Desert View Watchtower vs Grand Canyon South Rim: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Grand Canyon South Rim first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 81 against 64 for Desert View Watchtower, and it has 25 ranked ways to see it versus 11. Desert View Watchtower is the cheaper entry at $5, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Grand Canyon National Park, pair them: plan Desert View Watchtower in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Desert View Watchtower in Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Desert View Watchtower

Grand Canyon South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Grand Canyon South Rim

Side by side

Desert View Watchtower compared with Grand Canyon South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View WatchtowerGrand Canyon South Rim
Ranked experiences1125
Top Outty Ranking8191
Average ranking (top 10)6481
Cheapest experience$5$130
Average time needed3.8h4.4h
Free cancellation91% of options100% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Desert View Watchtower

  1. 1. Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $345 · 5h

  2. 2. Grand Canyon Sunset Hiking Adventure Deep Below The South Rim

    Outty Ranking 74 · from $345 · 5h

  3. 3. Desert View Grand Canyon Jeep Tour

    Outty Ranking 72 · from $166 · 3h

  4. 4. 45-minute Helicopter Flight Over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, Arizona

    Outty Ranking 71 · from $359 · 0.8h

  5. 5. Grand Canyon Landmarks Tour by Airplane with Optional Hummer Tour

    Outty Ranking 67 · from $179 · 0.7h

All 11 Desert View Watchtower experiences

Best ways to see Grand Canyon South Rim

  1. 1. 4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $149 · 4h

  2. 2. 3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour

    Outty Ranking 87 · from $133 · 3h

  3. 3. 3 Hour Back-Road Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate By-Pass at 9:30 am

    Outty Ranking 84 · from $130 · 3h

  4. 4. Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset Tour with Dinner included

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $170 · 4h

  5. 5. Grand Canyon Tour from Tusayan

    Outty Ranking 81 · from $249 · 6h

All 25 Grand Canyon South Rim experiences

Frequently asked questions

Desert View Watchtower or Grand Canyon South Rim: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Grand Canyon South Rim first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 81 against 64 for Desert View Watchtower, and it has 25 ranked ways to see it versus 11. Desert View Watchtower is the cheaper entry at $5, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Grand Canyon National Park, pair them: plan Desert View Watchtower in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Desert View Watchtower or Grand Canyon South Rim?

Ranked experiences at Desert View Watchtower start from $5 and at Grand Canyon South Rim from $130 per person.

How long do you need at Desert View Watchtower and Grand Canyon South Rim?

Experiences at Desert View Watchtower run 3.8 hours on average and at Grand Canyon South Rim 4.4 hours, so both fit in one day in Grand Canyon National Park with a break in between.

Can you do Desert View Watchtower and Grand Canyon South Rim on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 91% of Desert View Watchtower options and 100% of Grand Canyon South Rim options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Desert View Watchtower: Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour (Outty Ranking 81, from $345). For Grand Canyon South Rim: 4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim (Outty Ranking 91, from $149).

More Grand Canyon National Park matchups

Best things to do in Grand Canyon National ParkGrand Canyon National Park city guideGrand Canyon National Park tours comparedHow the Outty Ranking works