During the winter break our family was able to spend a quick 24 hours at the Grand Canyon. It’s been a bullet point on my national park bucket list for awhile–see the Grand Canyon in the snow. Well, even though the weather decided not to cooperate, we still had a great 24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park. I think we made really good use of our time (literally 24 hours from 10 am to 10 am) and I want to share our tips with you!

what to do if you have 24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park

The Grand Canyon is one of those places you need to see in person–at least once in your life. There’s no wonder why, along with the Great Barrier Reef and Mount Everest, it’s one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Luckily though, you really can experience it well in a short time and with very little or no hiking, if that’s what you want. Here are some of our tips for what to do in 24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park with kids.

what to see in 24 hours

The Grand Canyon is divided (literally) into the North Rim and the South Rim. The South Rim is open year-round and it’s also the part that most tourists visit. Due to the vastness of the canyon, it’s difficult and time consuming to visit both portions in a single trip, and definitely not in a short 24 hours. Our tips and recommendations for 24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park are centered on the South Rim. For more information on the North Rim, you can visit the NPS website here.

family-friendly hikes in the Grand Canyon

Your best option for hiking the Grand Canyon with kids is the Rim Trail. This relatively flat and mostly paved trail follows the rim of the canyon for approximately 13 miles. It makes it easy to walk as long as you want, and then either turn around or take the park shuttle buses back.

museums and landmarks to see

Here are some points of interest to visit if you have time:

• Desert View Watchtower
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (stop here first for kids to grab their Junior Ranger booklets!)
• Yavapai Museum of Geology
• Village Historic District

| Read: 24 Hours in Yosemite National Park |

catch a sunrise and sunset

With our limited time to see everything, I made it a priority to catch a sunset and a sunrise. There are so many incredible vantage points that you really can’t go wrong, and here is a great article I found that shares all the details of many of them. Our family watched sunset at Hopi Point and sunrise at Yavapai Point. Arrive early because both are popular spots! When visiting Yavapai Point at sunrise, steer clear of the overcrowded fenced-in outcropping, and walk slightly east, for a little more seclusion.

where to stay in the Grand Canyon

inside the park

If you only have 24 hours, I highly recommend staying in the park for a night. It was so convenient and made it possible to do everything we wanted to do during our short stay. There are several lodging options on the south rim, including several that are right along the canyon rim. All options are within walking distance to the Rim Trail.

Our family stayed at Yavapai Lodge at the Market Plaza during our visit. Although the furthest away from the edge of the canyon (at a whopping 1 mile from the rim), it is the only lodging option that has dog-friendly accommodations. A full review will be on the blog soon!

staying in Tusayan, AZ

If staying inside the park isn’t possible the next best option would be to stay at one of the many motels and lodges in Tusayan, Arizona. This is the closest town to the Grand Canyon entrance plaza and in the summer months there is even a free shuttle that runs from town to the South Rim Visitor Center. To ride the shuttle, you will need to show a valid Park Pass.

| Read: How to Visit National Parks for FREE |

24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park with your dog

Planning a visit to the Grand Canyon with your four-legged best friend? Grand Canyon National Park is actually a great place to bring along your pup! Leashed pets are allowed on trails along the south rim, but only service animals are allowed on trails below the rim. Pets are also not allowed inside any park buildings (besides the pet-friendly rooms at Yavapai Lodge on the south rim) or on the shuttle bus. We loved having our Gryff with us and the only accommodation to our plan was eating lunch outside and taking turns in the visitor center while someone waited outside with him.

Grand Canyon National Park also has kennels for dogs and cats so everyone can have a fun and safe visit while exploring all of the national park. Kennels are located near Maswik Lodge on the south rim. Advance reservations are recommended, especially during the summer and holidays.

What would you do with 24 hours in Grand Canyon National Park?

Follow along with our family’s adventures on Instagram!