FLAGSTAFF
Located at the northern terminus of I-17, 85 miles from Grand Canyon National Park South Entrance. Flagstaff is a historic mountain town with a lively restaurant scene and is near Wupatki and Walnut Canyon national monuments.
Getting around town: Reliable bus service throughout Flagstaff and surrounding area is provided by Mountain Line Public Transit. For more information: mountainline.az.gov.
Lodging, dining and entertainment information: flagstaffarizona.org
WILLIAMS
Located on I-40, 60 miles from Grand Canyon National Park South Entrance. Williams is the hub for Grand Canyon Railway and a stop for Amtrak.
Lodging, dining and entertainment information: experiencewilliams.com
TUSAYAN
Located on US 64, 7 miles from Grand Canyon National Park South Entrance. The National Geographic Grand Canyon Visitor Center is here.
Lodging, dining and entertainment information: grandcanyoncbv.org.
CAMERON
Located on the edge of the Navajo Nation at the junction of US 89 and AZ 64 (the Grand Canyon park turn-off), Cameron is 54 miles north of Flagstaff and 32 miles from the Grand Canyon National Park South Rim East Entrance. This is a one-stop town at the large Cameron Trading Post and Motel, but well worth an hour visit or over-night stay to experience Native American culture and to escape the summer crowds in Grand Canyon Village. There is also a gas station here.
The original trading post built in the early 1900s traded goods from the Hopi and Navajo tribes. Today, it is comprised of a large gift shop selling Native American crafts as well as Southwest souvenirs. The facility also includes an art gallery, ice cream fountain, a convenience store and public restrooms. This is a great place to stretch your legs, browse the store and eat an ice cream cone in a grassy park-like area out front. For sit-down meals, the Cameron Trading Post Dining Room is open 6 a.m.-10 p.m. (try the Navajo taco). The Cameron Motel is comprised of three adobe-style buildings with Southwest furnished rooms and some rooms with balconies that open onto the scenic Little Colorado River Gorge. RV camping with full hook-ups is also available. For more information: camerontradingpost.com; (800) 338-7385.
JACOB LAKE
Located 44 miles north of the Grand Canyon North Rim, this small community is the retail and lodging hub for visitors who need to stock up on supplies or want to spend the night in the high meadows outside the park. The general store and gas station here are bustling in summer but slow to a crawl in winter when AZ 67 to the North Rim is closed for the season.
Jacob Lake Inn: Comprised of small guest cabins, a restaurant with a diner-style counter (open 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.), store and gift shop. Sitting at the counter and enjoying a milk shake and a large, fresh baked cookie is a ritual for many Grand Canyon hikers after completing a North Rim trip. For more information: (643) 7232; jacoblake.com.
Kaibab Lodge: Located 18 miles from the North Rim, this collection of cabins in a quiet meadow and restaurant is an alternative to Jacob Lake but it is closed for the winter between mid-Oct to mid-May. For more information: (928) 638-2389; kaibablodge.com.
North Rim Country Store: Located across the road from Kaibab Lodge, this small store and gas station sells food staples, some camping supplies as well as beer and wine. Open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed for the season mid-Oct. mid-May. For more information: (928) 638-2383.
