Budget — Grand Canyon

Reference budget €150-200/day/person at Grand Canyon — more affordable than Las Vegas or major cities. Park entry: $35/vehicle valid 7 days, or America the Beautiful Pass $80/year for all national parks (cost-effective from 3 parks visited on Western parks road trip). Accommodation: intra-park Xanterra/Yavapai — El Tovar Hotel (1905, 78 rooms, most historic, $280-450/night, 6-month-ahead booking on grandcanyonlodges.com), Bright Angel Lodge (90 historic 1935 Mary Colter cabins, $150-280), Kachina Lodge and Thunderbird Lodge (modern, $180-280), Yavapai Lodge ($130-200, most affordable intra-park), Maswik Lodge ($140-200). Outside park Tusayan (3 km South Rim entrance): Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn ($130-220), Holiday Inn Express ($130-200), Grand Hotel ($150-250). Williams (1h south, Route 66 gateway): Grand Canyon Railway Hotel ($130-200), historic Route 66 motels $80-150. Flagstaff (1h30, wider choice): $100-180/night. Intra-park food: El Tovar Dining Room ($50-80/person, 1905 historic atmosphere with fireplace, essential booking, considered park's best gastronomic experience), Arizona Steakhouse Bright Angel Lodge ($40-60), Yavapai Tavern ($25-40), Maswik Lodge Food Court ($15-25 self-service), Bright Angel Bicycles & Cafe ($15-25 picnics). Activities: park entry $35/vehicle, Tusayan helicopter $200-350/person, Bottom mule $600-900/person 1 night, Grand Canyon Railway $100-220/person return, Bright Angel Bicycles bike $20/2h. Transport: SUV rental $80-130/day Sixt/Enterprise from LAS/PHX, gasoline $4-5/gallon (with Tusayan stations), free intra-park parking (but often saturated in summer, mandatory shuttles March-November). Total 2 nights for 2 people excl. flights (intra-park + restaurants + entry + activities): €1,000-2,000.