last food stop before grand canyon

[momeason]

We will be traveling to Grand Canyon for an overnight stay next weekend. We will be coming in from Sedona. Any suggestions for lunch before we get to the park and high priced food? Will consider fast food and other. Needs to be on the way. Thanks.

 

[LisaRex]

We will be traveling to Grand Canyon for an overnight stay next weekend. We will be coming in from Sedona. Any suggestions for lunch before we get to the park and high priced food? Will consider fast food and other. Needs to be on the way. Thanks.

If you're going up Rt. 17 and through the Coconino Plateau, stop in Flagstaff. There's a ton of fast food places along the main strip. Once you get out of Flagstaff, you won't find much of anything before you get to the Grand Canyon.

My personal recommendation is to do what we did and bring along a few lunch-sized soft-sided coolers and a handful of baggies with you. Then you can stop at a grocery store and buy what you want for lunch. We packed sandwiches, salami roll-ups, chips, fruit, sodas and waters. That will give you the flexibility to stop and eat whenever you feel like it -- while avoiding the long lines of the onsite restaurants. We ate at one of the scenic overlooks in between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View.

*If you're driving to Sedona via Phoenix, there is a grocery store right off of 179 (on the way to Sedona), in the Village of Oak Creek, 3/4 of the way around the Verde Valley School traffic circle (Weber's IGA, 100 Verde Valley School Rd, Sedona, AZ 86351.

P.S. I'm a Type A planner, so I also collected mustard and mayo packs prior to our trip, to pack for the sandwiches.

 

[PStreet1]

There's a national park service cafeteria with very reasonable prices:
Maswik Cafeteria. There's another cafeteria also: Yavapai Cafeteria

There is also the Maswik Pizza Pub.

And Bright Angel has several very reasonably priced food options:
•Bright Angel Restaurant - Located in Bright Angel Lodge. Open daily 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. Lounge open 11am to 11pm.
•Bright Angel Coffee House – located in Bright Angel Lodge. Open daily 5:30 am to 11:00 am.
•Bright Angel Fountain - Located outside Bright Angel Lodge on the rim. Ice cream and snacks. Open daily 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

It's typical "national park food," but the prices aren't outrageous.

Here's the Frommers rating:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/grandcanyonnationalpark/2284_inddin.html

Frommers mentions eating at Tusayan, but I really think the park is a better choice. There are, however, McDonald's and Wendy's and Burger King outlets in Tusayan--and there may be more; I just know those.

 

[PigsDad]

I second the recommendation for packing a lunch. One of our family's favorite things to do while visiting national parks is to find a nice picnic area to stop and have lunch. They are usually really nice and there is nothing like hanging out enjoying the view while picnicing (much better than sitting in a park cafeteria...).

Kurt

 

[nightnurse613]

The town of Tusayan is about 5 miles outside the park. There is an IMAX theater with a presentation of the Grand Canyon. You can park your car and take some of the shuttle buses into the park for a small fee. There are several places to eat (although I can only remember the Wendy's). Of course, there are several places to eat at the Grand Canyon Village - or grab an ice cream. Watch out for the squirrels!!

 

[shagnut]

We ate at the Cameron Trading Post and had a delicious Indian taco. It was at the entrance of the GC. shaggy

 

[zinger1457]

I would agree with PStreet1, we had dinner at the Bright Angel Lodge restaurant during our last visit and the prices were reasonable and the food very good, not to mention great views looking out into the Canyon. Since you're staying overnight maybe bring in a lunch for a picnic and have dinner at Bright Angel or El Tovar (requires reservations).

 

[momeason]

thanks..just the info I needed.

 

[nightnurse613]

If by next weekend, you mean THIS weekend, it may be too late (plus you didn't ask for route info) but, I'm not a big fan of the Flagstaff to GC route; I prefer out I-40 to Williams and then north. Of course taking one route up and another back would add some variety (I particularly do not like the Flagstaff route at night). Williams has the Grand Canyon Railroad which is a nice stop (if you have time). Beautiful weather this weekend. If you are already in Sedona, my favorite sandwich shop is Memories. If you have a way to keep it fresh you could just pick up a sandwich from there!!

 

[momeason]

If by next weekend, you mean THIS weekend, it may be too late (plus you didn't ask for route info) but, I'm not a big fan of the Flagstaff to GC route; I prefer out I-40 to Williams and then north. Of course taking one route up and another back would add some variety (I particularly do not like the Flagstaff route at night). Williams has the Grand Canyon Railroad which is a nice stop (if you have time). Beautiful weather this weekend. If you are already in Sedona, my favorite sandwich shop is Memories. If you have a way to keep it fresh you could just pick up a sandwich from there!!

We are leaving for Sedona tomorrow. Grand Canyon will be the 14th and 15th.
then Las Vegas, drive 2 days, Hot Springs National park for 2 days and then
Branson, MO for a week. Drive for 2 days, visit long time friends in Detroit for 2 days then Niagra on the Lake, Ontario. Then make our way home stopping to see my fav nephew and maybe my little brother.

 

[momeason]

If by next weekend, you mean THIS weekend, it may be too late (plus you didn't ask for route info) but, I'm not a big fan of the Flagstaff to GC route; I prefer out I-40 to Williams and then north. Of course taking one route up and another back would add some variety (I particularly do not like the Flagstaff route at night). Williams has the Grand Canyon Railroad which is a nice stop (if you have time). Beautiful weather this weekend. If you are already in Sedona, my favorite sandwich shop is Memories. If you have a way to keep it fresh you could just pick up a sandwich from there!!

We are leaving for Sedona tomorrow. Grand Canyon will be the 14th and 15th.
then Las Vegas, drive 2 days, Hot Springs National park for 2 days and then
Branson, MO for a week. Drive for 2 days, visit long time friends in Detroit for 2 days then Niagra on the Lake, Ontario. Then make our way home stopping to see my fav nephew and maybe my little brother.