Desert View Watchtower vs Grand Canyon Visitor Center: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Desert View Watchtower first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 64 against 64 for Grand Canyon Visitor Center, and it has 11 ranked ways to see it versus 10. 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 Visitor Center in Grand Canyon National Park, United States

Grand Canyon Visitor Center

Side by side

Desert View Watchtower compared with Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Grand Canyon National Park
Desert View WatchtowerGrand Canyon Visitor Center
Ranked experiences1110
Top Outty Ranking8191
Average ranking (top 10)6464
Cheapest experience$5$5
Average time needed3.8h4.1h
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 Visitor Center

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

    Outty Ranking 91 · from $149 · 4h

  2. 2. 4-Hour Grand Canyon Morning Rim Tour featuring Biblical Creation

    Outty Ranking 78 · from $149 · 4h

  3. 3. Grand Canyon Biblical Creation Hiking Tour • South Kaibab Trail

    Outty Ranking 77 · from $179 · 5h

  4. 4. Desert View Grand Canyon Jeep Tour

    Outty Ranking 72 · from $166 · 3h

  5. 5. Admission to IMAX Grand Canyon "Rivers of Time"

    Outty Ranking 57 · from $15 · 1h

All 10 Grand Canyon Visitor Center experiences

Frequently asked questions

Desert View Watchtower or Grand Canyon Visitor Center: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Desert View Watchtower first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 64 against 64 for Grand Canyon Visitor Center, and it has 11 ranked ways to see it versus 10. 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 Visitor Center?

Ranked experiences at Desert View Watchtower start from $5 and at Grand Canyon Visitor Center from $5 per person.

How long do you need at Desert View Watchtower and Grand Canyon Visitor Center?

Experiences at Desert View Watchtower run 3.8 hours on average and at Grand Canyon Visitor Center 4.1 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 Visitor Center 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 Visitor Center 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 Visitor Center: 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