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Arizona advice pls - Grand Canyon, Scottsdale
Posted on 9/3/25 at 12:28 pm
Posted on 9/3/25 at 12:28 pm
Have an upcoming industry conference in Scottsdale near McCormick Ranch. Any suggestions for good lodging nearby? Looking for something quieter and conservative, will not have family with me. Do not want water slides or shenanigans. Maybe a classic spot that's been around for a while.
Also would like to do a Grand Canyon trip. Anything to suggest? Was thinking of going on a mon/tues to cut down the crowds. Will have my wife, son, and retired parents. Don't need to do anything extreme*, just want a day of viewing and such. None of us have seen it before. Was thinking drive up monday AM from PHX, tour place, stay night, drive home tues AM?
*have a toddler and two retirees
Also would like to do a Grand Canyon trip. Anything to suggest? Was thinking of going on a mon/tues to cut down the crowds. Will have my wife, son, and retired parents. Don't need to do anything extreme*, just want a day of viewing and such. None of us have seen it before. Was thinking drive up monday AM from PHX, tour place, stay night, drive home tues AM?
*have a toddler and two retirees
8
Posted on 9/3/25 at 1:32 pm to tadman
On the drive back down to Phoenix, go through Sedona. It’s a bit longer of a drive, but well worth it.
Posted on 9/3/25 at 1:36 pm to tadman
Unless you’re going into the canyon for some hiking, you can do all the sightseeing you want to do on the south rim in a day or less, drive back and forth from Scottsdale included.
Posted on 9/3/25 at 7:37 pm to tadman
You can drive there, see some sites, and back in a day from Scottsdale, but with a toddler I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s 3.5hrs plus from Scottsdale there. Tusayan is right outside of the park and has rooms, but you can stay in the park fairly easily. I stayed at Maswick Lodge a couple of weeks ago. It’s no frills (reminded me a lot of Yosemite valley lodge), but it was also the cheapest spot there ($150/night) and was 1/8 mile or so from the rim. There are other lodging options directly on the rim if that’s your thing. You can see plenty from Grand Canyon village, but I would also suggest taking the bus or taking a bike tour towards hermits rest. There are some fantastic views that way and it’s less crowded. The imax film about the canyon in tusayan is interesting too.
Posted on 9/3/25 at 8:48 pm to tadman
As already mentioned, you can probably see all you need to see in a couple hours at the south rim since you have a toddler and elderly folks and won't be hiking. You could probably drive up, visit, then spend the night in Flagstaff if you don't want to stay in the park itself (about an hour and a half south of GC).
Depending on how much time you have, Sedona would be a great day trip/quick visit on your way back to Scottsdale that wouldn't be that far out of your way as well.
Depending on how much time you have, Sedona would be a great day trip/quick visit on your way back to Scottsdale that wouldn't be that far out of your way as well.
This post was edited on 9/3/25 at 8:50 pm
Posted on 9/4/25 at 7:24 am to tadman
If you want to stay in the park you have to book accommodations WELL in advance. The south rim lodgings book up very fast
Posted on 9/4/25 at 8:24 am to Fun Bunch
That depends. I booked a week before my trip (spur of the moment trip) in mid August and all lodges there had availability for my dates. Looking at the website right now, every night in September is available as well.
Posted on 9/4/25 at 8:56 am to jfw3535
quote:
On the drive back down to Phoenix, go through Sedona. It’s a bit longer of a drive, but well worth it.
Just to clarify for the OP, take 89A (just south of Flagstaff) for the amazing drive along Oak Creek into Sedona.
From there, you can take 179 from downtown Sedona back to 17 or for more adventuring, stay on 89A through Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, past Mingus Mountain and into Prescott, then hop back on 17.
Posted on 9/4/25 at 9:11 am to tadman
quote:
Have an upcoming industry conference in Scottsdale near McCormick Ranch. Any suggestions for good lodging nearby? Looking for something quieter and conservative, will not have family with me. Do not want water slides or shenanigans. Maybe a classic spot that's been around for a while.
If you're in or around McCormick ranch the hotels in Paradise Valley aren't far away. The Phoenician is a classic, the Sanctuary is an amazing hotel built right into Camelback Mountain. Lots of places along Lincoln and McDonald to stay, but a bit further away are the Arizona Biltmore and Hermosa Inn, two classics.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess also a classic resort, along with anything near Kierland Commons will be close to your conference.
People stay in Old Town Scottsdale for the party scene. Further north in North Scottsdale would be places like the Boulders (an incredible resort) but that's going to be a little further away.
Posted on 9/4/25 at 11:59 pm to Bunsbert Montcroff
quote:
stay on 89A through Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, past Mingus Mountain and into Prescott, then hop back on 17.
Yeah, if they weren't hauling a toddler around and like wine Cottonwood and Clarkdale would be a 100% visit for sure with the good wineries. Jerome right next them is definitely a cool mountain town as well.
Posted on 9/5/25 at 8:11 am to tadman
The Grand Canyon is not close to Scottsdale by any stretch of the imagination. Trying to do that in a 24 hour period will be exhausting especially with toddlers, IMO. They won’t remember much of it anyway. I suggest giving yourself more time or waiting til the kids are older. You can make an entire vacation of Sedona, Cottonwood, Flagstaff, and GCNP where you can see everything and take your time.
There’s plenty to do in Scottsdale and Phoenix: Stuff to do with kids in Scottsdale
There’s plenty to do in Scottsdale and Phoenix: Stuff to do with kids in Scottsdale
Posted on 9/5/25 at 6:36 pm to bluestem75
quote:
The Grand Canyon is not close to Scottsdale by any stretch of the imagination.
It's less than 4 hours away from Scottsdale, the heck you talking about? I've been with three different groups of people just visiting around the top of the south rim, and have yet to have anyone want to spend more than like 2 hours or so max there. It's not like it's some sort of all day drive and/or a park that I'm needs all day to experience it here. We aren't talking about Sequoia national Park or Yosemite here.
It's pretty easy to drive up in the morning and spend the afternoon there, then stop somewhere overnight either at/outside the park or moderately close like Flagstaff or Williams.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 11:47 am to auyushu
quote:
It's less than 4 hours away from Scottsdale, the heck you talking about?
OP here, I kind of agree. I've done the drive before. Two years ago had a meeting in Scottsdale, got out early with nothing til 8a following day. Fast drive up north (bought a coat in Flagstaff!), quick view of the rim at dusk, fast drive back to the hotel and in bed by midnight. Also a killer green burrito at a tiny dump in Flagstaff, was awesome.
I can move very quickly by myself and will not let the grass grow. What's that old saying about "want to go fast, go alone... want to go far, go together". Say what you will about that but life is short, make tracks.
Posted on 9/6/25 at 11:22 pm to tadman
I’m not sure what you’re asking for then. Will you be by yourself or have a toddler and the grandparents with you?
Some food for thought:
I’ve done day hikes in GCNP on my own but I was staying an hour away. It was easy because I just did what I wanted to do at my own pace. There was a ton of people bussed in from Vegas on day trips, too. Took me an hour to get in the south rim main gate.
And I’ve done it with my sister, my 7 year old nephew, and my parents. All of those people had different wants, different needs, and different limitations. We day tripped in from Sedona; it was a great trip but we spent 4 hours in the car just getting there and back. My mom could only do so much and my nephew was bouncing off of the walls. Add in a busy day near the main visitor center and it was a lot to manage. I can’t imagine doing it with a toddler and all the gear that comes with them.
That’s not close. That’s 7-8 hours round trip.
Some food for thought:
I’ve done day hikes in GCNP on my own but I was staying an hour away. It was easy because I just did what I wanted to do at my own pace. There was a ton of people bussed in from Vegas on day trips, too. Took me an hour to get in the south rim main gate.
And I’ve done it with my sister, my 7 year old nephew, and my parents. All of those people had different wants, different needs, and different limitations. We day tripped in from Sedona; it was a great trip but we spent 4 hours in the car just getting there and back. My mom could only do so much and my nephew was bouncing off of the walls. Add in a busy day near the main visitor center and it was a lot to manage. I can’t imagine doing it with a toddler and all the gear that comes with them.
quote:
It's less than 4 hours away from Scottsdale, the heck you talking about?
That’s not close. That’s 7-8 hours round trip.
This post was edited on 9/6/25 at 11:30 pm
Posted on 9/8/25 at 5:50 pm to tadman
If you make it to the Grand Canyon there are free busses that will take you all along the rim.
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