality. Also, best of luck to new hire Tyler as he settles into his new role at the ranch! The ranch is currently short-handed, and some of the staff are really feeling the stress, which is starting to show in their interactions with guests. Remember to be patient and kind. The bottom of the Grand Canyon can't be an easy place to live and work.

    Maswik Lodge - South Rim! Spectacular views!

    Maswik Lodge

    (280 reviews)

    $$

    Maswik Lodge is a 280 room lodging complex nestled within the Ponderosa pine forest. It is located…read morejust a short quarter-mile walk from the canyon's edge. Our standard guest room featured a mini-fridge, coffeemaker, air conditioning, safe, satellite TV, telephone, hair dryer and two queen sized beds. The room was clean, spacious and comfortable. Guests services delivered our luggage's to our room upon arrival from The Grand Canyon Railway Hotel via the train. The main lodging area consisted of the registration desk, gift shops, maswik food court, and pizza pub. The food was okay, nothing special. The hotel staff were great- showing genuine enjoyment in helping others, providing service with a contagious and positive attitude. Overall, our one night stay was very enjoyable! We will definitely be back for another stay!

    Great accommodation option if staying at the southern rim of the Grand Canyon that won't break the…read morebank. We booked a room with 2 double beds. The room was clean and had all the amenities for a hotel room (minus WiFi.) After hiking and going around the national park, a hot shower and comfy bed is all you need tbh. Parking is available in front of the room buildings which was never full. From our building, we were a short walk away from the canyon. Constant free shuttle service was also available to get around the rim. Food was available at the main building from 7am-8pm but on the pricier side. The only issue that I found was that our 1st floor room shared a thin ceiling/floor with the 2nd floor. Pray for a 2nd floor neighbor who isn't heavy footed or has kids that bounce off the walls.

    The Squire at Grand Canyon - Pet-friendly includes a kennel & bowls

    The Squire at Grand Canyon

    (22 reviews)

    As IHG members, we chose this convenient hotel because they are dog-friendly and its location on…read moreSR-64/US-180, about 2 miles from the Grand Canyon's South Rim entrance. Our room was super clean, spacious, and had everything we needed. Comfortable bedding, chair with individual table, small fridge, microwave, coffee maker, bathroom toiletries, closet with safe, iron & board. Our room even had a kennel and dog bowls! We stayed in a one-story building away from the main hotel/lobby and the layout made outdoor access for our pup so easy. There was a poop-bag station near our room. For a $35 pet fee, the convenience was unbeatable. On-site parking included and EV charging available. There's Plenty of eateries walking distance. Very family oriented hotel with entertainment for the entire family including Indoor & outdoor pools, games, bowling, arcades, s'mores nights at the outdoor fire pits. The lobby is very nice, clean and organized with lots of lodge area, complimentary coffee and water bottle refill station. Laundry facilities, dining, pub, fitness center, and gift shop. The front desk staff was very helpful and courteous. Overall, we had a great stay here and will definitely book again when visiting the Grand Canyon.

    Hmmm...mixed feelings about The Squire at Grand Canyon. The best thing is its proximity to the…read moreGrand Canyon. It really is so convenient. We wanted to do some star gazing near the canyon and it was easy and close to drive back to the hotel at night. I liked their little daily Yusayan publication, which was fun to read and had some cool facts about the Grand Canyon. The con is that it's definitely dated. The hotel was originally built in 1965. We booked a King bed, but upon check in, there were no King beds left. To compensate, we were given an "updated room" with two queen beds. The shower drain was clogged and full of hair, yikes! There was also a $25 resort fee, which was a surprise on the bill, it was never mentioned. It would be nice to be able to opt out of this if you're not using the extra amenities. The breakfast buffet was $20/adult. It was average-nothing extraordinary.

    Highland Grand Canyon Glamping - Interior of Gamble Oak Tent with King-size memory foam Nectar Mattress, heated mattress pad and cozy down duvet.

    Highland Grand Canyon Glamping

    (4 reviews)

    We stayed here the end of September Thursday - Saturday…read more It was amazing. Views of pines and sage ( you can smell) all around and the night sky is second to none. Cook outside by the fire and close out your day with a hot shower. 4 miles from the canyon. Really an amazing place to stay! The owners are on site and helpful with anything you need but also give you all the space you need if you don't need to talk with other people and want to just chill in the quiet. It was a bit chilly when we were there and we loved the heated bed pads. I loved them so much I am getting a set for my cabin back home. The tops things for me were the location, how clean it was, the quiet and it had everything we needed and not more. I mean not tv's or music all over the place, no neon signs, no distractions from life in the now. We all need a little get away from the way to fast modern world. They also have Sat wifi so I could call my kids and check in =)

    I had such a wonderful stay at Highland Grand Canyon! The tent was spacious, comfortable, and…read morebeautifully set up; it felt cozy while still giving that sense of adventure you want when staying near the canyon. The bathroom facilities were impressively clean, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The atmosphere around the property was peaceful and relaxing, the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploring. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and I honestly slept better here than I have at many hotels. On top of it all, it's a family business and they only run 5 tents so you know you'll be taken care of. The hostess was so kind and welcoming, making sure everything was perfect for my stay. If you're looking for a mix of comfort, charm, and a touch of nature near the Grand Canyon, this is the spot. Highly recommend!

    Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon

    Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon

    (284 reviews)

    $$

    Updating my review after staying here another time on a more recent trip. Happy to say that I was…read morestill very satisfied with my staff. Holiday Inn is a tried and true brand for me and always lives up to expectations. This is a GREAT hotel choice for those visiting the Grand Canyon! Location is super convenient, less than 20 minutes from the Park but more affordable than staying inside the park itself if you want a hotel. The city doesn't have a ton to offer, but there are some food options nearby. PRIOR REVIEW STILL STANDS: I am a loyal fan of Holiday Inn, and am always happy with my experience at Holiday Inn Express & Suites. The rooms are fairly standard and no-fills, but they are always clean, spacious and meet my needs for a hotel room. I also enjoy the small continental breakfasts as they make mornings easier. This particular location was no exception. I am happy with my stay here and would recommend the hotel for anyone visiting the Grand Canyon. It's also really conveniently located, just 10-15 minutes outside of the park, but far enough away to give some flexibility with food and hotel options. Internet was alright, pretty "meh" quality, but it worked. This particular location was honestly super spacious. We ended up in the adults only wing, and our room was huge. We had a separate seating area with a TV, desk and couch that could pull out to become a bed. There was also a small little kitchen nook with a microwave, fridge, sink and coffeemaker. I don't have children so the extra space doesn't really matter much to me, however, if I did this would have been a really nice place to stay. Breakfast: Breakfast was the standard holiday inn express fare. It had pancakes, eggs, pastries, cereals, some fruits, yogurt, and either bacon or sausage. Seating was really limited, but you can always take your food back to your room. Parking: Parking seemed plentiful and was pretty close to the hotel. Parking is free.

    Due to a water problem in the Grand Canyon Village our reservation at Yavapai Lodge was cancelled…read moreand we were moved to the Holiday Inn. That part was not Holiday Inns fault. But we paid for a King bed at Yavapai; we got two queens at the Holiday Inn. When our room was cleaned they took our towels and did not leave any new ones. The coffee maker spilled water all over the counter top. The second night we went to the restaurant and had to wait 35 minutes to be seated while looking at a half empty restaurant. The noise level was high, due to being able to hear everyone's door down the hall opening and closing. I would not stay there again!

    The Grand Hotel - Bathroom

    The Grand Hotel

    (365 reviews)

    $$$

    I wish I could give 3.5 stars, that's how I really feel. Beds were clean, staff were great, dinner…read morewas a little pricey but pretty good. Unfortunately they started construction at 630/7am so there was no way sleeping past or letting my kid sleep. Big loud nosies right after another. Kind frustrating when you're on a trip away from home exploring and needing to rest/ pay $150 a night to not sleep great and be woken up. Also the room was very bright, all night. Alarm clocks, several things blinking around the room, wasn't too peaceful. I will say we had a blast at the pool.

    We stayed at The Grand Hotel during a trip to the Grand Canyon, and overall... it was fine…read more The biggest selling point is the location. You're right near the park, which makes early mornings and late returns a lot easier. When you're dealing with crowds and trying to catch sunrise or sunset, that convenience matters. The hotel itself is comfortable enough. The room was clean, beds were decent, and everything worked the way it should. Nothing stood out in a bad way, but nothing really stood out in a great way either. It felt a little dated in spots, like it's been maintained but not really refreshed. Common areas had a nice lodge-style feel at first glance, but once you settle in, you start noticing it's more surface-level than immersive. Kind of like it's trying to capture that rustic Grand Canyon vibe without fully getting there. Service was okay. Not bad, not particularly memorable. Check-in was smooth, staff were polite, but there wasn't much beyond that. For the price, I think that's where it lands in the middle. You're paying for proximity more than experience, and once you accept that, it makes more sense. Three stars feels right. It did the job, we slept well, and it made visiting the canyon easy. Just don't go in expecting something special and you'll be perfectly satisfied.

    Thunderbird Lodge - hotels - Updated May 2026

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