No photograph prepares you for the first look over the rim. The Colorado River has carved through nearly two billion years of rock, and from Mather Point the canyon falls away a mile deep and ten miles wide. Most visitors see it from the South Rim, open all year with the classic viewpoints, lodges and trails. This guide helps you choose your rim, your viewpoints and the right hike.
Best things to do in Grand Canyon
Mather Point & the Rim Trail
Most visitors get their first look at Mather Point, next to the visitor center. Then walk the paved Rim Trail west through Yavapai Point (with its geology museum) to Grand Canyon Village: 13 miles of rim in total, but any stretch between two shuttle stops will do.
For sunrise, Mather and Yavapai are the easy choices; for sunset, Hopi Point on Hermit Road.
2Hermit Road
Seven miles of viewpoints west of the village — Hopi, Mohave, Pima — ending at the stone Hermits Rest. Closed to private cars from March to November: ride the free red shuttle, or bike it.
Desert View Drive & Watchtower
25 miles east along the rim to the 1932 Desert View Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter, with its Hopi murals. On the way: Grandview Point, Moran Point and Lipan Point, where the river appears. It is also the road to Horseshoe Bend and Monument Valley.
4Hike down the South Kaibab Trail
Steep, exposed and spectacular. Go down to Ooh Aah Point (1.8 miles return, about 1–2 hours) or Cedar Ridge (3 miles return, 2–4 hours). The trailhead is reached only by shuttle. Remember: coming back up takes twice as long as going down.
Never try to hike to the river and back in one day, especially from May to September: rangers rescue hundreds of hikers each year.
Bright Angel Trail
The classic corridor trail from the village, with some shade and water at the rest houses in season. The 1.5-Mile Resthouse is a solid half day.
6Helicopter or plane flight
Flights leave from the Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, just outside the South Rim, and cross the canyon toward the North Rim. They don’t fly below the rim in the national park (that happens only at the West Rim, on Hualapai land).
See tours and tickets partner link7Rafting the Colorado
The ultimate trip: one to three weeks through the canyon, camping on beaches. Commercial trips book a year ahead; one-day smooth-water floats run from Page, near Horseshoe Bend.
See tours and tickets partner link
South Rim, North Rim or West Rim?
Three very different trips that are not close to each other.
| South Rim | North Rim | West Rim (Skywalk) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run by | National Park Service | National Park Service | Hualapai Tribe, outside the park |
| Open | All year | Mid-May to mid-October | All year |
| From Las Vegas | 4 h 30 (280 mi) | 4 h 30 (270 mi) | 2 h 30 (125 mi) |
| Views | The classic, widest panoramas | Higher, forested, quieter | Narrower canyon, glass Skywalk |
| Cost | Park fee | Park fee | Expensive tribal packages |
The North Rim is 1,000 feet higher and sees a tenth of the visitors, but it is a 4-hour drive (215 miles) from the South Rim. The 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge there; parts of the North Rim reopened for 2026 with limited services. The West Rim is the day trip from Las Vegas, with the glass Skywalk; it is not the national park.
Grand Canyon entrance fees and reservations
Since 1 January 2026, foreign visitors pay a $100 surcharge here. Do the maths before you go.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle, 7 days | $35 |
| On foot or by bike, per person | $20 |
| Non-US residents aged 16+ | +$100 per person, on top of the entrance fee |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US residents $80 · non-residents $250 — covers the whole car and the $100 fee |
Cashless: card only.
- No entry reservation. The North Rim reopened in part in 2026 after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire.
When to go
The South Rim sits at 7,000 feet: summer days are pleasant on top (low 80s °F, 28°C) but over 100°F (38°C) at the bottom of the canyon, with afternoon thunderstorms in July and August. Spring and fall are ideal. Winter brings snow on the rim, empty viewpoints and dramatic light — roads stay open.
Getting there
| From | Drive to the South Rim |
|---|---|
| Flagstaff | 1 h 30 · 80 mi |
| Williams (Route 66) | 1 h · 60 mi — or the Grand Canyon Railway |
| Sedona | 2 h · 110 mi |
| Phoenix | 3 h 30 · 230 mi |
| Las Vegas | 4 h 30 · 280 mi |
| Page / Horseshoe Bend | 2 h 30 · 135 mi via Desert View |
Inside the park, free shuttles link the visitor center, the village, Hermit Road and the South Kaibab trailhead. Park once and use them. The Grand Canyon is a highlight of our West Coast classic, Route 66 and Grand Circle road trips.
Where to stay in Grand Canyon
Sleeping inside the park, right on the rim, is the dream; the six lodges book up to 13 months ahead. Otherwise Tusayan is 10 minutes from the gate.
Our 2 hotel picks in Grand Canyon
Photos, facilities and tips →
Boutique$$$$El Tovar Hotel
Grand Canyon Village, on the rim
The 1905 lodge on the South Rim itself, with 78 rooms, 12 suites and a historic dining room.
Mid-range$$$$Maswik Lodge
Grand Canyon Village, a quarter mile from the rim
A 280-room lodge in the pines of Grand Canyon Village, a quarter mile from the South Rim.
Grand Canyon Village
$$$$Best for: sunrise on the rim
El Tovar (1905), Bright Angel Lodge’s cabins, Kachina and Thunderbird lodges: steps from the rim. Book as early as you can, and check for cancellations.
Hotels in Grand Canyon Village partner linkTusayan
$$$$Best for: availability
Chain hotels just outside the South Entrance, with restaurants and the free park shuttle in summer.
Hotels in Tusayan partner linkWilliams
$$$$Best for: Route 66 charm, value
A Route 66 town an hour south, with motels, diners and the train to the canyon.
Hotels in Williams partner linkFlagstaff
$$$$Best for: a real town base
A college town with breweries, 90 minutes away, and the stop between the canyon and Sedona.
Hotels in Flagstaff partner linkWeather in Grand Canyon by month
Best time to visit Grand Canyon, month by month →
Compare every destination month by month in the when-to-go explorer.
Grand Canyon: your questions
Which rim of the Grand Canyon is best?
The South Rim for a first visit: open all year, with the classic views, lodges and shuttles. The North Rim is quieter but open only mid-May to mid-October; the West Rim is a tribal attraction near Las Vegas, outside the park.
How much does it cost to enter the Grand Canyon in 2026?
$35 per vehicle for 7 days. Since 1 January 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over also pay $100 each, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass ($250 for non-residents).
How much time do you need at the Grand Canyon?
One night lets you see sunset and sunrise, which is the essential experience. Two nights add a proper hike and Desert View Drive.
Can you hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon in a day?
Rangers strongly advise against it, especially in summer. Going to the river and back is a 16 to 20 mile, 4,800 ft climb. Phantom Ranch, at the bottom, takes reservations by lottery.
Can you see the Grand Canyon as a day trip from Las Vegas?
The West Rim, yes. The South Rim is 4 h 30 each way: a very long day by car, easier on a tour or by plane.
Where is the best sunset at the Grand Canyon?
Hopi Point and Mohave Point on Hermit Road, or Lipan Point and Desert View in the east.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Prices are in US dollars, before sales tax.