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Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Yahoo Message Number: 70414
Early next week we'll be heading from Phoenix to Salt Lake City, and neither my wife nor I have seen the Grand Canyon. It seems we might be able to take highway 89 North from Flagstaff, then the 64 West, or the 89 West from Flagstaff and the 64 North or the 180 North, to get to the Grand Canyon Village area on the South Rim. Then along the rim road eastward to Desert View, then back on the 64 East back to the 89.
The only gotcha is that I've got an enclosed car trailer behind a 42' coach, so I'm on the long side. How are roads, and are there any campgrounds in the area that might have large pull-through spots, and enough room for turning around etc.? How about scenic turnoffs etc., we don't need to stop at every one, but we do need to see the canyon and get some pics of course! If necessary I can drop the trailer (if a reasonably secure location) and pick up later, but I'd prefer not to.
We'll likely only do a day or so in the area and be on our way, and we don't need to camp there, we could do a day trip and get back towards SLC and find a place along one of the other roads on the way. I'm thinking after the Canyon, taking 89 North to Mount Carmel, then West to Hurricane/Toquerville, then to SLC on the 15. Or else 89 North all the way to Bear Valley Junction, then the 20 to the 15, which looks a little shorter on the map.
Any thoughts/experience on the roads, ability to sightsee with a trailer behind me, etc.? I'm pretty comfortable with handling the coach and the trailer, but of course sharp corners can be very tight with the trailer behind, esp. on narrow roads etc.

Thanks,

Jim Walsh
2003 Lexa

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70415
Jim,

The roads are pretty tight for your combination in the park. I suggest that you stop in Williams and stay here: http://www.thetrain.com/grand-canyon-railway-rv-park-5738.html
And then you take the train from there to the canyon.
http://www.thetrain.com/
The train drops you off right at the Canyon Village where you can see most of the sights and have lunch. The Park Service runs buses around the rim road for additional sights.
This is a fabulous 2 or 3 days should you wish to spend that much time and money.

Good luck and have fun.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70416
We've been there just recently. The roads are excellent for any sized rig. But the traffic will be bad and parking can be a real pain in any size vehicle. I would suggest going up 89 to Cameron and turning west to the Desert View parking area. There is lot of room there in a large new parking area. (Just inside the park).

Bruce

2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70421
Hi Jim,

Not knowing what your schedule is I can tell you what I did last summer.
I left Distant Drums RV Resort and headed up the 17 to the 40 West to Williams. We stayed at "Grand Canyon Railway RV Park" there in Williams. New Park and looks like to be able to handle your length easily. Nice and clean! Plenty of pull-Thu's. 1-800-843-8724.
We had breakfast and headed out on the 64 for a 1 hour drive to the South Rim and enjoyed an easy entire day there and a casual drive home had a Bar-b-Que and headed out Eastbound towards Colorado the next morning.
Worked for me! I checked the parks near the South Rim and determined that the Williams park was a bit better then the ones near the rim. But! That's my opinion. for your size.....Williams is the bet.

Have a wonderful trip and be safe! Good luck Sir!

Scott Jones, 2004 Allure, Seaside 33' # 31094

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70425
Jim,

I don't know about parking your rig at the North Rim. We parked in Kanab and did a day trip in the car to the North Rim, and really enjoyed it. Its only about 50 or so miles. I would just take 89 N from Flagstaff, the drive is beautiful, park in Kanab, do the North Rim, and then head N on 89 again to the Utah 20 crossover to I-15. Its good road all the way. The alternate is to continue on US89 all the way to the I-15/ I-70 crossover. 89 is good all the way and the scenery is very nice, its just takes a little longer.
I wouldn't go through Zion with your rig. Last year there was a lot of road construction, and its one way through the tunnels. If you want to see Zion, again do it as a day trip from Mt Carmel. I don't know about parking the coach in Mt Carmel tho, you'll have to check with someone else.
Best, and have safe travels,
Jerry

2006 Allure #31347

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70430
Jim

Check with the Forest Service. There is a forest service campground near the North Rim on 89 but I don't remember exactly where. The last time we were going from Knab to Flagstaff it was closing for the winter so check dates also. It seemed to be pretty open and there were large rigs in the campground.

Dan 2006 Allure 31348

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70434
We were just there a few weeks ago. We stayed in a very large RV campground in Tusayan, Hwy 64, 1 mile from the park entrance, 7 miles to the rim, I believe. They offer shuttles to the rim. The town is the location of the IMAX theater. Grand Canyon Camper Village is the name and the phone is 928-638-2887. There is a large RV parking lot at the Canyon main visitor center and one can catch the shuttles from there. Would not try to fit into the view points with your rig. We are 40' with a 22' trailer. Roads are all great. Forest campground still closed when we were there. To hit all view points would take two days. Early morning and evening are the best viewing times, and the most open view points. Tusayan has all services as well as airport. The overnight fee is $50. Kind of on the high side but one has to consider the location. It is a park with over 300 sites. Lots of big rigs where there when we were.

The whole experience was very positive but we were not in the main season and people and traffic were light.

Leonard

97' Magna 5418

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70437
Thanks all for the great ideas. The car in the trailer isn't street legal so unfortunately can't be used for day trips. So sounds like doing the train from the Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, or if doing a quicky trip then the Desert View parking lot on the east edge of south rim, or renting a car in Kanab or Williams (or Flagstaff) and driving, are the options that look like they'd work best.
I'm leaning towards renting a car and doing a single day trip, I don't see any car rental places in Williams but plenty in Flagstaff. Any comments on North Rim vs. South Rim for a first-timer doing a single day trip?

Jim

2003 Lexa

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70438
Jim,

My opinion, for the first timer..............Do the South Rim first!

Scott, 2004 Allure, # 31094

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70441
Jim...I am a first timer visiting grand canyon....plz can u give me some tips and routing that will not b a white knuckle drive for me.....thank u very muchJan From:

scott jones ;
To:
;

Subject:

[Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer Sent:

Thu, Apr 21, 2011 5:32:34 PM

Jim, My opinion, for the first timer..............Do the South Rim first!Scott, 2004 Allure, # 31094

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70444
Jim...I am a first timer visiting grand canyon....plz can u give me some tips and routing that will not b a white knuckle drive for me.....thank u very muchJan From:

scott jones ;
To:
;

Subject:

[Country-Coach-Owners] Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer Sent:

Thu, Apr 21, 2011 5:32:34 PM

Jim, My opinion, for the first timer..............Do the South Rim first!Scott, 2004 Allure, # 31094

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70446
Jim,

It has been a very long time since I have been to either one, but for a day trip, I think the south rim would be better. The north rim is very remote and serene, with fewer activities - a great place to relax and hike and take it all in over a weeks time. And the north rim doesn't officially open til May 15!

Mike 03 Lexa

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70447
Traffic and parking can be a nightmare. My vote would be to go the rental route from Flagstaff.

Bruce

2001 Intrigue #11278

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70454
I am currently in Lees Ferry, AZ NPS dry campground on the Colorado River. The North Rim is not open, so no choice anyway. Not sure of the dates of opening but mid May is usual I believe.

Terry

Intrigue 10392
 

Re: Grand Canyon w/ Trailer

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70464
Jan Am sitting in the Trailer Village Campground in Grand Canyon with a 42 foot coach and no problem. I am looking at a 40 ft coach with a car trailer still hooked up; but a lot of the sites would be very tight. Getting here from Williams was very easy. Another option is stay in Williams and take the day train to the center of the Village. Dan 2006 Allure 31348