$250–$450
Standard rooms/night
$500–$900
Suites/night
78
Rooms & suites
1905
Year built
20 ft
From the rim
13 mo.
Summer lead time
Lowdown Verdict
Worth the premium IF you can get canyon-side rooms or a suite. Standard village-side is a $300 commodity room with character. Book canyon-side or save the money and stay at Bright Angel Lodge for better value-to-location ratio.
About El Tovar Hotel
El Tovar Hotel was built in 1905 by the Fred Harvey Company and designed by architect Charles Whittlesey for the Santa Fe Railway. The four-story log-and-stone lodge sits 20 feet from the edge of the South Rim at one of the Grand Canyon's most dramatic overlook points — a position that has made it the most sought-after in-park reservation in the national park system for over a century.
El Tovar was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. President Theodore Roosevelt stayed here in 1903 before the hotel was even finished — he slept in a temporary camp on the rim while the building was under construction and declared the canyon "beyond comparison." Albert Einstein visited in 1931. The register of notable guests runs to several pages.
The hotel is managed by Xanterra Parks & Resorts under a National Park Service concession agreement. All reservations go through Xanterra's centralized booking system. Check-in is at 4:00 PM; bag drop is available earlier at the front desk.
Room Types and Views
El Tovar's 78 rooms span four floors and divide into two fundamentally different experiences depending on which side of the building they face.
Canyon-Side Rooms & Suites
Face directly into the Grand Canyon. The suites ($500–$900/night) have private balconies or bay windows with unobstructed rim views. Standard canyon-side rooms ($350–$450) also look into the canyon but without private outdoor space. These are what make El Tovar worth the price — book these or reconsider your stay.
- Private balconies on suites
- Unobstructed South Rim views
- $350–$900/night depending on suite type
- Book at the 13-month window opening — fills fastest
Village-Side Standard Rooms
Face Grand Canyon Village, not the canyon. Historic character — original Douglas fir woodwork, period furniture — but no canyon view. Priced $250–$350/night. A legitimate stay for history enthusiasts who want to sleep in the same building as Roosevelt and Einstein, but not a compelling choice over Bright Angel Lodge rim cabins at similar prices.
- No canyon view
- Original 1905 woodwork and fixtures
- $250–$350/night
- More availability than canyon-side at 3–4 months out
No elevator. El Tovar has 4 floors and stairs only. Guests with mobility limitations should request ground-floor rooms at booking and confirm directly with the front desk at +1-888-297-2757. Check-in is 4:00 PM; bag drop is available on arrival. Wi-Fi is available but unreliable — the 1905 stone construction limits signal penetration.
El Tovar Dining Room
The El Tovar Dining Room is the only white-tablecloth fine-dining option on the South Rim. The menu rotates seasonally but consistently features Southwestern-influenced dishes, quality steaks, and a respectable wine list. The room itself is dark-wood paneled with original murals depicting the Four Corners Native cultures — dining here is a genuine historic experience.
Breakfast
6:30–10:45 AM — walk-in OK, arrive before 8 AM for shorter waits
Lunch
11:30 AM–2:00 PM — walk-in possible if you arrive before 11:30 AM
Dinner
5:00–10:00 PM — reservations required, open 6 months in advance. Summer dates sell out same day.
If dinner reservations are unavailable, the Arizona Steakhouse at Bright Angel Lodge is the next-best sit-down option, 200 meters west. The El Tovar Lounge is a no-reservation alternative for drinks and lighter fare in the evening.
How to Book El Tovar
El Tovar reservations open through Xanterra's booking system on the 1st of each month at 7:00 AM Mountain Time for dates exactly 13 months out. Summer dates (June, July, August) sell within minutes. Follow this process:
- Create a Xanterra account at grandcanyonlodges.com before the opening day
- Set a calendar alert for the 1st of the month, 13 months before your target dates
- Have your credit card and group size ready at 6:55 AM Mountain Time
- Specifically search for canyon-view or suite room types — they are listed separately from standard rooms
- Book the dining room reservation in the same session while the page is open
- If canyon-view rooms are gone, check back for cancellations — they appear without notice
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) opening windows close in 2 to 4 hours for canyon-side rooms; interior rooms often remain available at 6 months. Winter dates have the most flexibility but the South Rim sees limited daytime hours and colder temperatures.
See the Grand Canyon permit and lottery guide for Phantom Ranch booking and the full South Rim lodging comparison if you are still deciding between properties.
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Location, Parking, and Nearby Trails
El Tovar sits at the center of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, 0.1 miles from Bright Angel Trailhead and 0.3 miles from Kolb Studio on the Rim Trail. It is the most centrally positioned lodge for both rim walking and canyon hiking. The Mather Point overlook is a 15-minute walk east along the Rim Trail.
Vehicle parking: El Tovar has a small surface lot for hotel guests adjacent to the main entrance, but spaces are limited. Overflow parking at Bright Angel Lot (0.2 miles west) and use of the Village Route free shuttle is the standard approach. The Bright Angel Bus Stop is 0.1 miles from El Tovar's front door. No RV or oversized vehicle parking at the hotel lot.
Pet policy: El Tovar is pet-friendly with a fee ($25–$50/stay). Pets must remain in guest rooms or the parking area and are not permitted in the dining room, lobby common areas, or on the canyon rim wall. The South Rim Kennel near Maswik Lodge accepts day boarding if you need hands-free hiking time.
El Tovar vs. Other In-Park Lodges
| Lodge | Price Range | Canyon View? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Tovar | $250–$900 | Yes (select rooms) | History + fine dining + canyon-side splurge |
| Bright Angel Lodge | $130–$340 | Rim cabins only | Best value rim lodge, hikers |
| Yavapai Lodge | $200–$280 | No | Families, east-side convenience |
| Phantom Ranch | $186/person | Inner canyon | Serious hikers, bucket-list experience |
El Tovar Hotel FAQ
Plan Your Grand Canyon Stay
All Hotels & Lodges →
Compare all 8 in-park options
Bright Angel Lodge →
Best value rim lodge, $130–$340
Bright Angel Trail →
0.1 mi from El Tovar's front door
Grand Canyon Restaurants →
All dining options on the South Rim
Mather Point →
15-min walk from El Tovar on the Rim Trail
Travel Planning Guide →
Shuttles, entrance fees, timing