Can I See the Grand Canyon for Free?
Visiting the Grand Canyon is on the bucket list of many people not just in the United States, but around the world. However, if you’ve visited other national parks, you know that it gets expensive very quickly. So, can you see the Grand Canyon for free?
Yes, you can see the Grand Canyon for free if you’re flexible or if you meet certain conditions. The National Park Service has free entrance days. Also, if you have a certain status, you’ll get a free pass the whole year.
There is no way to see the Grand Canyon without going into the national park. So to start, what is the normal cost of admission to Grand Canyon National Park?
The cost for one vehicle is $35. This covers non-commercial vehicles and all passengers and is good for 7 days.
An annual park pass will cost you $70
The cost for a motorcycle is $30 and is also good for seven days.
The cost for an individual is $20 per person, whether arriving by foot, by bicycle or by bus or raft.
Children 15 and younger are free!
All passes can be bought online in advance here.
Free Days
Every year the National Park Service has free days to celebrate public holidays or to commemorate important days. This year, the park has five “Free Days”, where entrance to all national parks is free for all visitors.
In 2022, those days are:
January 17: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
April 16: First day of National Park Week
August 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
September 24: National Public Lands Day
November 11: Veterans Day
So, if you’re looking to get into Grand Canyon National Park for free, you can do so with a little planning and choosing the right date. You should note, however, that the free admission does not cover user fees or amenities. And if you decide to stay longer, you’ll need a park pass for any additional days you want to stay.
America the Beautiful Pass
The National Park Service’s America the Beautiful Pass gives you access to over 2,000 federally managed areas, including national parks. The cost is normally $80 per year, but there are some exceptions that will allow you to get a pass for free
Free for Military
The Military Pass is free for all current US military members, veterans and Gold Star family members. Currently the pass is good for one year and must be renewed. However, late in 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act makes veterans and Gold Star family members eligible for lifetime passes. These passes are expected to be available in the summer of 2022.
The pass admits the owner and any other passengers in the vehicle. For those entering Grand Canyon National Park by other means, it will cover the pass holder and three additional adults. Children 15 and under are free.
Free for Volunteers
A volunteer pass is available to people who volunteer 250 hours at one or more sites managed by one of five designated federal agencies.
The pass admits the owner and any other passengers in the vehicle. For those entering Grand Canyon National Park by other means, it will cover the pass holder and three additional adults. Children 15 and under are free.
Access Pass for Those with Disabilities
The Access Page is a free, lifetime pass – available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability.
The pass admits the owner and any other passengers in the vehicle. For those entering Grand Canyon National Park by other means, it will cover the pass holder and three additional adults. Children 15 and under are free.
4th Grade Pass
The 4th Grad Pass is available to U.S. 4th Graders (including home-schooled and free-choice learners 10 years of age).
The pass admits the owner and any other passengers in the vehicle. For those entering Grand Canyon National Park by other means, it will cover the pass holder and three additional adults. Children 15 and under are free.
$20 for Seniors over 62
The Senior Pass is available to US Citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old. There is also a lifetime pass available for $80. Seniors who have purchased four consecutive $20 annual passes can trade them in for a lifetime pass.
For requirements and information on how to get these passes, visit the USGS website.
Free Camping near Grand Canyon National Park
Yes, there is free camping NEAR Grand Canyon National Park, although there is no free camping IN in the Park
If you want to camp in the park, there will be a cost. There are three campgrounds located within the park. Mather and Desert Rim are on the south rim, and the North Rim Campground on the north rim. Costs vary depending on the type of spot, although spots are generally $18 per night for standard campsites.
Even backcountry camping within the park will come at a cost. The cost, beginning on or after July 1, 2022, is $10 per permit plus $12 per person or stock animal per night camped below the rim and $12 per group per night camped above the rim. So, the cost of backcountry camping can actually exceed the cost of established campgrounds, depending on the number of people.
Kaibab National Forest
Luckily, there is an alternative that will allow you to camp outside the park boundaries for free. Kaibab National Forest is just outside Grand Canyon National Park. As a national forest, it is administered by the US Forest Service. The Forest Service is part of the Department of Agriculture. National forests have fewer restrictions on land use, recreation, and camping than national parks. So not only will you be able to camp for free, but there are other activities you can engage in that are prohibited in national parks.
The Kaibab National Forest has two main units. The North Unit is better for visiting the Grand Canyon’s north rim, while the South Unit (further divided into the Tusayan and Williams Ranger Districts) is naturally better for visiting the south rim. And, depending on where you’re staying, the Kaibab National Forest is a mere half hour south of the park’s South Rim Visitor Center.
Free Camping Near North Rim
For free camping, you can use the Indian Hollow Campground. There are three primitive sites for tent camping. It’s located in the North Unit and is normally about a two hour drive from the North Rim Visitor Center.
Free Camping Near South Rim
Dispersed camping is considered camping anywhere outside of an established campground. Dispersed camping is available in both parks of the South Unit. The Williams Ranger District is near the city of Williams, Arizona. It’s farther from the park and it will take you about an hour to reach the South Rim Visitor Center.
Bordering the park is the Tusayan Ranger District. It’s about 360,000 acres that borders Grand Canyon National Park. You can camp there for 14 consecutive days. The Forest Service also asks that you used established camping areas in order to avoid additional damage to the environment or wildlife. There are also other restrictions that you can find at the Forest Service website. There are no amenities, so you’ll need to bring water, dispose of your own waste and pack out your trash.
Another benefit of camping in Kaibab is that you can avoid the crowds during the busy season. Grand Canyon National Park is the second most-visited national park, so you’re likely to encounter plenty of other visitors. Camping outside the park can give you the peace and quiet you may be looking for.
Conclusion
So can you see the Grand Canyon for free? Perhaps, if you’re entitled to a free pass. But even if you can’t, there are things you can do to minimize the cost. Check out all the free trails and overlooks (don’t miss Mather Point). Also, if you don’t mind camping, you can find free spots on public lands just outside the park’s boundaries. Some are only a short drive away and will help you avoid the big summer crowds.
