How to visit Grand Canyon

Rail, bus, and air transport reach the Grand Canyon, but only to few access points, and you are required to join a tour. Driving is a popular, if less environmentally friendly, way to visit the Grand Canyon, but even then, there are only few access points to this huge natural feature.

How Large is the park?

The Grand Canyon is huge. A driving a loop around the Grand Canyon is 900 miles — farther than a trip across Texas. Some roads on this loop are curvy, two-lane roads, so allow plenty of travel time if you decide to see both sides of the Canyon.

How many entrances there are?

There are four paved road entrances to the Grand Canyon. Two of these lead to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon approaching from Highway 89A between Flagstaff and Page, Arizona, or from Highway 64, which can be picked up at Flagstaff or Williams, Arizona. The third access point is called Grand Canyon West, still on the southern side of the Grand Canyon, which is a remote destination on the Hualapai Reservation that is accessed from Kingman, Arizona. The North Rim of Grand Canyon is reached by Highway 67 from the extreme northern portion of Arizona and from southern Utah.

Is there one better than the others?

The South Rim is, by far, the most popular entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. It provides easy access to hiking trails, restaurants, and other services. From Grand Canyon Village, perched on the South Rim, the very scenic East Rim Drive meanders along the Rim to the Park’s east entrance. From here you can continue north into Utah’s canyon country or the North Rim, or a loop south back to Flagstaff, Arizona.

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Grand Canyon West is home to the famous Sky Walk on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. It lies along a long, narrow road, which is not suitable for RVs. Purchase of a tour package from the Hualapai Tribe is required for access to Grand Canyon West, making it a more expensive way to see the Canyon — but it is closer to Las Vegas than the Canyon’s other access points.

The North Rim is perfect for visitors who would like to see a quiet, more laid back side of the National Park. The Grand Canyon National Park entrance fee is $25, and the one paved road leading to the North Rim is closed during winter.