OP here...decided on Maswik Lodge mainly because Yavapai is a pet-frienly lodge while Maswik has a no pets policy. While I love dogs....I fear the rooms will have an odor.

Has anyone stayed at Kachina? Now I’m nervous.

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Stay in flagstaff and get up early. It’s only like a 20-30min drive and there is a lot of good breweries and restaurant in flagstaff

Thought of that...but my BFF went and had a great time...but told me to stay "in park" if possible. Also, of note, I will only be there for 2 nights and plan to do the Canyon Vista Mule Ride and Railway Express Tour - both of which depart very early in the morning. Which is way I ended up making reservation at Maswik -- I am told to check back as many people make cancellations so maybe I can switch to a nice place.

Stay in flagstaff and get up early. It’s only like a 20-30min drive and there is a lot of good breweries and restaurant in flagstaff

Anonymous wrote:If you're willing to book outside of the GC, check out Under Canvas. We're staying there for our GC trip in May. It looks cool (but be sure to book the one with the private bathroom).

This! We are booking Under Canvas for Lake Powell, though, and will stay off site for Grand Canyon in Williams. With grandparents, kids and my sanity hanging by a thread, I need a modicum of comfort. Not sure the park lodges do that.

We went to Yavapai last year and I generally concur with the other PPs. We didn't perceive it as foul but it was very very basic. Basic is fine but the A/C unit was so full of dust that we struggled with the inside air.

Just stay in Flagstaff and get up early and drive in.

If you're willing to book outside of the GC, check out Under Canvas. We're staying there for our GC trip in May. It looks cool (but be sure to book the one with the private bathroom).

We had prepaid reservations at Yavapi last spring break. We drove up, took a look and decided we couldn’t do it. Since there was no availability elsewhere near the GC, we ended up driving to Flagstaff. I don’t need a Ritz Carlton, but I can’t do dingy motel and that’s what this is.

Anonymous wrote:Yavapai was so foul that we cancelled our second night there (carpet was bunched up and stained, stained sofa, heater had a burning smell) and you have to take a bus (long lines/crowded when we went) to get to most of the Rim or other trails.

That’s why we like North Rim. Minimal crowds, no lines, no buses. The lodge is pretty basic, but it’s comfortable enough, clean and can best the location.

Yavapai was so foul that we cancelled our second night there (carpet was bunched up and stained, stained sofa, heater had a burning smell) and you have to take a bus (long lines/crowded when we went) to get to most of the Rim or other trails.

Anonymous wrote:I stayed in Maswik last summer and it was also a dingy concrete block building. It would be a $59/night Red Roof Inn if located anywhere else. But it is only a 2 minute walk to the Rim and the Bright Angel Trailhead.

Yavapai poster here - yeah, I think Maswik wins for proximity, but Yavapai may be slightly “nicer” and it’s in a nice wooded area with easy access to everything.

I stayed in Maswik last summer and it was also a dingy concrete block building. It would be a $59/night Red Roof Inn if located anywhere else. But it is only a 2 minute walk to the Rim and the Bright Angel Trailhead.

Stayed at Yavapai last summer. It was fine but really dingy and the bedsheets on one bed were stained which was gross. Because of COVID services were bare bones but it was “fine”.

Looking into going to Grand Canyon and there is availability at either Maswik Lodge or Yavapai Lodge - thought I'd check here to see of any first hand experience/reviews?