When our family visited the Grand Canyon next month our accommodation options were somewhat limited. Since we were traveling with our dog Gryff, and we wanted to stay inside the park due to our short time we had to explore, we really only had two options. One option was to camp. In winter. which for me (personally) wasn’t really an option. The other option was to stay at Yavapai Lodge on the south rim. Spoiler alert–we loved staying here! But keep reading this Yavapai Lodge review to see why and if it’s the right place for your family to stay.

Yavapai Lodge review: our family’s thoughts

where is Yavapai Lodge?

Yavapai Lodge is located at the Market Plaza complex in on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The Market Plaza contains a general store, post office, community library, the two restaurants that are part of Yavapai Lodge. This plaza is conveniently located only minutes from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and several other South Rim attractions. If you don’t feel like walking or driving to your Grand Canyon destination, you can easily hop on the shuttle to over 20 stops on the South Rim.

what sets Yavapai Lodge apart?

Yavapai Lodge was built in the 1950s to prepare for the increased visitors after World War II. Though not located along the rim of the canyon, Yavapai Lodge tends to be more affordable than other in-park accommodations and does offer other perks. Our family loved the sense of community and convenience that came with staying here. We were able to grab our meals at the dining hall, and pick up last minute must-haves from the general store.

Yavapai Lodge review: dining options

In addition to a full grocery store, deli, and gift shop in the general store at the Market Plaza, Yavapai Lodge offers other dining options. The coffee shop offers your morning cup of joe (or hot cocoa, if that’s your preference, like us) and a few grab and go options. If you’re looking for heartier fare, we loved eating in the Yavapai Lodge Dining Hall. We recommend trying to eat an early dinner and breakfast if you can. Ordering from a kiosk and then picking up your meal, buffet style, was quick but once the crowds roll in you might be there awhile. We thought that all the food delicious and portions generous. Our family opted for the Canyon Chuck Wagon meal for dinner and the Yavapai Travelers Breakfast option (the later is an all you can eat option). We found the prices comparable to most other restaurants.

| Read: Spending 24 Hours in the Grand Canyon with Kids |

Yavapai Lodge also has a Tavern with a little more “lively” atmosphere. The Tavern menu offers the normal soup, salad, pizza, and burgers options. Everything sounded delicious but the line at dinner was longer so we opted for the more casual dining hall atmosphere. You can peep their menu here!

Yavapai Lodge East vs. Yavapai Lodge West

Yavapai Lodge is also divided into two sections–East and West buildings. Rooms in both types of buildings are fairly similar, but offer some distinct differences. I really wanted to stay in the family bunk rooms that are available in Yavapai East. However, as you’ll read in a moment, we had to stay in Yavapai West.

room details at Yavapai West

The rooms in Yavapai West are more of a motel style, built on a single level with parking right out front. It was very convenient for us to park right in front of our room and not have anyone below us or above us to worry about noise.

Our family stayed in two, two-Queen rooms during our stay at Yavapai Lodge. Although there are a handful of connecting rooms, our room were merely adjoining. This was not make or break for us, however. The pet-friendly rooms are in Yavapai West and both our rooms had large dog crates included in our stay. Rooms had a basic bathroom, and Keurig maker along with a min fridge. The rooms were basic, but very clean and nicely updated. I also found the beds very comfortable and there were plenty of pillows and towels for our family!

room details at Yavapai East

The website states that Yavapai East rooms are slightly larger than those in the West buildings. These West buildings are two-story, so you lose the convenience of necessarily being able to park right outside your room. However, some rooms are handicap accessible and this is the side that the large family bunk rooms are on.

Would you stay at Yavapai Lodge? Or would you rather stay right on the rim of the canyon?