Grand Canyon South Rim

Driving Distances to Grand Canyon South Rim

• Tusayan - 1.8 miles (4m)
• Phoenix - 230 miles (3h 30m)
• Flagstaff - 79 miles (1h 30m)
• Sedona - 109 miles (1h 55m)
• Williams - 54 miles (54m)
• Las Vegas - 280 miles (4h 15m)
• Zion National Park - 336 miles (5h 50m)
• Monument Valley - 170 miles (3h 30m)
• Moab - 320 miles (6h 00m)

Airports Closest to the South Rim

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
• Flagstaff Pullium Airport (FLG) (Direct flights from PHX, DEN, DFW, & LAX with American Airlines and United Airlines) (Pro Tip: If you fly from Phoenix to Flagstaff on a connecting flight, get excited. Choose a window seat on the left side of the plane flying to Flagstaff, or the right side of the plane flying from Flagstaff. You'll get a stellar view of Sedona that's tour-worthy in its own right.)

Photo Credit: @grandcanyonman Instagram

Though if you get stuck on the other side of the plane, the view of Flagstaff isn't bad either...

Monthly Average Temperature Grand Canyon South Rim

Monthly Average Temperature Inner Grand Canyon (Below the Rim)*

*Note: Warmer temperatures have been trending in recent years and may indicate that actual temperatures in the future may be warmer than the above averages. Please take extreme caution when hiking down into Grand Canyon during warm months. 2021 set a record number of deaths and rescues due to heat exhaustion.

Grand Canyon Village - It doesn't get any closer than staying at Grand Canyon National Park itself. This will allow you to get the most of every minute of your timer here. Enjoy those once-in-a-lifetime sunrises and sunsets that are worth catching every second of.

Tusayan - Located just outside of Grand Canyon South Rim's entrance gate. Tusayan has several familiar hotel brands as well as boutique lodging. There are grocery stores and dozens of dining options to fit everyone's needs

Williams - Located about 55 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and is a charming town located on Historic Route 66. Williams is where the Grand Canyon Railway departs and is home to Bearizona, a drive-thru wildlife park. Williams has several hotel, dining and entertainment options. This is the best place to stay nearest to Grand Canyon South Rim if you're taking younger kids on this trip.

Flagstaff - Located about 79 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and is a great place find a hotel you're looking to explore more of the Southwest. Flagstaff is a vibrant, college, mountain town chock-full of outdoor enthusiasts and local breweries. Depending on the time of year, visitors can also go skiing and sledding in Flagstaff, or go for a scenic hike up Mt. Humphreys or any one of the innumerable hikes in this part of Arizona. Flagstaff hotels make a great basecamp for anyone wanting to spend a few days exploring.

Sedona - Known for its beautiful red rocks and rare energy. Located about 110 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, visitors will encounter nothing short of a stunning experience. Sedona offers luxury resort spas, cozy bed and breakfasts and cabins along the creek. If you're more of a luxury traveler, a Sedona hotel or resort might be the way to go when visiting Grand Canyon South Rim.

The South Rim is most accessible and therefore the most popular destination at Grand Canyon, attracting 5 million visitors each year. The South Rim is where you'll find visitor's centers, historical buildings, and over two dozen viewpoints and trailheads. Because of its popularity, visitors should expect crowds particularly in the busiest seasons - spring, summer and fall.

Tours at Grand Canyon South Rim

A guided tour of some sort is an excellent way to experience the Grand Canyon's South Rim and is highly recommended. Helicopter tours and air tours on a plane over the Grand Canyon are both a great way to see the Grand Canyon as well as get away from the crowds. Another way of seeing the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is to book a van, Jeep, bus or railway tour to ride up to Grand Canyon Village and have several hours to do the aforementioned activities at the rim, then take a ride back to the tour's origin in the late afternoon.

Many of the South Rim visitors get to the park, look over the edge of the Grand Canyon, take a few pictures and call it a day. It's quite the trek to make just to look at a big hole in the ground! But that's just it! The Grand Canyon is a Natural Wonder of the World for so many reasons. Experience and learn more about the Grand Canyon from a guided tour that fits your travel, interest, and learning style. From self-guided audio walking tours in multiple languages to air, auto, and rail tours, tours at the Grand Canyon South Rim offers visitors the opportunity to engage with something truly majestic and unique.