Los Angeles > Grand Canyon > Santa Fe
March 14, 2022 11:47 AM Subscribe
I'm looking for tips for travel from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon to Santa Fe and back to LA in May of this year.
I need to be in Santa Fe for 2 weekend nights in May for an event. I'd like to drive from LA, stop briefly at the Grand Canyon, and end up in Santa Fe. Since I've never been to the Grand Canyon or made this particular drive, I'm wondering about the best way to go about the trip. Note: many hours in the car per day is not a big factor for me, I'm used to driving for 6+ hours in a day;.
- I'm interested in camping either on the way to the Grand Canyon or near the canyon, rather than staying in a motel. Where are the best places to do this as a solo experienced car camper?
- Tips for seeing the best view of the canyon and avoiding crowds, in a short amount of time? I don't think I can spend more than a few hours there due to time constraints. I'm happy to get up early or go to a less popular location.
- Anything I must check out in Santa Fe on my brief stay? I like local breweries, museums, and outdoor spaces.
- Anything I should check out on the drive back? I would need to be back in LA within 2-3 days. I'm also interested in camping on this leg of the trip.
Thank you in advance!
I need to be in Santa Fe for 2 weekend nights in May for an event. I'd like to drive from LA, stop briefly at the Grand Canyon, and end up in Santa Fe. Since I've never been to the Grand Canyon or made this particular drive, I'm wondering about the best way to go about the trip. Note: many hours in the car per day is not a big factor for me, I'm used to driving for 6+ hours in a day;.
- I'm interested in camping either on the way to the Grand Canyon or near the canyon, rather than staying in a motel. Where are the best places to do this as a solo experienced car camper?
- Tips for seeing the best view of the canyon and avoiding crowds, in a short amount of time? I don't think I can spend more than a few hours there due to time constraints. I'm happy to get up early or go to a less popular location.
- Anything I must check out in Santa Fe on my brief stay? I like local breweries, museums, and outdoor spaces.
- Anything I should check out on the drive back? I would need to be back in LA within 2-3 days. I'm also interested in camping on this leg of the trip.
Thank you in advance!
Best answer: If you're only going to be able to be at the Grand Canyon for a few hours, I think you basically just drive in the west entry, south of Grand Canyon Village, go along the road along the rim, get out at a pullout for a viewpoint whenever the feeling strikes you, and exit via the eastern side. If you're camping in the area getting an early start probably helps with it not being crowded, but with something as huge as the Grand Canyon it's hard to say there's any one particular "best" viewing spot. I liked some of the viewpoints along the park road to Hermit's Rest to the west of the village personally. All the viewpoints like that are basically parking lots with maybe a couple-hundred yard walk to a promontory overlooking the canyon.
Petrified Forest NP is worth a stop on the way out or back - basically the same thing as GC - drive the park road and get out when you feel like it.
posted by LionIndex at 12:08 PM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Petrified Forest NP is worth a stop on the way out or back - basically the same thing as GC - drive the park road and get out when you feel like it.
posted by LionIndex at 12:08 PM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Depending on when in May this is, it *looks like* there are still spots available at Mather Campground in the park. You would want to move on this *very* soon, though.
The crowds will be at the best views of the canyon. If you want a more secluded experience, just start walking on the rim trail and you'll be almost alone inside 5 minutes.
Honestly, if you just have a few hours -- park at Grand Canyon Village and start walking west towards Hermit's Rest. It's less than 10 miles all the way there and there are trams in both directions with several stops along the way if you get bored or tired.
If you go down into the canyon, expect it to take twice as long going back up as it did to get down to wherever you are.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:21 PM on March 14, 2022
The crowds will be at the best views of the canyon. If you want a more secluded experience, just start walking on the rim trail and you'll be almost alone inside 5 minutes.
Honestly, if you just have a few hours -- park at Grand Canyon Village and start walking west towards Hermit's Rest. It's less than 10 miles all the way there and there are trams in both directions with several stops along the way if you get bored or tired.
If you go down into the canyon, expect it to take twice as long going back up as it did to get down to wherever you are.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:21 PM on March 14, 2022
Next time I find myself on the road between Vegas and the Grand Canyon, instead of just blowing past I'm stopping in Kingman to investigate the turquoise shopping there.
posted by Rash at 12:27 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by Rash at 12:27 PM on March 14, 2022
Petrified Forest National Park is definitely worth a stop. Don't forget to see the petroglyphs.
posted by eotvos at 12:57 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by eotvos at 12:57 PM on March 14, 2022
The best easily-accessed views of the Grand Canyon will all be crowded. On our trip to the South Rim we didn't have enough time or flexibility for the hike towards the west from Grand Canyon Village that others have recommended, but my personal favorite viewpoint in the eastern part of the park was Lipan Point. It gives you a view along the Colorado River and not just down into the Canyon, but it was definitely crowded. To avoid crowds, your options are to hike or to camp in the park so you can be there after the day trippers clear out. If you can manage an overnight in the park you'll also get to experience its night skies and pick where to be for sunrise and/or sunset, which are both stunning.
posted by fedward at 1:40 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by fedward at 1:40 PM on March 14, 2022
I like the drive up to Page and the rock formations along the road as well as I like the Grand Canyon. There's lot of camping options along Lake Powell if it fits your schedule better. Don't know if I've done the drive through Apache land along 64, but it's bound to be more interesting than I-40.
posted by credulous at 6:45 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by credulous at 6:45 PM on March 14, 2022
Response by poster: Thank you all for the helpful suggestions and advice!
posted by Red Desk at 12:39 PM on March 15, 2022
posted by Red Desk at 12:39 PM on March 15, 2022
Santa Fe: ABSOLUTELY, the House of Eternal Return, assuming your event isn't there. Honestly even if it is, it has a totally different atmosphere during the day vs during a show. Frenchy's Field is a good outdoor space to visit if you just need to decompress from the trip and watch some frolicking prairie dogs or walk a meditation labyrinth. IMO the best short hikes that start in town are to be found by parking at the St John's trailhead (what Google Maps calls "Atalaya - Lower"). (Or the Cross of the Martyrs gives a good view of town without requiring any hiking at all.)
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 1:22 PM on March 15, 2022
posted by C. K. Dexter Haven at 1:22 PM on March 15, 2022
Response by poster: Update for anyone considering a similar trip - it was great! As suggested, I got a camping reservation at Mather Campground on the way there and saw the Grand Canyon that afternoon and the next morning on some short hikes. The campground is within walking distance to the Canyon and was a great spot to stay.
I didn't have much time in Santa Fe, but I did walk around downtown and enjoyed 39 Degrees North Coffee and Second Street Brewery (the one by the railroad tracks).
On the way back I stopped in Petrified Forest NP and it was amazing. I would recommend it as strongly as others did here. I camped at Kaibab Lake Campground outside Grand Canyon NP, which was quiet and convenient to I-40. Memorable trip - thanks again all!
posted by Red Desk at 11:16 PM on May 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
I didn't have much time in Santa Fe, but I did walk around downtown and enjoyed 39 Degrees North Coffee and Second Street Brewery (the one by the railroad tracks).
On the way back I stopped in Petrified Forest NP and it was amazing. I would recommend it as strongly as others did here. I camped at Kaibab Lake Campground outside Grand Canyon NP, which was quiet and convenient to I-40. Memorable trip - thanks again all!
posted by Red Desk at 11:16 PM on May 11, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by Ardnamurchan at 11:54 AM on March 14, 2022