Is the Grand Canyon worth the drive from Phoenix?

The views, along with the adventures in between, are certainly worth the drive. No matter where you start in Phoenix, Interstate 17 (I-17) is your road to the Grand Canyon — with one or two detours along the way. What is great about the 1-17 is it ends in Flagstaff, only an hour-and-half to the Grand Canyon.



People Also Ask

In the end, Phoenix is a great place to start your trip to the Grand Canyon from. If you plan is to visit the Grand Canyon, and only the Grand Canyon, I would say Phoenix is the best major city to depart from. If you plan on seeing more of the amazing attractions in the area, Las Vegas may be a better choice.

MORE DETAILS

There is just one scenic drive open to private cars on the South Rim, Desert View Drive. The 23 mile (37 km) long Desert View Drive features marvelous panoramic views of Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. There is parking at every viewpoint. Be sure to bring enough food and water for everyone in your group.

MORE DETAILS

You take that to Rte 64 which is a similar road directly to the canyon. The drive is not necessarily difficult, but you will find that it is extremely dark up there (no city lights once you leave flagstaff).

MORE DETAILS

The average distance across the canyon is only 10 miles, however, the drive between the park's South Rim Village and the North Rim Village is about 212 miles and takes about 4 1/2 hours to drive. It takes time, planning, and effort to visit both rims in one trip.

MORE DETAILS

With just one day at the Grand Canyon South Rim, you can see several viewpoints and even hike into the canyon. Unless you want a super relaxed Grand Canyon vacation on the rim or an adventurous rafting trip down below, one to three days at the Grand Canyon is usually enough time for the highlights.

MORE DETAILS

It is possible to drive around the Grand Canyon. On the South Rim you can follow the cliffs edge along the Desert View Drive. The rest of the trip you are further removed from the Canyon where it is not visible from the car. A roundtrip takes roughly 2 weeks and covers 1000 miles.

MORE DETAILS

If you find yourself in the Phoenix area, it's well worth taking a drive through Sedona. In fact, we'd recommend staying there and spending plenty of time exploring the canyons, hikes, and other natural attractions in the area.

MORE DETAILS

Safety: Taking a guided tour can be safer than driving yourself, especially if you're not familiar with the terrain or weather conditions. However, there are also some downsides to taking a tour: Cost: Tours can be expensive, especially if you're traveling with a large group or booking a luxury tour.

MORE DETAILS

The best way to tour the village is to park your vehicle once, then ride the Village (Blue) Route Shuttle around the South Rim. It connects the Visitor Center, lodges, campgrounds, Backcountry Information Center, and Market Plaza (Market, deli, outdoor ATM, and U.S. Post Office).

MORE DETAILS

It really depends on what you want to see and do! Some visitors stop by a couple of viewpoints and arrive and leave within a day but there are so many more fantastic things to do at the Grand Canyon. We recommend spending at least one full day at the Grand Canyon South Rim and ideally two if time permits.

MORE DETAILS

Because of its amenities and jaw-dropping views, the South Rim is the best section of the park to visit if you only have one day in the Grand Canyon.

MORE DETAILS

The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are March through May and September through November, when daytime temperatures are cool and crowds are thin.

MORE DETAILS

Grand Canyon National Park does not require reservations to enter the park, nor do we have timed entry. The parking lots around the Visitor Center usually fill by 12 noon. It's a good idea to arrive early (before 9 am) to find a parking spot and be able to make the most of your time here.

MORE DETAILS

The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are March through May and September through November, when daytime temperatures are cool and crowds are thin.

MORE DETAILS

The two major cities closest to the Canyon are Phoenix and Las Vegas. Flagstaff, AZ is only 1.5 hours from the South Rim and although it is a smaller city, it does have an international airport. Tusayan is the closest town to Grand Canyon Village and also has a small public airport.

MORE DETAILS