Grand Canyon National Park is a must-visit here’s what you gotta know before you go.
To provide you with a comprehensive guide to the park, we leaned into Bairds expertise.
Below are her recommendations on everything from when to visit to where to hike.
Credit:Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure
Most people use the South Entrance.
The North Rim Visitor Center and Park Store is open from May 15 to Oct. 15.
If you want to visit both rims, you have to take a five-hour drive around the canyon.
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For that reason, most visitors choose to just visit one of the canyons rims.
Grand Canyon National Park does not require reservations or time-entry passes to enter the park.
Best Time to Visit
Most people visit Grand Canyon National Park between late May and early September.
Lauren Breedlove/Travel + Leisure
June, July, and August tend to be the busiest months.
As a resident of Grand Canyon, my favorite time is the winter!
We typically receive low visitation and many of the popular viewpoints are uncrowded.
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The best time to see and photograph the Grand Canyon is typicallyat sunrise and sunset.
From the larger city of Flagstaff, the South Rim is one hour and 45 minutes via Route 180.
Las Vegas is around four hours and 45 minutes from the South Rim.
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Some routes run year-round, while others are seasonal.
Check the scheduleon the website.
By taking the train, you’ve got the option to avoid entrance line waits and parking headaches.
And as we previously mentioned, driving between the two rims takes a full five hours.
A shuttle bus also runs along this route.
Hermit Road is closed to private cars from March 1 to Nov. 30.
During that time, there is a free shuttle bus that runs along the road.
Keep in mind the North Rim and its scenic roads are closed in the winter.
The shuttle buses have bike racks so you’re able to bike out and ride the bus back.
Cultural Demonstrations
There areongoing cultural demonstrationsat the Grand Canyon Visitor Center on the South Rim.
Just keep in mind, the trail descends into the canyon and is extremely steep.
This route follows in the footsteps of the canyon’s Indigenous people, miners, and early tourists.
The canyon views are plentiful on this three-mile round-trip hike.
Five are in the historic district and arebookable online at grandcanyonlodges.com.
The other two are located on Market Plaza near the visitor center and can be booked onvisitgrandcanyon.com.
El Tovar has hosted park visitors like Theodore Roosevelt, Albert Einstein, and Oprah Winfrey.
Maswik Lodge South justopened in June 2022for visitors looking for a modern take on traditional national park lodging.
AndYavapai Lodgeon the Market Plaza is notable because it has clean, simple rooms and is pet friendly.
it’s possible for you to also pick up groceries at the Canyon Village Market general store.
