Detailed Itinerary:

Today, I planned a trip for a family of four from Dallas to Grand Canyon National Park. We specifically focused the trip around the South Rim of the park since the drive was a bit shorter and it had several more opportunities for activities with the kids. Since they were on an extreme budget, we decided to make it a road trip AND camping trip, with a home base at Mather Campground. The family will be able to enjoy the stunning views all along the South Rim from Hermit's Rest to Desert View. They can also experience some of the shorter hiking trails in the park. Here's the detailed daily overview…

August 10

Breakfast at home
Drive to Albuquerque (9.5 hours)
Lunch on the road
Dinner in Albuquerque

August 11

Breakfast at hotel
Drive to Grand Canyon (6 hours)
Lunch on the road
Set up campsite
Dinner at campsite

August 12

Breakfast at campsite
9:00 am Fossil Walk with Park Ranger
Explore Village area
Visitor’s Centers
Lunch in Village
Trail of Time
Optional: Bicycle Rental (https://bikegrandcanyon.com/ - $111)
3:00 pm Geology Talk with Park Ranger
Dinner at campsite

August 13

Breakfast at camp
Take shuttle down Hermit’s Road
Stop at viewpoints
Hike a section or two
Picnic lunch at one of the viewpoints
Enjoy Hermit’s Rest
Dinner at campsite

August 14

Breakfast at campsite
Drive to Desert View Point (40 mins one way), stopping along the way for incredible views
Stop at viewpoints
Tusayan Pueblo Site
Desert View Watchtower
Picnic lunch at one of the viewpoints
Any other things you want to do before leave!
Dinner at campsite

August 15

Breakfast at campsite
Pack up camp
Drive to Albuquerque (6 hours)
Lunch on the road
Go to the NM Museum of Natural History (https://www.nmnaturalhistory.org/ - $26)
Dinner in Albuquerque

August 16

Breakfast at hotel
Drive home (9.5 hours)
Lunch on the road

Budget:

As I plan the trip, I fill in the obvious costs like gas and camping gear. When I’m all done planning, I go in and add additional funds for things like food, souvenirs, etc. All in, this trip for a family of four came in right at $1,700! I round everything up to the nearest $25.

Trip Preparation Details:

Finally, here are the tasks that this family needs to complete in order to book their trip. These are the specific dates/prices I pulled as of August 2024, but if you are looking to do a similar trip, hopefully some of the links below will be helpful for you as well.

Transportation Details:

2500 miles x $3.20 per mile / 30 miles per gallon rounded up = $300 gas budget

Accommodation Details:

Book Campsite at Mather Campground for August 11-15. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/2733
Book hotel for drive there for August 10-11 and August 15-16. www.expedia.com

Other Important Booking Details:

None.

This vacation plan makes me so excited to take my boys to the Grand Canyon in the future! We really didn’t spend enough time there on our first trip, and I can see how much fun this itinerary would be with kids. Hopefully, this helps you get an idea for a fantastic three-day itinerary at the Grand Canyon! Happy traveling!

A Memorable Family Camping Vacation at the Grand Canyon on a Budget