Grand Canyon South Rim Self-Guided Driving Tour

The Grand Canyon’s average depth is about a mile, but that’s not the whole story. At its deepest point, the canyon dives down a whopping 6,000 feet!

You can absolutely visit the Grand Canyon without a tour, though you might end up missing out on a few things. Grand Canyon National Park is loaded with different trails, overlooks, and other attractions, so at least make sure to do your research if you decide to visit without any sort of guidance.

Absolutely! Your phone makes this very possible these days. The important thing is to make sure whatever self-guiding application you use allows offline map access, as many parts of the park have very poor or no service.

The Grand Canyon is actually one of the best national parks to bring dogs! While many only allow dogs in parking areas and campgrounds, the Grand Canyon’s popular South Rim is almost fully open to your canine. Just be sure to check trail signs before em-bark-ing on a particular hike.

You absolutely must pay a visit to Mather Point, then walk along the famous South Rim Trail. These will give you a great look at the canyon, and they’re both easy to access. Plus, don’t miss the Desert View Watchtower or Hopi House, two totally unique attractions along the South Rim.

Late spring or early fall are always a good bet. The temperatures are more mild than during the summer, but you won’t have to worry about snow closures, as you might during the winter months.

There’s no big secret behind this name, it’s exactly what it sounds like! Explorer John Wesley Powell first coined the term in 1871, because the canyon he saw was, well, grand!

Even if you’re not planning on hiking, you should be prepared for a decent amount of walking if you want to see all the best overlooks along the canyon’s rim. It’s also a good idea to pack plenty of snacks and water. Food is available, but lines can be long so it’s best to be prepared.

Grand Canyon National Park is open 24 hours a day! That means you can catch the most spectacular sunset and not feel like you’re being rushed out of the park directly afterward.

A standard 7-day pass costs $35 for one car. If you’re planning to visit at least two other national parks, though, you should definitely spend a little extra to get the America the Beautiful Pass, which costs $80, allows unlimited entry into any national park, and lasts for an entire year.

Mather Point is one of the most popular places to stargaze, but it also tends to get the most crowded. For a more secluded experience, you can try Desert View Point, Moran Point, or Lipan Point.

If you’ve seen photos of the Grand Canyon, there’s a very good chance they were taken at Mather Point, probably the most popular spot for photography in the whole park. Around sunset, you’ll see tons of folks gathered there with cameras and tripods.

Without a doubt! The Grand Canyon is easily a place everyone has to see at least once in their lifetime, and the South Rim provides tons of ways to experience this natural wonder.

There’s no one answer to this, but the South Rim is generally better for beginners. It sees more crowds, but also features more trails, more overlooks, and way more amenities than the North Rim.

Because there’s no bridge across the Grand Canyon, the drive from one rim to another actually takes a whole four hours. Generally, when visiting the canyon, you should pick one rim and stick with it for that trip.

Flagstaff – 80 miles (1.5 hours)
Phoenix – 230 miles (3.5 hours)
Las Vegas – 277 miles (4.5 hours)
Sedona – 115 miles (2 hours)
Monument Valley – 175 miles (3 hours)
Page (Lake Powell) – 140 miles (2.5 hours)
Bryce Canyon National Park – 288 miles (5 hours)
Zion National Park – 280 miles (5 hours)
Los Angeles – 500 miles (7 hours)
Salt Lake City – 515 miles (8.2 hours)
Albuquerque – 415 miles (6 hours)

Not advised if you only have one day and want to tour the South Rim region. The Skywalk lies outside of the National Park and is a four-hour trip from the South Rim gate.

Entrance fees to Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) are $25 per vehicle, $12 per pedestrian or cyclist, and vary for commercial bus and excursion van passengers. Both rims are included in the 7-day admission fee. For a one-time fee of $10, U.S. citizens aged 62 or older can obtain an America the Beautiful Senior Pass and gain free admission. Entrance is free for those who have a valid National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass (obtainable for $80 at any national park).

Summer temperatures on the South Rim are in the 50s to 80s F (10s to high 20s C), but temperatures inside the canyon are very high. At the South Rim, winter can be very bad. You can expect snow, icy roads, and possible road closures. Low temperatures can sometimes drop below 0° F (-18° C)