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Grand Canyon entrances | Grand Canyon National Park & Grand Canyon West
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Contents
Grand Canyon National Park entrances
South entrance
Most visitors take this Grand Canyon entrance when visiting the National Park, as it opens into the South Rim of the canyon close to the Grand Canyon Village. Tusayan, which serves as the beginning point of the South Rim area, is about 1.6 miles north of the South Entrance Station. Here, you can buy extra passes, maps of the area, and talk to Park Rangers if you have any questions or doubts.
- Address: 2 S Entrance Rd, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States | Find on Maps
- Timings: 24x7; 365 days
- Ideal for: Tourists, non-commercial groups
- How to reach: When visiting this Grand Canyon entrance on the South Rim, you can take SR 64 from I-40 if you're coming from Williams, Arizona, which is about 55 miles away. Flagstaff, Arizona, is about 80 miles away. Take US 180 from I-40 or I-17 to reach the entrance.
Parking: Guests can park at the Visitor Center Plaza Parking Complex
Desert View entrance
If you're looking for a less-crowded Grand Canyon entrance to the South Rim, you can head over to the Desert View entrance, located 74 miles from Flagstaff, Arizona. This takes you into the Desert View area and gives you a faster and more relaxed entry into the Grand Canyon National Park. The Desert View Drive, which takes you to Grand Canyon Village, is a beautiful 23-mile drive with a number of spectacular viewpoints.
- Address: Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023, United States | Find on Maps
- Timings: 24x7; 365 days
- Ideal for: Motorists travelling to/from Southwestern Colorado and Southern Utah.
- How to reach: If you're coming from New Mexico via I-40 or from Phoenix via I-17, you can take US 89 from Flagstaff, Arizona. Then, go north to Cameron, Arizona, and turn west on State Route 64.
Parking: You can find parking along Desert View Drive at different viewpoints.
North Rim entrance
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon attracts mainly experienced hikers and adventurers due to its remoteness and lesser development, which offer a more challenging canyon experience. This area and the Grand Canyon entrance are closed from December 1 to May 14 each year. The entrance is located about 31 miles south of Jacob Lake on Highway 67 in northern Arizona. However, the developed area of the North Rim is another 13 miles from the entrance.
- Address: AZ-67, North Rim, AZ 86023, United States | Find on Maps
- Timings:
December 1 to May 14: Closed
October 16 to November 30: dawn to dusk operations - Ideal for: Adventurers, experienced hikers
- How to reach: Highway 67 connects Jacob Lake, Arizona and the North Rim entrance. The drive is about 31 miles long.
Parking: Visitors can park their cars at the North Rim Visitor Center parking lot.
Grand Canyon West entrance
The Grand Canyon West area is situated within the Hualapai Reservation in Mohave County and is under the administration of the Hualapai Native American Tribe. Visitors enter this area via the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center entrance. This section of the Grand Canyon is not as crowded as the South Rim but is still quite popular among the guests. This is a seasonal area and has a number of popular visiting spots, such as the Skywalk, Hualapai Ranch, Guano Point, Eagle Point, and others.
- Address: Hualapai Indian Reservation, Mohave North, AZ 86434, United States | Find on Maps
- Timings:
October through March: 8am to 5pm
April through September: 7am to 7pm - Ideal for: Visitors who come from the Las Vegas side
- How to reach: From Las Vegas, Nevada, it'll take a two-hour drive to get to the West Rim while it takes four hours from Phoenix, Arizona. From Vegas, take US-95 S and then US-93 S to Boulder City, NV. Going further, you'll reach Mohave County. Take the Pierce Ferry Rd. exit and continue via Diamond Bar Rd to reach the West Rim. From Kingman, AZ take US-93 N to Pierce Ferry Rd. and then to Diamond Bar Rd. Go forth on Diamond Bar Rd for the West Rim.
Parking: Vehicles are not allowed inside the West Rim so you can park at the Grand Canyon West entrance parking lot.
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Frequently asked questions about Grand Canyon entrances
Which is the least crowded entrance to the Grand Canyon?
The North Rim entrance is the least crowded Grand Canyon entrance. However, it is closed from December 1 to May 14, and it opens into the more remote regions of the Grand Canyon National Park.
How can I avoid long lines to enter the Grand Canyon?
If you're visiting the South Rim, it is best to use the Desert View entrance to avoid the crowd and long queues. For any other parts of the canyon, try entering early in the morning or late after. These are the parts of the day when the lines are the shortest.
How far is the Desert View Entrance from the main South Entrance?
The South Entrance and the Desert View Entrance are approximately 25 miles apart.
How far is the West Rim entrance from the South Entrance?
The distance between the West Rim and the South Rim entrance is about 230 miles.
Are there shuttles between the West Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon?
There are no shuttles that you can take between the West Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. However, both rims have their own shuttle services to take visitors around.
Do I need to buy separate tickets to visit the North Rim if I visit the South Rim?
You don't need different passes to visit the North and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Your regular entrance pass enables you to visit both rims.
Which entrance has plenty of parking spaces available in the Grand Canyon National Park?
The Visitor Center Plaza Parking Complex at the South Rim has the most parking spaces available in the Grand Canyon. It is divided into four huge lots.
Which commercial airport is the closest to the Grand Canyon?
The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is the closest commercial airport to the Grand Canyon. The South Rim is the closest to this airport.
Are the Grand Canyon entrances cashless?
None of the Grand Canyon entrances accept cash for entry passes anymore, so make sure you have online payment options available at hand.