What is the drive like from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon?

The 207-mile drive from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon North Rim will take you at least 3.5 hours to complete. Key stops include monuments, ruins, and many more! You'll drive through some breathtaking Arizona landscape. Below are eight great stops that you can take on the way!



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Going to The Grand Canyon was an easy day trip from Flagstaff. Since it's only about an hour and a half drive it gave us the whole day to spend exploring the South Rim. It is Grand Canyons most accessible section and it is literally filled with dozens of magical viewpoints.

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US-89 North to AZ-64 West (Desert View Dr.) The Scenic Route takes you along the East Rim and is considered one of the most scenic drives in the entire USA. If a little adventure sounds appealing, take this extended route and make it a day trip, planning to make many stops along the way just to take in the scenery.

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Flagstaff is one of the great portals to the Grand Canyon for its close proximity, stunning alpine beauty, college-town conviviality, and Route 66 history.

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Where to stop between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon North Rim?
  • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. 6082 Forest Service Rd 545, Flagstaff, AZ 86004. ...
  • Wukoki Pueblo Ruins. ...
  • Wupatki National Monument. ...
  • Little Colorado River Gorge Overlooks. ...
  • Desert View Watchtower. ...
  • Navajo Bridge Interpretive Center. ...
  • Cliff Dweller's Stone House.


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The town of Tusayan, which is just 15-20 minutes away from the main Visitor Center on the south rim, has a great selection of places to stay. Grand Canyon Junction (formerly known as Valle) is further out (about 30 minutes to the rim), but is another good option. If you want a hotel, stay in Tusayan, which has plenty.

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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.

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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.

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Grand Canyon South Rim is most frequently chosen by first-time visitors to the area not only for its beautiful views, but for its abundance of visitor services and family-oriented activities. The South Rim is open year-round.

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Grand Canyon National Park's SOUTH RIM (open all year) is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via route 64 from Interstate 40) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via route 180).

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It is one of the number one tourist destinations worldwide, and it's an experience that will create lifelong memories for you and your family. If you're planning to stay in Las Vegas, taking a day trip to the canyon is well worth it and can get you out of the city to indulge in a truly unique outdoor experience.

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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.

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How many days should you spend in the Grand Canyon? If you're visiting the South Rim, you'll want 2-3 days. For the North Rim, plan on visiting for 1-2 days. If you want to see both rims, give yourself 4-5 days!

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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.

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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. If you decide to visit during the summer (the park's peak season), be prepared for hordes of tourists and very limited lodging availability.

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Many consider the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to be the authentic Grand Canyon experience. It features vast, expansive views often seen in popular media.

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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.

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Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon South Rim is 79 miles, a 1 hour 30-minute drive. Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon East Rim is 124 miles, a 2 hour 5-minute drive. Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon North Rim is 207 miles, a 3 hour 40-minute drive.

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Williams is a cowboy town; Flagstaff is a college town and the more populated of the two. Williams wins (usually) for economy; Flagstaff wins on number of options. Distance wise, Williams is about 1 hour South of the park, Flagstaff is 90 minutes away.

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There is a good reason people flock to the South Rim; it's the more popular part of Grand Canyon National Park; it's stunningly beautiful; it's more developed by way of visitors centers and services; there's more lodging nearby; you can hike, backpack and camp; it's easier to access and is more centrally located for ...

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