- 1). Choose your time frame and budget. The journey to Arizona may take several days, depending on where you start, and you might need to make allowances for overnight stops. For example, the distance to the South Rim from Denver, Colorado, is 859 miles, and it will be considerably more from the East Coast. The driving distance from the South Rim to the North Rim is 212 miles, so if you are pushed for time, limit your trip to one side of the Canyon.
- 2). Plan your en route stops. You may prefer to stay in hotels, motels or bed-and-breakfast accommodations, but reserve ahead to avoid disappointment. Check and reserve campgrounds if camping, and make a checklist of all the camping equipment you will need for the trip.
- 3). Plan your Grand Canyon itinerary. The national park covers a vast region and offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, fishing, wildlife watching and mule rides. Buy or borrow a good guidebook like Frommer's Grand Canyon National Park, updated for its 7th Edition in March 2010. Frommer's recommends the 25-mile Desert View Drive as an easy introduction to the area.
- 4). Assess your vehicle's road worthiness. Check the oil and tires and make sure you have a spare. If you are renting a car or RV outside of Arizona remember to read the small print of your rental agreement as you may have to declare the states you will be driving through.
- 5). Pack. Take suitable clothes, noting that the weather can change suddenly. Temperatures in January easily fall to 13 degrees Fahrenheit, while summer temperatures frequently rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. July and August are the wettest months and June the driest. Remember to pack maps. If you use a GPS, make sure it is working.
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