Most visitors to the Grand Canyon fly into Las Vegas or Phoenix. There’s also a small airport in Flagstaff, just an hour from the South Rim, and some North Rim travelers fly into Salt Lake City. No matter where you land you’ll need to rent a car, as public transit is extremely limited in this part of the U.S.

Arizona

The Grand Canyon’s Best Scenic Viewpoints

1. Mather Point, South Rim.
2. Redwall Bridge, North Rim.
3. Hopi Point, South Rim Trail.
4. Plateau Point, Bright Angel Trail.
5. Shoshone Point, South Rim.
6. Desert View.
7. Angel’s Window, North Rim.
8. Black Bridge or Silver Bridge view from the River.

Grand Canyon South Rim

Grand Canyon National Park has had an entrance fee since 1926. The current rate of $30 per vehicle or $25 per motorcycle has been in effect since 2015. The park is one of 117 in the National Park System that charges an entrance fee. The remaining 300 sites are free to enter.

The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are March through May and September through November when daytime temperatures are cool and the crowds are thin. If you decide to visit during the summer (the park’s peak season), be prepared for hordes of tourists and very limited lodging availability.

We recommend between one to three days at the Grand Canyon, though you could stay for longer for a relaxed visit. With only one day at the Grand Canyon, you can check out a few viewpoints, hike into the canyon or on the Rim Trail, and catch the sunset.

113 miles

It’s definitely worth seeing if you do it right. First thing, south rim is what to see. West, north rim are not the same. Also, it’s best to see it around sunrise/sunset, so if you could spend one night nearby you will enjoy it more.