12 Unique Places to Stay at the Grand Canyon

From stargazing pods, to vintage trailers, to cute tiny houses… there are a lot of really unique places to stay at the Grand Canyon. Especially if you want to plan a true, off-grid adventure in the wilderness.

I’ve rounded up some of the coolest Airbnbs near the Grand Canyon to help you plan the ultimate adventure. You could try glamping in a posh tent, or relax in a cool cabin.

You can even stay in a cave! 

Get ready for s’mores around the firepit, epic desert sunsets, and insane stargazing possibilities. Some of these places are pretty off the grid – and some don’t even have running water – so come prepared with the essentials and bring your sense of adventure!

Unique Places to Stay at the Grand Canyon: Map

Quick note. There aren’t many places to stay actually at the Grand Canyon. The nearest spot is Grand Canyon Village, which has a couple of hotels and campsites. But nearby towns like Tusayan, Williams and Flagstaff offer loads more accommodation options and have more amenities, so make much better bases for exploring the area.

12 Unique Places to Stay at the Grand Canyon

1. Glass Ceiling Stargazing Trailer, Williams

Plan the ultimate glamping adventure in the seriously cool Moontrimmer Trailer! This colourful motorhome is set up on its own private acre in a peaceful neighbourhood of Williams, Arizona, about 40 minutes from the Grand Canyon.

The best bit?

The trailer has a HUGE skylight over the double bed, as well as a mini skylight over the single bed. So you can enjoy some of the best stargazing in the country.

This is the perfect place to lie awake watching the Milky Way overhead on a clear night. And there’s a BBQ grate for the fire pit so you can have proper campfire evenings.

But it’s a true ‘off the grid’ adventure, too. There’s no running water, so you have to bring your own – even to shower with. You’ll have your own private and colourful outhouse with a composting toilet and a solar camping shower. The trailer is minimal but comfortable, so don’t expect the Ritz.

This is the stuff of adventures!

2. Navajo Hogan Earth Hut, Cameron

This has to be one of the most unique places to stay near the Grand Canyon. Around 29 miles east of the canyon, you can stay in a genuine Navajo Hogan, an old earth hut which was built by the host’s family on her grandmother’s summer sheep camp.

Host Shanna says that many ceremonies and blessings have taken place within the home in order to maintain balance and harmony with Mother Earth. So if you want a spiritual experience, or simply the chance to experience the traditional life of the indigenous Navajo tribes, this is the place for you.

The host says: “besides myself and my family only a few minutes away… the only local neighbours are the coyotes, foxes, horses, cattle and birds. Occasionally an antelope will graze early in the mornings.”

You might hear coyotes howling in the early hours, or spot other local wildlife.

This is another ‘back to basics’ Airbnb experience – there’s an outhouse, but running water, electricity or plumbing. Think of the stay as an experience in itself, and get a glimpse of how the host and her family live.

3. Helix School Bus, Valle

Another unique glamping experience near the Grand Canyon is Helix, a renovated School Bus with beautiful 360-degree views of deserts and distant snow-capped mountains.

Again, it’s totally off the grid: the electricity is powered by solar, there’s a compost toilet, and the outdoor shower has a tankless hot water heater. But the cute and cosy interior and the unique experience of staying in a school bus more than makes up for it!

4. Cave on the Creek, Sedona

You can’t get much more unique than this for accommodation in the Grand Canyon!

You can actually stay in a hidden cave above a creek near West Sedona. It’s not super close to the Grand Canyon, but it’s one of the most interesting places to stay in the area so it deserves a mention.

Over 600 years ago, the cave was home to Native American Indians. Today it’s a one-of-a-kind accommodation option for a true wilderness experience.

I’ve written an entire post about the best things to do in Sedona by the way – check out the link there.

5. Blue Tiny House, Valle

Want the next step up from glamping?

This cute Blue Tiny House in Williams is a more comfortable way to get off the grid.

This mini house stands on its own 1-acre plot of land, so you can relax in quiet solitude. It’s still pretty no-frills, though: there’s no running water and the electricity is solar-powered.

BUT you do get proper beds, a propane heater, and a coffee machine. There’s also a fire pit with a grate for cooking, as well as a charcoal grill. And while the house sleeps up to three people – guests are welcome to pitch tents outside to accommodate more.

6. The Love Shack, Valle

The Love Shack is a renovated vintage 1962 Red Dale camper for another cute-as-hell glamping option near the Grand Canyon. It comes complete with a small kitchenette, and an indoor wood stove with a chiminea to keep you toasty on the cool desert nights. Outside, you’ll have a BBQ and firepit to relax as you watch the epic sunsets or stargaze by night.

7. Stargazing Bubble, Valle

Speaking of stargazing – this unique and bizarre-looking little Dome House near the Grand Canyon is the perfect place to stay if you want to enjoy the starry skies.

The translucent ceiling of the bubble tent means you can watch the night sky from the comfort and warmth of your bed! There’s a shared outdoor bathroom and shower area for guests, as you’ll be sharing a 1-acre space with one other unit. But this is still a secluded spot.

Although the tent is definitely on the glamping side of camping, it’s still a tent. Which means if it’s cold outside, the tent will be cold inside! Luckily, the hosts provide 2 blankets, a comforter and a heated mattress pad, so you should stay toasty as you drift off to sleep beneath the Milky Way.

8. The Old West Loft, Valle

Embrace your inner cowboy with a trip to the Old West!

Standing proud in desolate Valle, the Old West Brewers Loft is one of the most unique places to stay at the Grand Canyon. The building has a vast history, but today it’s the ultimate cosy cabin for adventurous visitors!

And it’s definitely a step up from the glamping options above, with a fully stocked kitchen and an indoor bathroom. Inside the decor is chic and minimalist, but the historic rustic exterior is what makes this such a cool place to stay. Especially the long front porch – perfect for watching the sunset!

9. 1950 Spartan Mansion, Flagstaff

This 1950 Spartan Mansion is a deluxe vintage trailer on a 5-acre ranch near Flagstaff. So you’ll have the best of both worlds; glamping close to the wilderness, but still within easy reach of all the shopping and restaurants of the town centre.

The property backs onto miles of open state land filled with hiking and biking trails, so you can have an adventure right in your own backyard.

Surrounded by old rail cars, 40s & 50s farm trucks, and other vintage trailers, you’ll also have no shortage of photo ops! A big plus is the home-style, flushing toilet and plumbed shower with hot-on-demand water. Definitely a step up from camping.

Guests also get a free breakfast with fresh eggs from the owner’s hobby farm, delivered to your door for you to cook however you like.

10. Sheep Wagon Glamping, Page

A little further out, near the town of Page, you can stay in one of two vintage sheep wagons on Shash Diné Eco-Retreat.

This is a Native American owned working sheep ranch and off-grid B&B. It’s less than 2 hours from both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, while Horseshoe Bend is only 5 minutes drive from the ranch.

The stay is pretty minimalist, but you’ll be totally immersed in nature. Cosy up in a covered wagon in the middle of nowhere for the ultimate off-grid experience!

11. Nomad’s Pad Grand Canyon, near Valle

If you want to try true glamping, Nomad’s Pad is a 40-acre property with multiple canvas tents. All of them are at least 500 feet apart, so you’ll still get that secluded feel – but the outdoor shower and toilet are shared.

These heavy-duty tents come complete with a proper bed, heater, and cute, social-media-worthy furnishings. You’ll also get a firepit, hammock, and a little camp stove with cooking essentials to make camp-life as easy as possible.

12. Tiny Barn, Flagstaff

Nestled into the secluded Pine Del neighbourhood of Flagstaff, this Tiny Barn combines the rustic simplicity of glamping with the convenience of being close to the city. A self-sufficient miniature barn, the property is surrounded by towering pines, with a hammock and fire pit out front.

There’s also a hot tub on-site – perfect for relaxing after a day of adventure!

Another big pro for this property is that you get access to a proper bathroom. Guests share the full bathroom in the main house, just 26 steps from The Barn. Two Airbnb units share the bathroom, as well as the hot tub, so you can still enjoy plenty of privacy and seclusion. Oh, and with a new gel memory foam bed and heated mattress pads, you’re guaranteed to be as comfy and cosy as possible.

You can check all of these properties out on Airbnb, and book too!