east rim drive

We exited the park going this route (entered via the south entrance). Much less busy at the look offs (even though it wasn't crazy busy in the winter to start with). The views are just as impressive and the less inhabited feel added to the experience. Well worth a trip just to get away from the crowds and experience the views in serenity. Highly recommended.

Great location - we went on a holiday, and it was not crowded! The watch tower is beaufitul! We enjoyed a nice picnic lunch on some benches as we watched the birds over the canyon. We we're able to wheel a wheel chair to the bottom of the watch tower, but there are only stairs going up.

A few years ago we entered the park from this far east side - a great way to enter the park instead of the main area from Tusayan. This past Christmas we stayed outside the park in Tusayan and spent 2 days exploring this east end of the south rim - there are less stops, less people and all the great views and hikes (Yaki and Shoshone). It also has the Tusayan Ruins and Museum which is worth the stop. The Desert View area / stop is quite large with a visitor center, food, bathrooms etc. The tower is a great site to see but I suggest going early because even though we were there in winter and it was cold with snow flurries there were a gazillion people in and around the tower. Great views and great area but on this particular site (Desert View) be prepared for a lot of people.

We were heading to Page from the Grand Canyon South Rim and this drive was beautiful! If you are lucky like us, you might catch a glimpse of deer herd crossing the road :) - Has a lot of view points and breathtaking views - these are less crowded than the ones near grand canyon visitor center.

Not as many view points as the west rim, but every view is spectacular. Don't miss the Desert View tower at the end.

The road to the east entrance was where we saw elk (a lot of elk) and 2 coyotes. The scenery really changes as you take the road to the east entrance with lots of overlooks. It is really worth the drive, even going outside of the park a ways gives you more amazing and varied views.

Everything about the Grand Canyon is unlike anything else. The sheer majesty of the place is awe inspiring. Our whole family really enjoyed the drive and took TONS of pictures.

We left by the south entrance and have to say it is very much worth arriving from the east if time permits. We we made a few stops and truly enjoyed our first views of this amazing site.

We drove the scenic drive from the Village towards Desert View on our way out of the Grand Canyon towards Page, AZ. We didn't stop at every point, but we did stop at a few including the Grandview point, and Moran Point, the Watchtower at Desert View, all with great views. We were also able to see a lot of condors at most of the view points.

Drove this drive from the Village to Desert View and Watchtower. Able to park at every view point easily and the views are all beyond belief. Pick up a leaflet online as facilities are not available at many stops. Restaurant at Desert View served good tasty food.

We travelled this route on our from staying at Grand Canyon village and only wish we'd had more time to stop at all the fabulous views of this ever-changing landscape. We also got to see condors ( probably) soaring below us. There are lots of stopping points and none of them were too crowded to stop at.

We drove in this way and stopped at all the lookout points along the way, each spectacular views. Restrooms available at many of the stops.

After traveling to the canyon for many years we finally drove from the east side. The watch tower is quite the piece of architecture. Don't forget to stop at Shoshone Point and take the 1 mile hike to the rim. Shhh! it's beyond a locked gate. Go around it and enjoy the peace and quiet there.

The drive itself isn't interesting very often, but if you're starting out at the main centre it's worth the drive see the desert viewpoint. The drive itself is mostly trees with very few vantage points from the road. There are other viewpoints to stop at, but for us they are mostly more of the same except for the desert viewpoint. If you're going east as part of a road trip it is a relaxing drive, but not worth the special effort if you're only going on the drive for the sake of the drive.

Take your time to drive this route. Take plenty of cold water and take advantage of bathroom stops. Charge your camera batteries!