The Grand Canyon National Park is one of greatest places you will ever visit. Whilst it’s one of the most visited parks on earth, it doesn’t take away from the impact that seeing this natural wonder will have on you.
We’ve been lucky enough over the years to spend a good amount of time at Grand Canyon National Park. We’ve spent time enjoying the best things to do at South Rim Grand Canyon, North Rim, West and East too.
How many days do you want to spend in Grand Canyon? What are some fun things to do in the Grand Canyon? If you’ve come to this article there’s a good chance you have lots of questions about your upcoming or potential trip.
Our extensive guide aims to cover all of the questions you’re likely asking at this point in your planning to help you put together the best trip. We’ve included our own, firsthand experiences of all the tours we booked, places we visited and things we loved (and not quite as much).
Read on to plan a trip you won’t forget, tailored exactly to what you’ll enjoy. Whatever you decide to do, we know you will have an incredible trip to the Grand Canyon!
How to Get to the Grand Canyon
There are many different ways to get to the Grand Canyon. Many Grand Canyon vacation packages will come with transport to the park.
However, if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon on your own (which we think is best), then you’ll need to make your own way there. There’s a good range of options on how to make it work.
How to travel to the Grand Canyon in the best way for your trip will depend on where you’re coming from. Mostly down to whether you’re visiting from the United States already or from overseas.
We’ve gone through the main options below, and you’d actually be surprised how well serviced activities in the Grand Canyon are by public transport too. Whilst having a car does give you most free reign; the shuttle and trains offer good access too.
By Car
We personally think one of the best ways to visit is to take a Grand Canyon road trip. Whether you’ve flown in to visit or not, there’s a good chance you’ll have a car with you anyway, especially if heading on from here.
The Grand Canyon South rim entrance is located an easy drive from places like Flagstaff in about a 1.5 hour drive. Las Vegas is much longer at about 4.5 hours. Phoenix is about 3.5.
For touring Grand Canyon North Rim, Kanab is about 1.5 hours and Page is about 2.5 hours. This means you could easily tag in places like Zion National Park too.
Grand Canyon parking can be hard, especially at the South Rim Visitor Center areas, so we made use of the free shuttle bus as much as possible when in the park. When visiting in fall, we had no trouble parking up at the viewpoints.
We personally think the best way to visit Grand Canyon is to take advantage of the freedom of a car with the shuttle service too. Though we’d advise arriving early to park up at the Visitor Centers.
If you need to rent a car, you can do so easily from the airport or station you arrive at. We’d always advise booking this in advance to get the best prices. We always use Rentalcars.com who show you price comparisons across all major providers.
By Train
It’s actually possible to take the train to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon train line runs from Williams which is not too far from Flagstaff in Arizona to Grand Canyon Village.
If you’re coming from further afield and want to take the whole trip by train, you could first take the Amtrak. This travels between Los Angeles and Chicago and there are trains daily.
You can then switch on route at Williams and take the Grand Canyon Railway, which will mean you can visit without needing a car. Though do keep in mind that this isn’t the cheapest – most standard tickets cost around $169, and this is just for the train from Williams.
Another way to take a train ride to the Grand Canyon, and one that is perhaps a little more affordable than Amtrak is to take a shorter tour. This is priced much more affordably, is over one day and includes the Grand Canyon entrance fee and a return train.
This Grand Canyon day trip on GetYourGuide is well worth the price. The great thing is it allows you to travel on the Grand Canyon railroad and still have time to look round and for hiking too.
By Plane
Whilst the Grand Canyon isn’t exactly next to an airport, but it’s within close distance. So, it’s pretty easy to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon if you need to fly in.
The main options of nearby airports are internally Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (90 miles) for South rim. Then St George Regional Airport (151 miles) for North Rim.
Internationally, you have Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (232 miles) for the South Rim. Then and Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas (535 miles for South Rim/592 miles North Rim).
We’d recommend using Trip.com or Booking.com to compare prices of flights and see all of the different routes and operators together. We use these sights regularly to find reasonably priced and budget flights.
All of these vary in distance to the Grand Canyon, and it’ll depend on where you’re flying from. You can of course get internal flights too to make the distance of travel from the airport less.
The first time we were visiting the Grand Canyon, it was part of another trip and flew into Las Vegas. The second time, when focusing more on Sedona, Page and the Grand Canyon, we flew in from Phoenix Sky Harbor.
Once you’re close (and these are really popular from Las Vegas) you can get small, customizable flights to see the sights. We think that this is actually one of the best things to do at the Grand Canyon.
We enjoyed this tour from Grand Canyon Village on GetYourGuide. But you can also book similar tours on GetYourGuide like these ones that will collect you from places like Las Vegas or similar.
By Bus
Many of the Grand Canyon bus tours will pick you up from a bigger city and take you there for a one-day tour. These usually pick up from Las Vegas.
There are plenty of options that allow you to tour the Grand Canyon. Many will follow a similar route, but most companies will make a slight change, so their tour is unique.
There are plenty of Grand Canyon tour bus options on GetYourGuide here. Equally, there are Grand Canyon bus tours on sites like TripAdvisor too.
However, if you want to get a fully customized tour, you would likely be best looking at a private tour. If you have the budget, we always think these are best, as you can speak with the guide in advance to plan a trip you’ll remember.
You can also look at longer trips out to the Grand Canyon with private tours. Going by bus, if you’re short on time from somewhere like Las Vegas is without a doubt one of the best things to do around the Grand Canyon.
Getting Around the Grand Canyon National Park
Once you’re there, you’ll need to think about the best way to get to the main activities in the Grand Canyon. The great news is that you have a few options here.
Both times we’ve visited, we’ve made use of the shuttles (South Rim) taxis and our car). We personally found that this combo is the best way to see the Grand Canyon.
The shuttle service is one of the best ways to enjoy if you’re going to the Grand Canyon without a car. Likewise, you can park and ride for some terminus areas like the Grand Canyon Visitor Center at the South Rim, which gives you the best of both, especially on busy days.
The most comprehensive shuttle is at the South Rim and it runs frequently through the day and well into the evening. It’s really easy to get and is free. You can find the timetable and information here.
This is also a good way to get a pretty no frills bus tour of the Grand Canyon South Rim. The shuttle stops at a good percentage of the key viewpoints, so you can get out, enjoy and then get back on another bus.
You can also use the Grand Canyon taxi service, which runs between the South Kaibab Trailhead and the Village. You can also get between the Village and Tusayan, just outside the National Park.
The Grand Canyon taxi service is run by Xanterra and it runs 24 hours a day. You can reach them at 928-638-2631.
For other Grand Canyon excursions, you will likely be collected by the tour operator and taken to the activity. This is usually from Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim.
At the North Rim, there is only one hiker shuttle that starts at Grand Canyon Lodge and takes you to the North Kaibab Trailhead. There’s also a Rim-to-Rim Service, which only runs at certain times. The NPS website has much more information on this here.
We personally found having a car more helpful at the North Rim. As it meant we could go and hike around a lot of the viewpoints more easily.
It’s also pretty easy to rent a bike from inside the park too. This is the company we’d recommend called Canyon Adventures. They do hires from a few hours to multiple days and Grand Canyon tours. They also have e-bikes.
When’s the Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon National Park?
Grand Canyon weather can change dramatically throughout the year. As you can imagine, this leads to some pretty amazing seasonal highlights.
Both times we’ve visited we’ve found that the best time to go to the Grand Canyon is September or October. Depending on how much time you have, this gives you prime time to visit the North Rim and South Rim.
In fall, the Grand Canyon temperature is much easier for enjoying most of the activities available. It’s also much less busy (it will still seem busy, but much less so than summer).
This is classed as an off-peak visit, and is similar to visiting in spring, around April or May. So, either spring or fall are best.
Though a con of visiting in spring over fall is that you will likely have less access to shuttles, depending on when you visit in that period. However, a pro is that you will generally find it easier to park up when visiting at either of these times. So, shuttles may not even be an issue.
One of the seasonal highlights of visiting in fall is you often get very moody skies alongside clear skies. The moody skies and thunderstorms can be incredible for photography, and visiting at this time allowed us to get the most stunning images.
In summer, the temperatures are high, and if you plan to do any hiking, this may be unadvisable due to extreme heat. The Grand Canyon South Rim weather in summer is very intense and not as enjoyable as fall.
It’s also incredibly busy due to summer vacations and school holidays. Parking is hard, the shuttles are full and it’s just generally more populated. If you want a wilder experience, you likely won’t get that at this time.
That said, the North Rim is much more accessible in summer, and you can still enjoy more activities there, weather dependent that year. Just be aware of the climate considerations in summer.
The Grand Canyon weather in November and December, whilst cooler is not a great time to visit if you want to see both the North and South Rims. The North Rim access road is actually closed due to snow in winter. This stretches into January, February and March too.
However, you can still visit the Grand Canyon National Park in winter, but you’ll need to focus on the South Rim. If you’re visiting and know you can come again, that might not be an issue. You may even get to experience some Grand Canyon snow, dependent on temperatures that year.
If you’re coming from further away, then you will likely prefer fall to do both the North and South Rims at their best time. This would also give you chance to go to some of the places to visit near Grand Canyon. Like the hikes near Las Vegas, the best hikes in Sedona, explore the things to do in Page and Zion National Park.
Unique Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
If you’re planning a trip, there’s a pretty good chance you know what this incredible place looks like. However, you might be finding yourself asking what is there to do in the Grand Canyon.
This might sound silly, but when we were planning to visit, the sheer size of the place overwhelmed us. There just seemed like there was so much to fit into a Grand Canyon tour, and also, nothing at all at the same time.
When you delve a little further, you’ll find there are loads of activities to do at the Grand Canyon. Some easier than others, and plenty of options for everyone who’s traveling with you.
We’ve taken the hard work out of planning for you and our guide below goes over our experience of the best things to do in the Grand Canyon. You can think of it like a Grand Canyon visitors guide.
We’ve included all of our favorite Grand Canyon must sees and places to visit so you can have the best trip. We loved all of these incredible Grand Canyon attractions! They formed such a special memory for us, and we’re they will for you too.
Go on a Hiking Adventure
One of the best things to do at the Grand Canyon is to go hiking. We weren’t prepared for just how incredible hiking here would be, and it is one of the greatest ways to see the best views the Grand Canyon has to offer.
There are plenty of hiking trails on offer, and hiking is one of the best ways to see the inside of the Grand Canyon and also the Grand Canyon River (Colorado River). Though many of these trails are very full on.
Some of the most iconic hiking trails, such as the Bright Angel Trail are only intended for hikers with significant experience. You’re hiking into the canyon, so any hike you do needs you to hike back out again, with significant elevation gain.
Though you’ve also got trails like Yavapai Point via the Rim trail which is classed as easy, and a Grand Canyon must do. The South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point is also well worth doing – it is one of our favorite memories.
There are plenty of hiking trails that you can do self-guided. We’ve linked here to a list of the best hiking trails that we followed on AllTrails here.
Something that we didn’t get to do but would have loved to was an overnight hiking trip. If you’re looking for what to do at the Grand Canyon for a truly memorable experience, we’d say this should be up there.
We really wish we could have hiked the Bright Angel Trail. This takes roughly 3-5 days and is roughly 17 miles/27km in total. Likewise, the Rim to Rim trail is iconic. Set at 24 miles/38.4km, this trail takes around 4-6 days.
All backpacking trips into the canyon are classed as hard to challenging. However, if you’ve got the experience, they’d be a great way to see this incredible place.
If you plan to backpack, you’ll need a backcountry permit. You can reserve your permit in advance, and you can get them from Recreation.gov here.
Like many Grand Canyon National Park activities, there are guided hikes available. There are a number on offer from the NPS, such as ranger led day hikes. You can find out more information about when they run here.
Tour the Grand Canyon Viewing Areas and Scenic Spots
Whether you need to do the Grand Canyon in one day or you have plenty more time to explore, visiting the viewpoints is amazing! This allows you to park up or take the shuttle to various viewpoints and is perfect for those who want to take lots of photographs.
This is one of the best things to do at the Grand Canyon South Rim and North Rim too. If possible, we recommend a day at each. If you’re short on time, the South Rim is impossibly iconic, and it’s also one of the best free things to do at the Grand Canyon too.
When you enter the park, you’ll get an information booklet about the best way to tour Grand Canyon. You drive along and there are parking spots for all the viewpoints. Some are reached within seconds, and some need a short walk to get there.
As photographers, we also think that this is one of the best Grand Canyon tourist attractions. We loved spending time doing a pretty full on Grand Canyon loop and did the same at the main rims we visited.
There are of course so many more things to see in Grand Canyon other than our suggested viewpoints alone. Absolutely make a full day out of it, especially if you’re trying to do Grand Canyon South Rim in one day!
That said, some of the viewpoints can feel a little ‘samey’ and you can get fatigue from trying to cram in as many as possible. So, take your time and enjoy it. We had a much better time this way!
Some our favorite viewpoints which allow you to get panoramic views of the best things to see in Grand Canyon are:
South Rim:
- Mather Point
- Grandview Point
- Yavapai Point
- Pima Point
- Desert Viewpoint
- Lipan Point
North Rim:
- Bright Angel Point
- Point Imperial
- Point Sublime (this needs a 4×4) to get to
- Walhalla Overlook
- Angels Window
Here’s our map that shows all of the locations so you can get more of a feel for how they fit together:
Take a Mule Ride into the Grand Canyon
If you want something that’ll feel really unique in your trip, you should absolutely do one of the Grand Canyon mule rides. There’s nothing more old West style than this.
We loved our Grand Canyon mule rides when we visited the South Rim. We started our mule rides into the Grand Canyon from the Bright Angel Trail. Then our small group headed down.
We both agreed that the time we spent on this experience was one of the best things to do at the Grand Canyon. Imagine starting at the top with all those incredible vistas ahead of you, then heading down into the canyon. It’s something you’ll never forget.
The Grand Canyon mule ride price is set at $464.61 per person, which we know is pricey. However, it’s well worth it. This is for a 7 hour journey. However, there are less pricey options available.
There is a 2 hour donkey rides in the Grand Canyon option for $177.72 per person. This takes in the rim only.
If you’re looking for the famous mule ride to Phantom Arch, which is an overnight mule rides in the Grand Canyon option, then you will be looking at $1630.47. This includes food, board and includes all taxes.
We really wanted to do this, but we just couldn’t justify the price as we had so many other things to work into our Grand Canyon planning. If you can make it work though, it’s an absolute bucket list dream and the itinerary looks amazing.
If you want to take a donkey ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, Phantom Arch really is your best bet. As Havasupai Gardens, whilst deep down, isn’t at the bottom.
A word of warning, for all mule rides down into the Grand Canyon, you’ll need a head for heights, as the steep sides and drop offs will feel very real if you do! Likewise, if you’ve never ridden a mule/horse, you might experience some back ache after.
We booked our mule rides through Xanterra here. There are some other options available on Tripadvisor.
Stand on the Grand Canyon Skywalk
For many people, the Skywalk will be one of the best things to do in the Grand Canyon National Park. It allows you to stand out on a promontory that allows you to look straight down into the canyon.
It’s located at Eagle Point, which is on the West Rim and it’s important to know it’s about 4 hours’ drive from Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. It’s much closer to Las Vegas, at around 2 hours drive.
This is a great option if you’re looking for things to do at the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas without a mega drive. Or are looking for places to see in Grand Canyon when traveling to the South Rim from Vegas.
The Skywalk is a busy center, it’s pretty pricey, and you won’t be there on your own. Once you’ve got that in mind, and aren’t expecting a calm, serene experience, if you want to tick this place off, then it’s pretty cool.
If you’re looking for what you can do in the Grand Canyon without people around, this isn’t the activity for you. Personally, we didn’t enjoy it as much as some other things we did. You also can’t take your phone or camera out with you (you have to lock them up beforehand).
It’s a shame, because the views show some of the best parts of the Grand Canyon, but we get it. They don’t want any stuff being dropped down from the sheer drop offs. We also have a suspicion they want you to pay for photos.
For some people, that will be really upsetting, but it’s still a cool experience. We loved the views, and really enjoy taking things in without a camera, but know a lot of people want the memory.
If you book in advance for this Grand Canyon experience, you’ll be shown where to go and be able to have a pre booked ticket to skip the lines. This is what we did through Tripadvisor and would really recommend it.
You can also book on full day tours from Las Vegas on GetYourGuide that take in the Skywalk. This is actually a great priced option, especially if you’re short on time.
Try Whitewater Rafting
Grand Canyon rafting is a must do in our book. We enjoyed our experience from the West Rim (we combined with visiting the Skywalk) and took a 40 mile trip down the Colorado River.
This has to be on your itinerary for Grand Canyon, it’s pricey, but well worth it! This is the trip we booked through GetYourGuide, and we loved our Haulapai guide.
When we were looking for what to do in the Grand Canyon that would get our blood pumping, we knew we’d found it when we were taking on different class rapids. We also loved the stops to check out the waterfalls.
You’re provided all your safety gear, a guide, lunch and everything else you need really. We’d advise a drybag for your camera gear. You’ll also need to make your own way to the West Rim for this.
If you only have space for one splurge on your trip, make it this. We think this is easily one of the best Grand Canyon National Park things to do!
Take a Trip on the Grand Canyon Railway
We’ve mentioned this in detail above, but it’s actually possible to take a train ride to Grand Canyon. This goes from near Flagstaff (Williams) and is one of the great things to do in Grand Canyon South Rim.
Most standard Grand Canyon railway tickets cost $169, and this takes you to Williams alone. So, if you want more of a day trip for the Grand Canyon train ride, inside a longer road trip, then we’d recommend Grand Canyon day trip on GetYourGuide.
This train to Grand Canyon is much more affordable, so easier to fit in to all the other things to do. It’s pretty whimsy when you’re on the train tour to Grand Canyon itself, but the views out and the whole experience is really fun.
Admire the View from the Desert View Watchtower
Situated on the East Rim, and about a 35-40 minute drive from the South Rim is the Desert View Watchtower. We think this is one of the great places to visit in Grand Canyon when taking a road trip.
It’s also one of the slightly quieter things to do in Grand Canyon National Park. There is ample parking, and it’s a short walk to the watchtower. When we were visiting Grand Canyon, it just wasn’t overrun with people which was nice!
The Watchtower’s design takes its inspiration from Native American watchtowers and the murals created by a Hopi artist. We think a trip here should be on every Grand Canyon to do list.
The views out from the area into the canyon are simply stunning. This gives you a breathtaking view out down to the Colorado river. It’s an absolute highlight of what to see at the Grand Canyon.
The general area is open every day from 8am to 6pm. There is no fee to enter, but if you want to visit the upper floors, you’ll need a ticket. This open from 8am to 4pm.
They’re on a first come basis, and cannot be reserved in advance, but your visit on upper levels is 20 minutes limited. So, any lines will move fast.
Take a Helicopter Tour Over the Canyon
This had been on our list to do for a while beforehand! It turned out to be one of the most fun things and in fact unique things to do in Grand Canyon that we experienced.
Surprisingly, compared to some of the other top things to do at the Grand Canyon prices, we found the helicopter tour we took reasonable. We took this tour from Grand Canyon Village on GetYourGuide.
The helicopter tour itself was 40 minutes in length and takes you inside the Grand Canyon. It’s truly amazing, and one of the things we loved was that the windows were really easy to take photographs through.
You get a real overview of what there is to see in the Grand Canyon. There is something so incredible about soaring over this jaw dropping place in a unique way that you can’t experience with any other activity.
If you’re looking for what you can do at the Grand Canyon that will give you something unique, do a helicopter flight. You won’t regret it.
It is also possible to book similar tours from places like Las Vegas on GetYourGuide like these ones which will pick you up, drop you off and have you back within the day. Great if you’re short on time.
Watch the Grand Canyon IMAX Movie
When we visited the South Rim last, there had been an IMAX movie installed that you can go watch. You’ll get some great insight as to just what’s in the Grand Canyon.
After visiting, we think this is a great thing to add in if you’re looking for what to do at the Grand Canyon South Rim to learn more about this amazing place.
It’s also one of the great things to do at Grand Canyon National Park that doesn’t cost loads of money too! When we visited, entrance was around $15.
We booked this through GetYourGuide here to have our tickets all ready to go, which we’d recommend. The center is here in Tusayan and the film takes about 35 minutes to watch.
Watching the story and experience of the Grand Canyon on IMAX is really cool, and it’s great to learn more about its roots, mythology and heritage. We saw a lot of kids enjoying the Grand Canyon Rivers of Time film too, so it makes a great activity for the whole family.
If you want to learn more about this wonderful place and be truly wowed by breathtaking scenery and are wondering what to do in the Grand Canyon, add this to your list. It’s a great, short activity to fit into one of your days.
See the Sunset from Mather Point Viewpoint
Arguably the best place to see Grand Canyon is Mather Point, what makes it better is visiting at sunset. If you’re looking for where to go in the Grand Canyon for some epic, golden scenes, head here.
Toward sunset, the colors become orange and yellow as the setting sun highlights the peaks and lowers down. Sometimes you’ll get stunning reds and purples. The sky feels like it’s alive in a vivid paint box.
Whilst this is stunning, you can imagine that this is one of the most popular things to do at Grand Canyon South Rim. If you don’t want to be beaten by crowds, get there early. Especially if you’re doing the Grand Canyon with kids.
This will allow you to get the shots you want and really enjoy the views. It’s actually a good thing to fit in with a visit to Yavapai Geology Museum. Or fit it in with the Trail of Time, just up the road.
If you’re going to Grand Canyon for the first time, add this in, even if you can’t get there for a sunset tour. You’ll love it either way.
Visit the Yavapai Geology Museum
The Yavapai Geology Museum, located near Yavapai Point should be on your Grand Canyon itinerary. It’s a great, quick, extra thing to add when you’re in the area to see uninterrupted views of the Grand Canyon from the stunning panoramic windows.
There’s also information and interpretive displays about the geology of the Grand Canyon, which allows you to learn more about how this amazing place was formed. There is also parking available.
The good news is you can also get here on the shuttle too (more information on shuttles earlier in this article). You can also hike from Mather Point and the Visitor Center is a 0.7miles/1.1km hike away on good paths. The hours for this Grand Canyon Museum are 8am to 6pm.
Grand Canyon Trip Planner
Planning a Grand Canyon trip can seem overwhelming at the start. Our Grand Canyon travel guide below aims to take the stress out of it for you, with plenty of options.
You can either use our Grand Canyon trip itinerary suggestions below as they are, or swap and choose what appeals most. Our guide below is based on the itineraries we created when visiting.
This allows you to visit places that are close together and streamline your visit without stress. If you’re wondering how many days you need to see and spend at the Grand Canyon, we’ve made suggestions based on a whole range of days.
Read on to plan a trip you won’t forget based on the time you have available. Of course, more days means you can see more. However, you can still travel to Grand Canyon with very little time.
Grand Canyon Family Vacation
A family trip to Grand Canyon is very possible, but there are some parts of our following guide you’ll want to miss off. Some activities like the more in depth mule rides aren’t particularly suited to a family vacation to the Grand Canyon if you have young kids.
You’ll likely wonder how to visit the Grand Canyon safely with kids. Here are some of our suggestions of the best things you can do on your Grand Canyon vacation as a family:
Family friendly South Rim hikes:
- Yavapai Point via Rim Trail – 1.7 miles / 2.7km
- Mather Point – 0.5 miles / 0.8km
- Shoshone Point – 2.1 miles / 3.3km
- Rim Trail from Yavapai Museum – 1.5 miles / 2.41km
Family friendly Grand Canyon viewpoints and places to visit:
- Mather Point
- Grandview Point
- Yavapai Point
- Bright Angel Point
- Point Imperial
- Desert View Watchtower
- Yavapai Geology Museum
Some of the best family friendly activities to enjoy:
- Grand Canyon Skywalk (details listed above)
- Some of the hikes listed above
- Helicopter and plane rides (all details listed above)
- Smooth water rafting Grand Canyon
- Grand Canyon IMAX movie
- Canyon vista mule rides (depending on age, these are rim tours only and don’t go into the canyon – see above for trip options)
- Bike rental (details above)
Grand Canyon Day Trip
If you’ve got one day at the Grand Canyon, you can make it work, but you’ll need to be decided and stick to it when you make your plan. Try not to get FOMO, hard as that may be. It’s just not possible to see everything.
You will still have an amazing time on Grand Canyon day trips! Below, we’ve outlined a couple of scenarios/different options for Grand Canyon day tours.
Grand Canyon 1-day itinerary option 1:
- Drive to the South Rim main entrance, pick up your guidebook and visit some of the places listed above in our viewpoints section
- If you’re closer to the North Rim, do the same
- Do some short hikes if you have time, depending on how long you spend at the viewpoints, such as the Mather Point, the Rim Trail and Yavapai Point via Rim Trail
- Head to Mather Point for sunset to take in the spectacular view
Grand Canyon in a day itinerary option 2:
- If you’re already near or at the Grand Canyon this South Rim itinerary is for you. We’d first suggest you take this flight over the Grand Canyon from Grand Canyon Village on GetYourGuide
- Book a 2-hour mule ride of the rim from Xanterra here
- Do some short hikes to viewpoints like Mather Point – this is particularly good toward sunset
Grand Canyon getaway from Las Vegas option 1:
- If you’re staying in Las Vegas and want to experience the Grand Canyon, we’d recommend taking this tour on GetYourGuide. It includes a flight over the canyon, and Skywalk entry. It lasts for 7 hours so will easily fill up a whole day.
Bus tour to Grand Canyon option 4:
- Another great option if you’re in Las Vegas and want to get to the Grand Canyon in a day. This trip on GetYourGuide will give you a huge overview of what’s on offer at Grand Canyon West Rim and includes an optional stop at the Skywalk. It lasts roughly 10 hours.
Grand Canyon Itinerary 2 Days
Two days of course gives you double the time for Grand Canyon sight seeing. However, you’ll still need to be aware that you won’t be able to fit everything in and it will be a whistle stop tour.
Doing the Grand Canyon in two days is much more possible if you stick to one rim. We’d recommend choosing the South Rim if this is your first trip. This is what we’ll focus on below in our Grand Canyon guide.
Grand Canyon 2-day itinerary option 1:
- Day One: We’d recommend taking option one from our 1 day itinerary above as the basis for your Grand Canyon trip plan. This will cover a lot of the highlights for you.
- Day Two: This would be a great opportunity to enjoy option 2 from our 1 day itinerary above. Depending on your taste, you could swap the plane ride and do a longer, 7 hour mule ride. Details of different options of this above in our mule ride section.
Grand Canyon vacation planning 2-day itinerary option 2:
- Day One: If you’d prefer to travel without a car, we’d recommend taking the Grand Canyon trainline from Williams near Flagstaff. You can book a direct train and then stay at the Grand Canyon overnight. After the train ride, you can make use of the free shuttle to take you to some of the best viewpoints (see our list of viewpoints above).
- Day Two: Use the free shuttle to do a day hike. We’d recommend the Bright Angel Trail, the South Kaibab Trail or Yavapai Point via Rim Trail. Depending on the time you complete it, you can finish up for sunset at Mather Point.
Grand Canyon Itinerary 3 Days
2 days in the Grand Canyon is great, but a 3-day tour really allows you to take things up a notch. We would advise that a 3-day Grand Canyon trip should be your absolute minimum amount of time to spend here.
This will allow you to relax a little bit more, enjoy the scenery and see the canyon from different perspectives through varying activities. It also allows you to get in some really amazing adventures.
We’ve created our Grand Canyon vacation ideas for 3 days – this itinerary can of course be swapped and changed around. If you want to do that, we’d suggest looking at some of the other day suggestions we’ve given above.
Day One:
- Most Grand Canyon vacation ideas have to start from somewhere. If you’re starting from Las Vegas, we think an ideal start is a whitewater rafting experience starting at the West Rim. This is the one we’d recommend.
- This will take the whole day, so may want to stay at accommodation around here, alternatively, you can drive on to closer the South Rim entrance or into the park (this will take a couple of hours.
Day Two:
- You’ll now have arrived at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and the things to do here are immense. We’d recommend taking day one’s option one itinerary for today. You’ll be able to check out the many viewpoints and do some short hikes.
- Alternatively, if you don’t want to take in all the viewpoints, this would be an opportunity to swap this out for our one day, option two itinerary, involving a flight over the canyon and rim side mule ride.
Day Three:
- If you’re planning a vacation to Grand Canyon and you’re up for it, then you’ve got to include a hike. Getting into the canyon and seeing things from a completely different viewpoint is stunning. We’d recommend focusing on a slightly longer day hike, such as the South Kaibab Trail. If you want something more challenging, check out the Bright Angel Trail. All hiking at the Grand Canyon is on the harder side and involves steep elevation changes and often extreme heat. So only hike within your limits.
- Another option would be to enjoy a full day mule ride, which we’ve given much more information about in our mule ride section of our Grand Canyon trip planning guide above.
Grand Canyon Itinerary 5 Days
How long to spend at Grand Canyon? You could literally spend forever enjoying the different things to take in. But doing a Grand Canyon itinerary over 5 days allows you to explore quite a bit.
What’s great about spending 5 days is that you can fit visiting the North Rim into your Grand Canyon schedule too. Our Grand Canyon vacation planner below covers some of the days suggested above with more scope to explore different facets.
Day One:
- For day one, we’d recommend taking one of the Grand Canyon train tours on offer (more of this above). You can leave your car at Wallace for the day. This takes you through some truly stunning landscapes and is so unique. You can book tickets just to and from to make the most of the time you have yourself.
- After the train ride, we’d suggest booking this airplane ride of the South Rim on GetYourGuide from Grand Canyon Village. The train puts you in perfect position to enjoy this before.
- Depending on the time you finish, we’d then recommend heading to Mather Point via the South Rim Trail. Or even just checking out a bit of the South Rim trail before taking the train back to Wallace. You could stay around Flagstaff this evening.
Day Two:
- Some of the best Grand Canyon South Rim activities involve going to check out the amazing viewpoints on offer. Once you’ve driven in, follow our guide of the best viewpoints and how to tour the Grand Canyon in our visitor guide above.
- Today would also be a good opportunity to go and watch the sunset from Mather Point if you didn’t the previous day. Be sure to get there in plenty of time, as it gets busy. If possible, stay in the park tonight, or close by.
Day Three:
- Grand Canyon getaways aren’t complete without taking on the iconic mule ride. We’d suggest the 7-hour mule ride which takes in some truly amazing scenery. We’ve listed full details of how to book this and what’s involved in the experience in our Grand Canyon trip ideas above.
- Alternatively, you might enjoy river rafting instead. This is a little more involved at this point as it goes from the West Rim which isn’t hugely close. However, it’s still a great experience. More details above on that too! Or to book direct, you can do that here.
Day Four:
- This is when you’ll start realizing how having many days to visit the Grand Canyon just makes things better and better! As you get to see everything from so many different viewpoints. We’d recommend taking a hike on day four. Be mindful there is a lot of elevation gain on most Grand Canyon hikes and they are demanding. If you’re up for it, we’d recommend any of the routes listed above in our hiking section. At the end of today, we’d recommend driving most of the way to the North Rim for day five as it’s a long drive (about 4 hours).
Day Five:
- If you were able to drive over to the North Rim, or most of the way the previous evening, you will have set yourself up well for a day of exploring the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Whilst it is far out, we think this is well worth doing as many of the viewpoints here are unparalleled. We’d recommend going through our North Rim viewpoints section earlier in this article to find the best places to stop and enjoy your time. This day is of course dependent on whether you can access the North Rim. If not, we’d recommend stretching out the days above and spending more time hiking.
Grand Canyon Itinerary 7 Days
Our Grand Canyon itinerary for 7 days builds on our guide for five days. This just gives you more space to breathe and check out what interests you.
For days one to four, we’d recommend keeping the itinerary the same as the five day plan we’ve listed above. At the end of day four, rather than driving on to the North Rim, you’ll move that to day five and have an extra day exploring the Grand Canyon here before heading up North.
Days One – Four:
- Follow days one to four as listed in our five day plan, but don’t drive on to the North Rim at the end of day four and stay where you are instead.
Day Five:
- There’s so much to do on a vacation to the Grand Canyon. Adding these extra days means you can explore and have the best Grand Canyon trip. For day five, we’d recommend taking on the alternative you didn’t get to do on day three of our five day itinerary above.
- If this is out of your price point, we’d recommend heading out to the East Rim to the Desert View Watchtower. This is well worth doing and the views are amazing! More on this above. This is great as well if you’re debating which rim of the Grand Canyon to spend your time at. With this, you’re starting to get a feel from so many different positions.
- Once you’ve finished, we’d recommend heading up to the North Rim and staying there so you’re ready for tomorrow.
Day Six:
- For day six, you can use day five of our five day best Grand Canyon itinerary for the North Rim.
Day Seven:
- On day seven, we’d recommend enjoying some hiking and seeing the slightly slower pace that the North Rim has to offer. We’ve linked to some of the best trails at the North Rim on AllTrails here, so you can plan a Grand Canyon trip you’ll remember for a long time!
Things to do Near the Grand Canyon
Once you’ve followed a Grand Canyon vacation itinerary, you might also be looking for what to near Grand Canyon. This area is immense and there’s so much to explore.
Both times we’ve visited, we’ve done so within a bigger trip, which has allowed us to expand beyond the main areas alone and see what other things to do near the Grand Canyon there are on offer.
We absolutely loved exploring Sedona (pictured below). If you’ve never been, we’d seriously suggest adding a couple of days in here if you can. The red rock, the hiking, the whole vibe of the place is sublime.
We have a whole guide on things to do in Sedona to give you some inspiration. We also have an article on the best hikes in Sedona too, which there are plenty of!
Likewise, Page in Arizona has so much to explore. This includes incredible hiking, Glen Canyon, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend and so much more. Our guide for things to do in Page, Arizona will get you seriously inspired.
If you’re starting from Las Vegas on your Grand Canyon plan, you should absolutely check out the hiking in this area too. We’ve spent quite a bit of time near Las Vegas and have put together a full guide of the best hiking trails near Las Vegas.
Whatever you do, there are some seriously cool places to explore near the Grand Canyon. You can see the best of Grand Canyon and add in equally stunning places for the most incredible trip.
Enjoy Your Grand Canyon Adventure
How many days do you need in the Grand Canyon? What will give you the best Grand Canyon vacation and see the best sights? Chances are you came to this article with a lot of questions.
We think that visiting the Grand Canyon is a trip of a lifetime…its iconic. The best trip to Grand Canyon will come from thinking about what you want to do and making the most of the time you have there.
We hope that our guide has made it easier for you to see what’s possible within an itinerary. We hope it’s also helped you with how to plan a trip to the Grand Canyon.
We’ve loved every single moment we’ve spent there and would go back at any opportunity. There is so much more we’d love to explore that we could be there a long time.
Whether this is your first visit or you’re looking for inspiration for where to visit in the Grand Canyon for your next trip, we know you’ll feel the same. Nothing quite compares to the expansive feeling you get where you stare into a giant, larger than life canyon that seems to defy reality!
FAQs
Our Grand Canyon National Park trip planner above will have covered a lot of the questions you have about making the best trip to Grand Canyon happen. However, as with any trip, there are plenty of areas that need further exploring.
Below, we’ve put together a list of the most frequently asked questions about Grand Canyon points of interest, an itinerary for a Grand Canyon trip and so much more.
Where is the Grand Canyon located?
The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona, USA. The closest town to the Grand Canyon’s location is Tusayan. Further from there, you have Page and Flagstaff about a 1.5/2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon South Rim Visitor Center.
What is the best time of year to visit the Grand Canyon?
Both times we’ve taken a Grand Canyon trip, it has been in September. We think that September and October are the ideal times to visit the Grand Canyon to beat the crowds.
The park gets fewer visitors at this time (though, take ‘fewer’ with a grain of salt) and so it’s much easier to move around. You can also get better deals on accommodation; the temperatures aren’t as sweltering and it’s just generally better for hiking.
Spring is also meant to be a great time to take a trip to the Grand Canyon. Similar to fall, you’ll get cooler temperatures, less crowds and better deals on lodging.
We’d advise against trying to visit the Grand Canyon in summer. The crowds are immense, and the heat is too intense for hiking at this time. If this is the only time you can visit, you’ll likely need to stick to viewpoints. You can also expect less crowds at the North Rim.
We’d avoid visiting in winter generally. Hiking, whilst beautiful can become treacherous due to snow and ice. If you’d like to combine both the North and South Rims, this will also be impossible in winter as the North Rim is not accessible.
The Grand Canyon weather by month can change dramatically, with weather events like thunderstorms, snow, ice and extreme heat. So, it really is important to plan wisely and stick to times where what you want to do will be at its best.
Which rim of the Grand Canyon is best to visit?
Which rim of the Grand Canyon is best to visit is a tough one to answer; they’re both incredible! We loved both the main rims (South and North), but they do have their differences, so we think the best way to look at this is what you prefer.
The SouthRrim has a lot of the very obvious, iconic viewpoints, scenery and general things to do. It’s busier, even in the quieter months and parking can sometimes be difficult. Though the views will leave you in tears, they’re so moving.
The North Rim is quieter, the views are absolutely jaw dropping and there’s just a more chilled out experience. It’s a little more remote to get to.
If you’re into photography, the North rim gave us some of our best shots. The skies and passing thunderstorms can make for utterly dramatic scenes.
How many days should I plan for a trip to the Grand Canyon?
If you’re shorter on time when planning a trip to the Grand Canyon, the shortest amount of time we’d suggest is two days. Three is better.
This is for one rim, so if you plan to visit both, we’d advise you give yourself a week. Three days will give you chance to visit the viewpoints and do some hiking/other activities.
Though we’re fans of slower travel, so would suggest giving yourself at least seven days if you can. Or splitting your trips (if possible). This way you can really explore and see things at your own pace without feeling rushed.
Where is the best place to visit Grand Canyon for the first time?
If you want to get in lots of big hitters and you’re going for the first time the South Rim really comes out top. Whilst we love the vibe of the North rim, nothing compares to the viewpoints on the South Rim.
The great thing about the South Rim is a short drive around gives you some most see Grand Canyon views. These are literally epic. Once you’ve picked up your guide from the entry booth, you can just drive through and go explore however you like.
We’d recommend giving yourself at least a day for this. As you will want to stop at all the points once you’ve experienced how truly all-encompassing the views are!
Do I need a permit to hike in the Grand Canyon?
You don’t need a permit for day hikes (or any hikes for that matter classed as non-commercial day hikes). So, if you’re taking a day trip to Grand Canyon, then you’ll be fine.
You do need a permit to hike the Grand Canyon if you plan on going into the backcountry as an overnight. You can find out more about permits and where to collect them on the NPS website.
Keep in mind that there are really no easy hikes into the canyon, and all hiking trips should be carefully thought about. Make sure you have the skills and experience for it, alongside an understanding of the weather.
What are the best trails to hike in the Grand Canyon?
The Bright Angel Trail is probably one of the most iconic, which we’d highly recommend (though extremely challenging). The North and South Kaibab Trails are also incredibly well known and give some amazing views.
A lot of these hikes are quite demanding so if you want to find out how to see the Grand Canyon in a more accessible way, we’d advise some of the less involved trails. Mather Point is a good option here.
We’d also advise the Rim Trail, which allows you to get some great views without so much elevation change. It still allows you to make the most of the park and the amazing rock structures and formations.
Though be mindful, there are steep drop offs, which, if you have a thing with heights, may make this not in the easier category for you. We’d advise checking out the AllTrails pictures of the hike here first.
What are the best things to do in Grand Canyon Village?
We think that one of the best things to do in and from Grand Canyon Village is to explore the rim. You can get to this very easily from the main areas. Check out the Rim Trail for this.
There’s also plenty of buildings, shops and other fascinating stuff to enjoy in the village. The Visitor Center is great to check out for gifts and other information too.
The Trail of Time is well worth checking out too. This takes you from Yavapai Museum of Geology to Verkamps.
Is it possible to visit the Grand Canyon in one day?
If you’re really focused on what you visit, and stick to one rim, it is absolutely possible to do a Grand Canyon visit in one day. We’d suggest focusing on the viewpoints and the short hikes to get to them.
It’s best to keep realistic here and know you won’t get to see everything. But some time taking part in Grand Canyon activities is better than none at all.
If you really want to make sure you have space and time to look around, we’d recommend heading to the North Rim, which is quieter. More time to spend seeing the Grand Canyon!
What are the lodging options at the Grand Canyon?
As it’s just such a massive space, you’ll need to think about how best to explore Grand Canyon. This will have an impact on where you stay.
Be sure to check if the option you’re looking at is North or South Rim. If you want to stay inside the park, you have various lodging options that you can find here.
Though keep in mind that these get snapped up well in advance (sometimes even a year). Whilst they can offer the easiest access, there are many options just outside the park (Tusayan and a little further, Flagstaff).
We’d recommend looking at these options through Booking.com which offer much more affordable options. Some of these also mean you have more food and drink options too.
How long is the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon is a staggering 277 miles long! It’s also up to 18 miles wide and to the bottom, is a mile deep!
How can I make reservations for camping at the Grand Canyon?
To make a reservation for camping you can do so through the Recreation.gov website here. This will allow you to decide which campsite option works with the parts of the Grand Canyon you want to visit.
Keep in mind that these campsites do get booked up really far in advance. So as soon as you know your dates, we’d advise booking!
Are there guided tours available at the Grand Canyon?
As you can imagine, there are some great tour options for must see Grand Canyon opportunities. Whether it’s hiking, helicopter tours or jeep tours, there’s so much on offer.
Here are some of our favorite tours we’ve really enjoyed when we’ve visited the Grand Canyon which we’ve booked through GetYourGuide:
- Grand Canyon South Rim Airplane Tour from Grand Canyon Village
- Grand Canyon Guided Sunset Hummer Tour
- Sedona to Grand Canyon Scenic Railway Tour
There are of course plenty of tours available from places like Las Vegas, Phoenix and other easy to reach cities. If it’s guided hikes you’re looking for, you can also find a few on the NPS website here.
What are the best viewpoints at the Grand Canyon?
Some of the best Grand Canyon views will stay with you for a long time. Here are our favorites.
North Rim:
- Bright Angel Point
- Point Imperial
South Rim:
- Mather Point
- Grandview Point
Is there a fee to enter the Grand Canyon National Park?
Like with all US National Parks there is a fee to enter. You can get Grand Canyon tickets on entry, which is valid for 7 days. This costs $35 per vehicle.
Though Grand Canyon National Park tickets this way can get more expensive. We always think it’s a better idea to get an America the Beautiful Pass which you can buy in advance from REI here.
This is much better value if you’re going to be visiting any other US National Parks or certain National Forests within the next year. This is good for your whole car (3 adults and children under 15 are free).
This costs $79.99, so you only need to visit 3 places with chargeable fees, and it’s broken even. Especially great if you’re following our Western US road trip itinerary.
Are there wheelchair-accessible areas in the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon has a number of wheelchair accessible areas. The shuttle bus is accessible for a start. The visitor center, hotels and restrooms are too.
Some of the overlooks you can easily get to by wheelchair include Mather Point, which is one of the best. You can also enjoy the Rim Trail which leads to Mather Point. This is paved and wheelchair accessible.
What are the options for dining at the Grand Canyon?
Honestly, the food options at Grand Canyon aren’t that great. We ate a number of times here and just found it pretty lack luster, not to mention expensive for what it is.
At the North Rim, the Visitor Center has a dining hall. This serves a salad bar, but also menu items too such as burgers.
The South Rim has a few more options. Bright Angel Café has grab and go options. Then there’s Yavapai Lodge. This has a restaurant, coffee shop and a kind of tavern style place.
Bright Angel Lodge also has some options too. There are more options than this too. You can find our more information on the Grand Canyon website.
If you’re staying in the park, be prepared to probably not have the best meals of your life. Tusayan also has a number of options outside the park. On the North Rim, the nearest places are between 18 and 45 miles away.
Is it possible to camp overnight below the rim?
It is possible to take overnight Grand Canyon trips below the rim. For this, you will need a backcountry permit, which you can find out more about in advance on Recreation.gov here.
It’s worth keeping in mind that there really are no easy hikes below the rim and into the canyon. With backpacking gear, this will be more full on.
Therefore, we’d only recommend this to experienced hikers. We’d also advise talking to a park ranger before setting off on your chosen trail to see if there is any further trail information to be aware of.
What are the best activities at the Grand Canyon for photographers?
One of the best things to do in the Grand Canyon is take pictures! As a photographer, this is one of the most jaw dropping and emotionally moving places you’re likely to photograph, as cliché as that might sound.
We found that we got the best photographs on our trips to the Grand Canyon by waiting for weather to roll in. This is pretty easy as the climates that the canyon creates can mean fall rain, thunderstorms and a lot of rainbows!
The best activities for photographers at the Grand Canyon are firstly to enjoy the scenic overlooks. We’d also say that hiking into the canyon and getting steep canyon shots as well as mule rides are great.
If you want something really stunning, we’d also recommend a plane ride or helicopter ride over the canyon. If you’re going to do this, a long lens is a great idea to pick out detail.
These can be expensive, but they’re well worth it for the experience! This tour from Grand Canyon Village on GetYourGuide is the one we’d recommend. It is reasonably priced and absolutely incredible!
Can I visit the Grand Canyon in winter?
You can certainly take a Grand Canyon vacation in winter, but your options will be more limited. Generally spring or fall are best, but winter is still possible.
You will not be able to visit the North rim in winter, the roads are impassable, and this section essentially closed. The South rim is still open.
Whilst you can get cheaper accommodation and flights in winter, your days will be shorter for exploring. Depending on the temperatures, you may also experience snow and ice in the canyon, which can he hazardous.
We think based on our experience, going in winter isn’t out of the question. But we think you’ll enjoy more of the things to do at the Grand Canyon in spring and fall.
Is there a shuttle service in the Grand Canyon National Park?
One of the best ways to visit the Grand Canyon and see the variety of things on offer is to take advantage of the shuttle bus. This runs around the South Rim.
The great news is that the shuttle is free and there are a variety of routes to get you to where you want to go. You can find out more on the schedules and routes on the NPS website here.
Is there cell phone service?
From our experience, there is generally not very much cell phone service in Grand Canyon National Park. We’d recommend that for pretty much all Grand Canyon adventures to download your maps offline in advance.
There is patchy service in places. Here’s a list from the Grand Canyon’s website of different carrier’s coverage maps.
Where is the nearest location to get fuel?
To make this easier to navigate, we’ve provided a Google map with the nearest places to the Grand Canyon to get fuel highlighted. We’ve done this based on the North and South Rims:
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