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Grand Canyon entrances | Grand Canyon National Park & Grand Canyon West

The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona covers an area of 1,217,262 acres, while the West Rim of the Grand Canyon extends another million acres. The National Park has three entrances—South Entrance, Desert View Entrance, and North Rim Entrance—while visitors access the West Rim through the Grand Canyon West Welcome Center. If you're wondering which gate will best suit your needs and how to get there, we've got you covered! This comprehensive guide on Grand Canyon entrances will provide you with everything you need to know.

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

Grand Canyon West sign at Hualapai Nation entrance, highlighting cultural significance and tour starting point.

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.

Visitor tips

  • When entering through the South Rim entrance during peak tourist season like summer or spring break, get there before 9:30am or enter after 4pm. The afternoons tend to be quite packed, and waiting time for entry could be as long as two hours.
  • If you want to visit the South Rim but don't want to stand in the entry line for too long, take the Desert View entrance. It is less crowded and offers several scenic outlooks.
  • Highway 67 is essential for accessing the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Consequently, if it becomes blocked by snow before November 30, this section of the Grand Canyon National Park will be closed. Be sure to monitor updates on weather conditions.
  • Although not a part of the Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon West is a must-visit when you're in the area because of its unique perspective and rich cultural history. Keep at least 2-3 hours for the trip to the West Rim.
  • If you're in Las Vegas, you can arrive at the Grand Canyon in style! Book one of the helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the canyon and get an aerial view of the massive natural wonder.
  • If you want to move around the South Rim without any hassle, you can opt for shuttle bus rides. There are a number of routes that take you to different parts of the South Rim, and you can choose them according to what you want to see. West Rim also has shuttle bus rides from the entrance to the different tourist spots because personal cars are not allowed inside.

Frequently asked questions about Grand Canyon entrances

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.

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Timings

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