Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park averages 10 miles across and a mile deep. Cut by the Colorado River and tectonic forces, the canyon displays astonishing layers of red rock, revealing millions of years of geological history in its cross-section.
The Grand Canyon must be seen to be believed. This incredible park encompasses stunning canyons and the beautiful Colorado River tributaries that will take your breath away. The Grand Canyon was declared a National Monument in 1908 by Theodore Roosevelt. It was given National Park status in 1919 and the rest is history!
Any amount of time at Grand Canyon National Park will be amazing, but a minimum of 3 days is recommended. Even one day at the Grand Canyon will allow you to hike, check out the viewpoints and marvel at the grandeur.
Two Rims: North & South
The Grand Canyon is split up into 4 distinct sections. Only 2 of those sections are in Grand Canyon National Park, the South Rim and the North Rim, with the south being the most popular. The North rim is closed in the winter. The Grand Canyon’s West Rim is managed by the Hualapai Tribe, and is about 4.5 hours from the park’s popular South Rim. The northwest side of the Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.
Grand Canyon’s eastern side is flanked by Marble Canyon and is known for bringing guests down to the Little Colorado River.
Places to Stay in the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is remote enough that the best place to stay when visiting are the lodges within the park. This includes the Bright Angel Lodges and the El Tovar. However, if you want to stay in a town outside of the park, here are some nearby options:
- Tusayan, AZ (7 miles away)
- Grand Canyon Junction, AZ (29 miles)
- Cameron, AZ (57 miles)
- Williams, AZ (60 miles)
If you are looking for other interesting places to visit on your way either to or from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, we have a top 10 list of those.
VISIT Grand Canyon National Park:
Park Details
Grand Canyon National Park was established on February 26, 1919, and has a total area of 1,201,647 acres (1,878 square miles, or 4,865 square kilometers).
| Address | 20 South Entrance Road, Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 928-638-7888 |
| Hours | The South Rim of the park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The North Rim is only open between May and October. |
| Entrance Fee | $35 valid for 7 days |
| Learn More | Official Website |
When to Visit: Weather vs. Peak Visitation
Grand Canyon National Park is the 12th most visited park in the country.
The seasons at the Grand Canyon are more than you'd expect with the park being in Arizona. The summer sees highs in the mid 80s, while winter brings snow and temperatures in the 30s and 40s. The North Rim is closed in the winter.
Using Historical Data to Predict
We crunched 30 years of historical weather and/or park service data to find the best months to visit Grand Canyon National Park. We looked for the optimal temperatures, the least amount of snow and rain, and stayed away from peak visitation months if we could help it. All this data then helped us paint a picture as to what the absolute best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park is.
Our data shows the best months to visit Grand Canyon National Park are September, May, October & November.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Visits | 164,922 | 161,428 | 317,054 | 421,232 | 484,442 | 538,530 | 556,766 | 430,684 | 399,321 | 430,734 | 345,649 | 280,593 |
| Precipitation | 19 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 26 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 17 |
| Avg Temp | 46 | 50 | 58 | 66 | 75 | 85 | 89 | 86 | 80 | 69 | 56 | 46 |
| Max Temp | 58 | 62 | 70 | 78 | 86 | 94 | 96 | 93 | 88 | 80 | 69 | 60 |
| Avg Temp | 27 | 29 | 32 | 35 | 43 | 52 | 61 | 60 | 52 | 41 | 31 | 26 |
| Min Temp | 16 | 16 | 21 | 23 | 30 | 39 | 51 | 51 | 39 | 26 | 17 | 13 |
Grand Canyon National Park Road Trips
Many family vacations consist of stringing one or more national parks together during a week-long trip. Creating these types of trips is our specialty! Here are the road trips we've created where Grand Canyon National Park is visited.
Other Nearby National Park Sites
From national monuments, to historic sites to seashores and more, here are the other parks closest to Grand Canyon National Park.
| Name | Distance |
|---|---|
| Wupatki National Monument | 53 mi |
| Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | 59 mi |
| Pipe Spring National Monument | 65 mi |
| Walnut Canyon National Monument | 70 mi |
| Glen Canyon National Recreation Area | 74 mi |
| Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument | 88 mi |
| Tuzigoot National Monument | 89 mi |
| Zion National Park | 93 mi |
| Rainbow Bridge National Monument | 95 mi |
| Navajo National Monument | 98 mi |
Nearby Campsites & RV Parks
If you are looking to pitch a tent or park an RV at a campsite near Grand Canyon National Park, here is a list of the closest campsites in the surrounding area. They all have slightly different amenitites, so its best to check them all out instead of just chosing the first on the list.
| Name | Details | Miles Away |
|---|---|---|
| Mather - Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon, AZ more | 0 miles |
| Trailer Village - Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon, AZ more | 1 miles |
| TenX | Tusayan, AZ more | 8 miles |
| North Rim - Grand Canyon National Park | AZ more | 11 miles |
| Desert View - Grand Canyon National Park | Grand Canyon, AZ more | 17 miles |
| De Motte | Jacob Lake, AZ more | 25 miles |
| Jacob Lake | Jacob Lake, AZ more | 46 miles |
Nearest Ski Resorts
For those of you who are the diehard outdoors type, visiting a national park on a ski trip can be quite the adventure. Here are the ski resorts within 100 miles of Grand Canyon National Park:
| Name | Location | Summit | Difficulty Score™ | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Snowbowl | Flagstaff, AZ | 11,500 ft | 59% | 56 mi |
| Elk Ridge | Williams, AZ | 8,150 ft | 33% | 66 mi |
Nearest Airports
When visiting a National park, many people are faced with either a very long drive across country, or a much shorter flight. For those of you looking to fly into Grand Canyon National Park, we've listed the closest airports in the area.
Large Airports
A large airport has scheduled major airline service with millions of passengers per year. This type of airport always accepts international flights. Here are the closest large airports to Grand Canyon National Park.
| Name | Code | City | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City International Airport | LHS | Lake Havasu City, AZ | 163 mi |
| Harry Reid International Airport | LAS | Las Vegas, NV | 169 mi |
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport | PHX | Phoenix, AZ | 181 mi |
| Salt Lake City International Airport | SLC | Salt Lake City, UT | 327 mi |
| Ontario International Airport | ONT | Ontario, CA | 339 mi |
| San Diego International Airport | SAN | San Diego, CA | 369 mi |
| Los Angeles International Airport | LAX | Los Angeles, CA | 384 mi |
Medium Airports
A medium-sized airport has scheduled regional airline service. This type of airport may or may not accept international flights. Here are the closest medium-sized airports to Grand Canyon National Park.
| Name | Code | City | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon National Park Airport | GCN | Grand Canyon - Tusayan, AZ | 7 mi |
| Flagstaff Pulliam International Airport | FLG | Flagstaff, AZ | 68 mi |
| Prescott International Airport - Ernest A. Love Field | PRC | Prescott, AZ | 98 mi |
| Saint George-Southwest Utah International Airport | SGU | St George, UT | 103 mi |
| Cedar City Regional Airport | CDC | Cedar City, UT | 126 mi |
| Lake Havasu City International Airport | HII | Lake Havasu City, AZ | 162 mi |
| Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport | AZA | Mesa, AZ | 192 mi |
Credits: Campground data provided by USCampgrounds.info. Map shapes from CartographyVectors. Weather data from NOAA. Airport data from OurAirports.com. Images from Unsplash, Flickr and Parks&Trips. All data has also been updated and augmented by Parks&Trips.