With ‘grand’ right there in the name, it’s no surprise that the Grand Canyon National Park covers a vast area of land. Two of the most common bases for exploring the area are the south rim and the north rim. While only a handful of miles apart ‘as the crow flies,’ it can take 4-5 hours to drive between them!
No matter which one you visit, the Grand Canyon is a spectacular site. However, choosing the location that best fits your travel style is important for making sure you have the best experience possible!
The South Rim
Those postcard perfect images of the Grand Canyon? That’s the south rim. Not only is this area home to the most iconic views into the canyon, it’s also the most developed. Open year round, you’ll find a variety of hotel and restaurant options to choose from both within the park and in communities outside the gate. A variety of activities are available here including hiking, mule rides, bicycling, educational programs, museums, scenic drives, and helicopter tours (available outside the park). Frequent free shuttle buses to popular areas mean that you won’t have to drive everywhere. However, given the accessibility and available resources of the south rim, it’s also the most crowded!
The North Rim
The north rim also provides spectacular views of the Grand Canyon, even if they’re a little different than those from the south rim. Given that the north rim is approximately 1000 feet higher in elevation than the south rim, winters can be harsh and access to the area is limited to May through October. On a good note, that added elevation also means cooler weather during summer, when temperatures can soar on the lower south rim. A hotel, campsites, and restaurants are available, but on a much more limited basis. Active outdoor pursuits such as hiking or biking are the most popular things to do at the north rim. Due to the more remote nature of the north rim and decreased available resources, the north rim sees only a fraction of the visitors of the south rim. In fact, only around 10% of the park’s approximately 6 million visitors visit the north rim.
Which Should I Choose?
If you’re looking for iconic views that are easy to access with a variety of hotel and restaurant choices, it’s likely that you’ll prefer the south rim.
If you’re looking for a quiet stay that’s full of hiking and enjoying the outdoors…and can deal with limited hotel and food choices, the north rim may be a good option.
What about Grand Canyon West?
Grand Canyon West is located outside Grand Canyon National Park on Hualapai Indian Tribal Lands. This area is the most easily accessible from Las Vegas and can be reached via a 2.5 hour car ride. The most popular attraction at Grand Canyon West is the Skywalk—a glass bridge extending out into the canyon—though other activities such as ziplining, rafting, and helicopter tours are also available.
