Grand Canyon National Park
Entirely within the state of Arizona, the park encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homelands of 11 present day Tribal Communities, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—a mile deep canyon unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors from both north and south rims. — nps.gov
Grand Canyon National Park at a glance
- State
- Arizona
- Established
- February 26, 1919
- Size
- 1,201,647 acres
- 2025 visits
- 4,430,653
- Busiest-park rank
- #4 of 63
- Entrance
- $35 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Grand Canyon quiet?
Grand Canyon is busiest in July and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, November is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 4,430,653 recreation visits, the #4 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Grand Canyon open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: JanuaryBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Grand Canyon
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Grand Canyon National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Grand Canyon
- History Exhibit - The Amazing Kolb Brothers10-45 Minutes · Winter, Spring, Summer
See the Amazing Kolb Brothers; A Grand Life at Grand Canyon Exhibit - at Kolb Studio, house-turned-museum perched perilously on the precipice in Historic Grand Canyon Village. Examine their antique cameras, study…
- Park Films in the South Rim Visitor Center Theater20 Minutes · All year
Park Films Are Shown Daily in the Visitor Center Theater. ►At the top of the hour, the 24-minute film, ‘We Are Grand Canyon’, welcomes visitors by sharing the heritage and viewpoints of the 11 tribal communities…
- Geology Talk (30 minutes) South Rim Village: 3:00 pm25-30 Minutes · All year
Geology Talk Ranger Program - 3:00 pm daily (through May 22, 2026). Gain insight into Grand Canyon’s unique geologic story. Meet in front of Yavapai Geology Museum. Program duration: 30 minutes. Learn how this immense…
Pets OK
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Arts and Culture26
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Birdwatching48
- Boating27
- Camping60
- Car or Front Country Camping41
- Cultural Demonstrations12
- Fishing41
- Flying10
- Food46
- Front-Country Hiking42
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)21
- Horse Trekking32
- Museum Exhibits36
- Paddling32
- Road Biking25
- Scenic Driving30
- Stargazing39
- Volunteer Vacation10
- Whitewater Rafting7
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Grand Canyon
Since Grand Canyon has elevations that range from 2,500 feet at the bottom to 8,400 feet on the North Rim, weather can vary significantly depending on the season and the specific location within the park. Winters tend to be cold and snowy, and summers have periods of excessive heat.
High temperatures inside the canyon tend to be 20 to 30 degrees warmer then on the canyon's rims. Weather conditions can change rapidly, so it's wise to check forecasts before visiting.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Grand Canyon
South Rim: Open all year, is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via route 180). Grand Canyon lies entirely within the state of Arizona. ---- North Rim: Select areas are open to public access between Oct 1 and Nov 14.
View the park's news releases for details. The North Rim entrance station is located 30 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ, on Highway 67; the actual rim of the canyon is an additional 14 miles south.
20 South Entrance Road, Grand Canyon, AZ, 86023 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Grand Canyon
- Zion National Park103 mi~2 h drive (est.)
- Bryce Canyon National Park110 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Petrified Forest National Park149 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Capitol Reef National Park165 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Canyonlands National Park198 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- Mesa Verde National Park220 mi~5 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Phoenix (168 mi) · Las Vegas (176 mi)
Road trip
Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion & Great Basin
4 parks, about 292 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).
Grand Canyon is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Grand Canyon National Park
FAQ
Grand Canyon, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Grand Canyon National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in November, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Grand Canyon National Park?
- $35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.
- Do you need a reservation for Grand Canyon National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Grand Canyon National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Grand Canyon National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 3 things to do in Grand Canyon National Park, including History Exhibit - The Amazing Kolb Brothers, Park Films in the South Rim Visitor Center Theater, Geology Talk (30 minutes) South Rim Village: 3:00 pm. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Grand Canyon National Park become a national park?
- Grand Canyon National Park was established as a national park on February 26, 1919.
- What is the closest national park to Grand Canyon?
- Zion National Park, about 103 miles away in a straight line (roughly 2 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Grand Canyon National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Grand Canyon National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/grca.
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