The Best Cheap Hotels to Book in the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon might be a mile deep, but your pockets wont need to be with a stay in these budget-friendly hotels
The Grand Canyon might be a mile deep, but your pockets won't need to be with a stay in these budget-friendly hotels | © Kris Wiktor / Alamy Stock Photo
Nick Dauk

Roughing it in the Grand Canyon is an experience like no other, but even the most intrepid nomads enjoy a roof over their heads every now and then. A warm shower, microwave oven and cable TV are ultra-luxe amenities if you’ve been camping out in the Canyon’s desolate Arizona caverns. For a simple (and cheap) overnight stay, there are plenty of budget-friendly hotels that will keep you warm, dry and ready for days out shooting selfies above the rim. All are bookable through Culture Trip.

1. Williams AZ Hostel

Budget Hotel, Hostel

The modest A-frame exterior of Williams AZ Hostel with tan picket fence and large pine tree, near the Grand Canyon
Courtesy of Williams AZ Hostel / Booking.com

You won’t go broke during your Wild West road trip when you stay at Williams AZ Hostel. Get to know a handful of new friends in the six-bed dorm or catch a little shut-eye in the semi-private suite. Lockers, sheets and towels are provided for all guests. If you’re hitchhiking or train hopping, the grocery store a few blocks away makes it easy to prepare meals in the shared kitchen. If you have access to four wheels, you can cruise to the South Rim in under an hour.

2. Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile

Budget Hotel, Motel

King room with wood floors, barn door to bathroom and dog on a pull-out dog bed at Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile
Courtesy of Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile / Expedia

If you don’t walk on all fours, you can skip to the next listing because this hotel caters to pets before people. Best Friends Roadhouse and Mercantile keeps tails wagging with a fenced dog park, splash zone, washing station and free treats. Humans take note: the two-level suite lets the whole family sit and stay in their own space. Put your claws back in cats – feline-only rooms guarantee that you can be pampered in private away from the dog house.

3. The Lodge on Route 66

Budget Hotel, Motel

Dining room at The Lodge on Route 66
Courtesy of The Lodge on Route 66 / Booking.com

An affordable luxury hotel on historic Route 66 needs no further explanation, but we’ll give you the rundown anyway. Located in the center of Williams, the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, The Lodge on Route 66 lets you experience the Grand Canyon Railway and Museum, lakes and hiking trails within a few yards of your front door. We can think of a reason or two why you might be tempted to stay in: the Turkish travertine whirlpool tub and double-headed walk-in travertine shower in the executive suite feels like your own personal desert oasis.

5. Elden Trails Bed and Breakfast

Bed and Breakfast, Inn

Enclosed outdoor wood deck with picnic table of the Elden Trails Bed and Breakfast near the Grand Canyon
Courtesy of Elden Trails Bed and Breakfast / Expedia

Keep sustainability in mind when appreciating the majesty of the Grand Canyon with your stay at Elden Trails. This bed and breakfast aims to be an example of sustainable living in Flagstaff by growing its own food in a four-season greenhouse. Though only five miles from the city, this affordable homestay is right at the foot of Mount Elden, granting access to city strolls and trail hikes in equal measure. For ecotourism enthusiasts planning day trips to the Grand Canyon, Elden Trails is an irresistible bargain.

6. Thunderbird Lodge – Inside the Park

Lodge

A twin room at Thunderbird Lodge - Inside the Park, with a TV and desk
Courtesy of Thunderbird Lodge / Expedia

Don’t let the low rates and Historical Village address fool you: the modern suites at Thunderbird Lodge are far from dusty old rooms of yesteryear. Simple amenities including coffee makers and refrigerators offer a home away from home while gift shops and restaurants are within walking distance for a night out under the stars. Of course, if you really want to stretch your legs, the 12mi (19km) Rim Trail sits right outside your door, taking you to Hermits Rest or the Kaibab Trailhead under the Arizona sun.

7. Days Inn by Wyndham Williams

Budget Hotel

An indoor pool and hot tub surrounded by tables and chairs at the Days Inn by Wyndham Williams
Courtesy of Days Inn by Wyndham Williams / Expedia

An affordable, pet-friendly hotel with free breakfast and an indoor pool? Days Inn checks all of the boxes for a fiscally fine stay en route to the Grand Canyon. The 24-hour reception desk is perfect for late-night arrivals, because let’s face it, sunsets over the Grand Canyon are too captivating to part from. Throw your dirty clothes in the laundry and spend an evening at Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe conquering a plate of Grand Canyon Nachos.

8. La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kanab

Budget Hotel

A spacious double twin room at La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kanab

Check off the Grand Canyon and countless other national parks with your stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites. Straddling the border between Arizona and Utah, the hotel’s prime location in Kanab keeps you within a quick drive of the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Zion National Park and many others. Thank goodness for La Quinta’s free breakfast and outdoor pool; you’re going to need to refuel and recharge as you rack up the miles in your hiking boots.

9. Quail Park Lodge, a Canyons Collection Property

Budget Hotel

A brightly decorated hotel room at Quail Park Lodge
Courtesy of Quail Park Lodge / Expedia

Bring the family on a trip of a lifetime without breaking the bank at Quail Park Lodge. Imagine swiping through photos by the fireplace after an unforgettable guided tour of the North Rim. Close your eyes and picture yourself floating in the pool, cooling down with the kids after a long hike through Zion National Park. And if the family is missing your four-legged friend, staff will help you plan a puppy sleepover with the dogs from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary down the street.

10. Bright Angel Lodge – Inside the Park

Lodge

A wooden lobby at Bright Angel Lodge – Inside the Park with a stone fireplace and Native American-inspired art on the back wall
Courtesy of Bright Angel Lodge / Expedia

Stay inside the Grand Canyon National Park without worrying about pitching a tent or shaking out a sleeping bag. Bright Angel Lodge is a National Historic Landmark and has a handful of rustic cozy cabins at the Bright Angel Lodge Trailhead. Roll out of your private room, lace up your boots over a cup of joe in the Canyon Coffee House, and consider signing up for a rafting tour with the money saved on these affordable yet amazing accommodations.

For more options, discover our guide on where to stay in the Grand Canyon, as well as the best hotels in Arizona – book now on Culture Trip.

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