Jacob Lake Inn is a family friendly stay option near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and one we’d definitely return to!
The inn was founded in 1923, and the third and fourth generation of the founders run the inn today! Is there a lake nearby? Not really. We asked, and found it’s more of a pond, which use to be bigger back in the day. You can learn more about the history here.
We stayed in a two bedroom cabin and it was cozy, but the six of us fit! One bedroom had two queen beds, and the other bedroom had one queen bed. A small bathroom connected the two bedrooms. The setup was a bit funky, especially with the connecting bathroom and sinks being in each bedroom, but again, it worked and we were comfortable. The patio had a couple of chairs, and we ate meals out there, plus just enjoyed relaxing amid the pine trees.
Of note, no microwave or fridge is provided and you are unable to use a propane stove, microwave, or crockpot/instant pot due to forest regulations. We brought our plug in cooler and it worked great for breakfast and lunch meals. We ate out for dinners during our weekend stay.
There are other lodging options, depending on the size of your group. The hotel and motel rooms are great for families up to 4 people. The cabin was the only option for 6 people, unless you want to split up the group.
Another plus about this spot? There’s a playground! We were shocked to find it a metal playground, but everything was sturdy and the kids had a great time with the slides, monkey bars, and swings. Where else can you find a metal slide in Arizona? There was also basketball here (look for the large brown bin, as the balls and other toys are stored here), tetherball, and a small plastic playground for littles.
Jacob Lake Inn, A Family Friendly Stay near the North Rim Grand Canyon
On the property you’ll also find a small nature trail with a gazebo and waterfall, and access to the Jacob Lake Trail. We’re not sure where this goes, but it looked nice and we’ll have to try it next time.
This historic inn is more than just an overnight stop. It’s a restaurant, gift shop, and has amazing cookies. Seriously, stop here even if you don’t plan to eat dinner or spend the night because the cookies are huge and delicious, and there’s a wide variety. (We may have bought cookies every day, they were that delicious.) There’s also a gas station in this area, a campground, and the Kaibab Visitor’s Center before you continue on your way north to Fredonia, or south to the Grand Canyon.
The Jacob Lake Inn restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner! We had dinner on our first night stay. Service was good, and the food had that down-to-earth feel, like eating a favorite meal your grandma use to make. Our favorite was the chicken pot pie, and the chips and salsa appetizer! We wanted to try dessert, but the cookies called our name so we got some to go.
You can learn more about Jacob Lake Inn here! We stayed two nights, arriving on a Friday, and leaving on a Sunday. We spent all day Saturday at the North Rim, which is about a 50 minute drive away.
