Grand Canyon National Park is huge and I was a bit overwhelmed when I started researching how to spend time here. I can hike and walk, but the idea of hiking deep into the canyon didn’t seem like a great idea for me. Going down is fine, going back up would be down right miserable.
However, as I researched, I was able to put together what I consider to be a perfect itinerary for visiting the Grand Canyon in one day. See some amazing views and explore the south rim of the Grand Canyon by foot, shuttle, and bicycle. Even better, I find this itinerary is perfectly doable for a person of average fitness. And you won’t completely overexert yourself!
The Grand Canyon in One Day
This itinerary is based out of the small town of Tusayan. While the Grand Canyon can be accessed from multiple places, Tusayan is a great place to be. It is popular, but you’ll be able to avoid a lot of the day trippers from Las Vegas. Still, you need to prepare for crowds. Grand Canyon National Park gets over 5 million visitors every year, making it the second most visited national park in the United States!
Now, let’s get into how to spend one day at the Grand Canyon.
7:30 – Arrive at the Visitor Center
Because of the crowds, I recommend setting an alarm and getting up early. Get up and eat a good breakfast before heading into Grand Canyon National Park. From Tusayan, you have a 10 minute drive to the Visitor Center.
If you don’t want to drive, a free shuttle connects the town of Tusayan with the Visitor Center. In fact, most of this itinerary relies on the park’s shuttle, so if you don’t want to drive, this itinerary doesn’t really change.
My mom and I arrived at 7:30 am when crowds were still very light. This is ideal because you can get your first glimpse of the day of the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Even better is the tourist crowds will be light at this time of day.
From the Visitor Center, walk a short path that will take you to Mather Point. Wow!
It will be incredibly tempting to spend more time here, but you don’t have a lot of time right now. The view at Mather Point is just a way to get you excited for the rest of the day. You can always return later in the day to take in these views again.
8:00 – Pick Up Rental Bikes
There are a lot of ways to explore the Grand Canyon in one day. You can take the shuttle to the view points or hike down into the canyon. My mom and I chose to rent a bike and this was an awesome way to explore.
Before our trip, we made a reservation with Bright Angel Bicycles. They operate inside Grand Canyon National Park and were absolutely fabulous.
While you could just rent a bike and head out on your own, I recommend taking advantage of their Shuttle Package. This gets you a bike rental, a shuttle from the Visitor Center to Hopi Point, and a return shuttle from Hermit’s Rest back to the Visitor Center. The entire excursion takes about a half day.
In 2024, this service costs $50 per person.
We were fitted for our bikes and by 8:30 everyone in our group (about ten of us) was ready. We all piled in to the van and head out to Hopi Point, which is a fifteen minute drive from the visitor center. Once at Hopi Point, you’ll get a few more instructions from your guide.
9:00 – Bike from Hopi Point to Hermit’s Rest
It’s a 5.5 mile ride from Hopi Point to Hermit’s Rest. Once you are dropped off, you are on your own and are free to explore at your own pace. The only caveat is you must make it to Hermit’s Rest for the shuttle pick up which will be approximately two hours after you arrive at Hopi Point.
This two hours gives you plenty of time to bike and stop at all of the scenic view points along the way. We stopped at every single viewpoint and were able to take our time. We never felt rushed or worried about missing the shuttle back. Honestly, this was the highlight of my day at the Grand Canyon.
The actual biking is easy because the road is mostly flat. The only time we had anything that resembled a climb was when we took an alternate route (at the advice of the rental company because this alternate route is more scenic).
The other important note is that you will be biking on a road, so you will need to pay attention and be aware of the shuttle busses and any tour busses. Private vehicles are not allowed on this road so it is only the busses that you need to be aware of.
When we did this in October 2021, our shuttle driver told us that the park was significantly emptier than normal. There were no tour busses, so we only had to share the road with the park’s shuttle busses.
The shuttle busses operate on a schedule and we quickly learned that if were at a stop with a shuttle bus, we should let the shuttle bus leave just before we did. By doing this, we’d have the entire road to ourselves until our next stop.
However, as more people travel post Covid, this may not be the case for you and there may be not only more shuttles, but also private tour busses. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings.
11:00 – Return to the Visitor Center
At 11:00 am, we met our guide at Hermit’s Rest. Once the rest of our group was back, we loaded up and headed back to the Visitor Center. It can be hard to believe that this part of the day at the Grand Canyon is over already.
12:00 – A Choice
At this point, you need to make a decision, just like we did. You are approaching the hottest part of the day and you need to be smart about how you spend the rest of your day at the Grand Canyon.
If you feel good and it’s not an incredibly hot day, use option 1 to hike a short distance into the Grand Canyon. If it’s a really hot day, but you still have energy, use option 2 to see more view points. Use option 3 if it’s an incredibly hot day and you are tired and need a break.
For us, it wasn’t a super hot day. The high only reached 70 degrees (although it’s important to note that it’s warmer in the canyon than at the rim). So we filled our water bottles, ate a snack, and decided we would to continue and do a little hiking.
The choice for how to spend the rest of your day at the Grand Canyon is completely up to you, but here’s three options.
Option 1 – Hike to Ooh Aah Point on South Kaibab Trail
We took the park shuttle to the South Kaibab Trail Head. You can see a lot of the Grand Canyon from the rim, but some of the best views come from hiking down inside the canyon. We chose to do this by hiking a portion of the South Kaibab Trial.
From the shuttle drop off, it’s a 1.8 mile round trip hike down into the canyon to Ooh Aah Point. You can continue passed this point, but remember you will eventually have to climb all the way back up. For us, hiking to Ooh Aah Point was enough. We took photos and marveled at how amazing the scenery was before starting the climb back out of the canyon.
The hike out is a constant uphill trek with very little shade. Take breaks when you need them (especially if you hit a small patch of shade) and make sure to carry and drink enough water. I shouldn’t have to say it, but I was shocked by the amount of people hiking without water. It is hot inside the canyon and you need to carry water with you.
Option 2 – Visit View Points
If it’s very hot or you are tired, you can still see more of the Grand Canyon without overexerting yourself. Jump on the free shuttle and visit some of the other view points for the rest of your day at the Grand Canyon. Your bike ride only took you west of the Visitor Center, so take the shuttle to Yaki Point and Pipe Creek Vista.
If you don’t want to take the shuttle, get back in your car and drive to some view points. If you head east of the Visitor Center on Desert Creek Drive, you’ll find numerous viewpoints that the park shuttles don’t stop at.
Option 3 – Take a Break
If you are visiting the Grand Canyon in summer, taking a break now may be your best option. Arizona can get incredibly hot and not only is it uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. Return to Tusayan and get some lunch. Relax and wait for the temperatures to cool down before returning back to Grand Canyon National Park for some more exploration.
2:00 – A Break
If you hiked to Ooh Aah Point, you’re completely entitled to a nice break. This is the hottest part of the day, so even if you’re here in a cooler month, it can still feel warm. For the rest of the day, you can take it easy. Visit some more view points, or head back into town for a longer break.
My mom and I chose to head back into town since we were going to drive Desert View Drive the next day on our way to Monument Valley. In town we stopped at a gift shop and got some well deserved ice cream before heading back to our hotel. The showers felt amazing!
4:00 – An Early Dinner
Grab some dinner in Tusayan. It’s been a busy day at the Grand Canyon and you’ve earned it.
5:30 – Back to Grand Canyon National Park
After dinner, head back into Grand Canyon National Park. You could spend the evening in your hotel room, but since it’s so easy to get into the park, why not take in some more views? Specifically, I recommend finding a spot to watch sunset.
Sunset varies throughout the year, with the sun setting at nearly 7:45 in summer and as early as 5:15 in the winter. Depending on the sunset you may need to adjust your dinner plans to have it line up.
My mom and I didn’t see the true sunset – to do that you need to find a view facing west. However, we found a place that we had all to ourselves (on the rim trail between Mather and Yavapai Point) where we could sit and watch the colors of the sky change above the Grand Canyon. It was beautiful and a phenomenal way to end our day at the Grand Canyon.
Just be careful to keep an eye on the clock, especially if you’re using the shuttle. After sunset, my mom and I walked the rest of the way to Yavapai Point. By the time we reached it, it very dark and we boarded the second last shuttle of the night. If you miss the shuttle, you’ll be walking back to your car in the dark.
Optional – Stargazing
Depending on how late you want to stay, you can get some incredible stargazing. Grand Canyon National Park is a protected dark sky, meaning there is very little light pollution making stargazing ideal. While I didn’t stargaze at the Grand Canyon, I did at Death Valley (another protected dark sky) and it’s incredible.
Even without the stargazing, an itinerary like this is a great way to spend a day at the Grand Canyon.
Recap of One Day in the Grand Canyon
7:30am – Arrive at the Visitor Center and walk to Mather Point
8:00am – Pick up a bike rental
11:00am – Return bikes and take the shuttle back to the Visitor Center
11:30am – Arrive back at the Visitor Center and take the shuttle to the South Kaibab Trail
12:00 – Hike to Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab Trail
2:00 – More view points or a break in Tusayan
5:30 – Back to the park for sunset and optional stargazing
Modifications to this Itinerary
Arizona, including the Grand Canyon, gets incredibly hot. Consider switching up this itinerary to beat the heat. You could reverse this Grand Canyon in one day itinerary by hiking in the morning and biking in the afternoon. I felt the hiking was more strenuous than the biking, but regardless of the order you do your activities, you still need to stay safe on those hot days.
When To Visit the Grand Canyon
Summers can be uncomfortably hot, and even dangerous, with the high temperatures. It’s also when you’ll find it the busiest. For the best experience, try to aim for shoulder season in the spring and fall.
My mom and I visited Grand Canyon National Park in the first week of October when temperatures were mild, which made planning a lot easier.
My Experience
I loved my one day at the Grand Canyon. The only thing I would change would be to be a bit fitter. This will make climbing out of the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail just a bit easier.
Aside from my own fitness goals, there’s nothing I would change about this day. It should be noted that we did skip some view points, most notably Yaki Point and Yavapai Point (we only saw this point in darkness), but after a while, all of the view points tend to blur together. I have no regrets about skipping these, especially since we stopped at more view points the next day when we drove through Grand Canyon National Park east toward Monument Valley.
I loved renting a bike to explore the Grand Canyon because it switched things up. If you’re on a road trip of the Southwestern United States, you’ll likely be doing a lot of hiking and will be glad to have some other experiences. Because of that, I recommend that other travelers look into doing the same.
And one final note. Climbing out of the Grand Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail was tough. The constant uphill climb and the direct sunlight make it difficult. But what also can make this trail difficult is the elevation. I didn’t even consider it until long after I left, but the South Kaibab Trailhead sits at 7,260 feet of elevation. If you’re coming from sea level (like me!), the altitude will kick your butt until you acclimate.
Final Thoughts
Grand Canyon National Park is one of my favorite national parks in the United States. The views are incredible so even if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon in one day, you can still have an amazing experience.
Continue Your Adventure
Arizona: Grand Canyon is the most visited national park in Arizona, but Petrified Forest and Saguaro National Parks also make great stops. Plus, right on the Arizona-Utah state line, you’ll find Monument Valley with its iconic rock formations.
Nevada: If you’re traveling to Tusayan and Grand Canyon National Park from Las Vegas, consider adding a stop at Hoover Dam.
Itineraries: If you’re interested in visiting several national parks on an epic road trip, consider this 10 Day Road Trip Through the US Southwest. For those with less time, check out these templates for 5 Days in Arizona
More Epic Canyons: Grand Canyon is just one national park containing an epic canyon. For more, consider Colorado’s Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park, or West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park.