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Grand Canyon National Park

A mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Grand Canyon National Park Plan a trip around United States

Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Currency: USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Country: United States

Photo: “Jon Zander ( Digon3 )”, CC BY-SA 3.0

Grand Canyon National Park protects the mile-deep gorge of the Colorado River in northern Arizona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's great natural sights. Most visitors come to the South Rim for rim views, short walks and day hikes, while the quieter North Rim and canyon-floor routes reward those with more time.

Largest cities

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Houston
San Francisco
Miami

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
Region population: 4.9M
Population of United States: 340M
Country area: 9,833,520 km²
Official language: English
Currency: US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
Time zone: UTC-7
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 2,129 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	3°	5°	8°	16°	21°	28°	30°	27°	24°	18°	10°	7°
Low	-5°	-4°	-3°	3°	8°	14°	17°	15°	12°	6°	0°	-2°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$85
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$195
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$450

Plan a trip to Grand Canyon National Park

Top things to do

Free
Mather Point and the Visitor Center
The first big canyon view for most arrivals, a short walk from the visitor center and its parking lots; come at sunrise or late afternoon for softer light and fewer people.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon Village
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Rim Trail walk
A paved, mostly flat path along the edge from Mather Point toward the village, with shuttle buses to bring you back; stay behind the railings and carry water.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon Village
- Good for kids
Free
Bright Angel Trail to the first tunnel
A short descent below the rim gives a sense of the canyon's scale; turn around well before you feel tired, as the climb back up takes twice as long.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon Village
- Good for kids
Free
Historic village buildings
Walk between El Tovar, Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Kolb Studio and Verkamp's to see early 1900s park architecture and small galleries; the train depot is nearby.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon Village
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Hermit Road viewpoints by shuttle
From March to December the western rim drive is served by a free shuttle stopping at Hopi Point, Mohave Point and Hermit's Rest; Hopi Point is a classic sunset stop.
- Half day
- Hermit Road
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
Desert View Watchtower
A 21 m stone tower at the highest point of the South Rim, about 43 km east of the village, with one of the few views down to the Colorado River; the drive east is open to private cars all year.
- Half day
- Desert View
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point
A steep but short hike on a ridge with wide-open views, best started at sunrise; there is no water on the trail, so carry more than you think you need.
- Half day
- Grand Canyon Village
Free
North Rim day trip
Drive about 350 km to the higher, cooler and far quieter side for Point Imperial, Cape Royal and the Grand Canyon Lodge area; the rim road and services close from December 1 to May 15.
- Full day
- North Rim
- Good for kids
≈ $200
Scenic canyon flight
Small planes and helicopters fly over the canyon from Grand Canyon National Park Airport and nearby cities, giving a view of the full width of the gorge; flights must stay outside the park's rim buffer.
- Half day
- Tusayan
- Good for kids
- Indoors

Before you go

Entry and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.

Official website

From the airport

The nearest gateway airports are Flagstaff Pulliam (about 1.5 hours) and Las Vegas or Phoenix (about 4 to 4.5 hours by road); most visitors drive in via AZ 64 from Tusayan or Williams. Grand Canyon National Park Airport sits just outside the South Entrance, and the Grand Canyon Railway runs from Williams to the village depot in about 2 hours 15 minutes.

Getting around

On the South Rim, free shuttle buses link the visitor center, Grand Canyon Village and Hermit Road viewpoints, while the rest of the park is reached by car or on foot.

Local tips

Rim elevation is about 2,100 m, so sun, wind and cold arrive fast; bring layers, water and sun protection even on short walks.
Do not feed or approach wildlife such as squirrels, elk and deer; bites and charges are among the most common injuries here.
July and August bring sudden monsoon storms with lightning and flash floods, so start hikes early and take shelter indoors when thunder starts.
Book South Rim lodging and mule trips months ahead, and note the North Rim closes from December 1 to May 15.