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Where do you stop between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon?

The top stops along the way from Phoenix to Grand Canyon National Park (with short detours) are Chapel of the Holy Cross, Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel, and Taliesin West. Other popular stops include Cathedral Rock, Walnut Canyon National Monument, and Montezuma Castle National Monument.



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The south rim of Grand Canyon National Park is a 3.5-hour drive from Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to Flagstaff. From Flagstaff take Route 180 northwest to the south entrance and the park's visitor center. Or take Highway 89 to Route 64 to the park's east entrance.

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Driving Distance from Phoenix, AZ to Grand Canyon Phoenix, AZ to Grand Canyon South Rim is 229 miles, a 3 hour 30-minute drive. Phoenix, AZ to Grand Canyon West Rim is 265 miles, a 4 hour 25-minute drive. Phoenix, AZ to Grand Canyon North Rim is 351 miles, a 5 hour 40-minute drive.

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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.

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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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The best road trip route from Phoenix to Grand Canyon passes through the Red Rock Scenic Byway – although you can arrive an hour quicker by avoiding this road and Sedona altogether, you'd definitely be missing out, as this is arguably the most scenic stretch of the entire trip.

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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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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.

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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.

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Groome Transportation (previously called Arizona Shuttle) provides scheduled daily van shuttle service on five routes traveling between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon area. Contact: groometransportation.com/arizona; advance purchase of tickets is recommended.

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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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Falling Deaths at the Grand Canyon: 198 60 people have fallen off the ledge. 63 people have fallen from inside the canyon. 75 people in this category purposefully jumped or fell to commit suicide.

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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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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.

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The journey from Phoenix to Sedona is not very long. With normal traffic, it takes about two hours to travel the 117 miles between Downtown Phoenix and the center of Sedona.

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Phoenix to Flagstaff, Flagstaff to South Rim Grand Canyon Prices (as of 4/2023) are around $59 per person for the 3 hour and 10 minute shuttle between Phoenix and Flagstaff, and $44 per person for the 1 hour and 45 minute shuttle from Flagstaff to the South Rim.

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How Many Days at the Grand Canyon? We recommend between one to three days at the Grand Canyon, though you could stay for longer for a relaxed visit. With only one day at the Grand Canyon, you can check out a few viewpoints, hike into the canyon or on the Rim Trail, and catch the sunset.

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