
The first time you see the Grand Canyon it will take your breath away. It is one of the most amazing sites you’ll see in your life. Most people will see it for a few hours and move on. But there is so much more to the canyon than just the views. The Grand Canyon is so large, there are four main areas to the canyon, and each is hours apart from the other: South, North, East, and West.

Places

Grand Canyon South Rim
This is the main section of the national park and has the most iconic views.
- Grand Canyon Village. The heartbeat of the national park with hikes, mule rides, lodging, and food.
- Hermits Rest. Accessibly only by shuttle in the busy season, it’s a fun little building designed to look like a hermit’s home.
- Desert View. Accessible by car with multiple viewpoints on the way, it provides the best views of the Colorado River below.
- Tusayan. A small town outside the park with a visitor center, lodging, food, camping, and no charm.
- Williams. A more charming Route 66 town with restaurants, the wonderful drive-through zoo Bearizona, and the Grand Canyon Train offering daily rides to the Grand Canyon with entertainment.
- Sedona. Gorgeous red rock formations coupled with green trees make this new-age city a popular place to visit in conjunction with the Grand Canyon.
- Flagstaff. Jumping off point to multiple national monuments, such as Wupatki and Sunset Crater.

Grand Canyon North Rim
The North Rim is also part of the national park. It is visible from the South Rim and located 11 miles away as the bird flies. But it takes 4 hours to drive around the canyon to get there! Open only from May to October, it receives only 10% of the park’s visitors (read: great getaway!).
- Cape Royal Point. Take the 23-mile Cape Royal Road out to the point for some of the best viewpoints on the north rim.
- Kanab. Centrally located to Zion, Bryce, the North Rim, and the Vermillion Cliffs. An outdoor enthusiast’s dream, this was once known as Little Hollywood for the many movies filmed here.
- Jacob Lake. This is the gateway town to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Cookies and shakes at the Jacob Lake Lodge are a must!
- Grand Canyon Lodge. The heart of the relaxing north rim. Bright Angel Point, the Rough Rider Saloon, fine dining, and mule rides are all based out of the Lodge.

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Get our done‑for‑you, 2-7 day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views.
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan for the South Rim, North Rim, Page, AZ, and Grand Canyon West + a the most efficient driving routes to connect them
*Exact time frames and star ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Includes audio stories to listen to as you drive
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Grand Canyon East
This is NOT part of the national park, this area is a collection of private, public, and tribal land. Page, Arizona, is the main city here. There are some overrated and underrated attractions in this area!
- Page. A large (for this area) city, it’s the base for hiking and boating enthusiasts.
- Horseshoe Bend. Overlook of the Colorado River.
- Antelope Canyon. Confusingly, there are multiple canyons here known as Antelope Canyon, and most are accessible only through (expensive) tours.
- Lake Powell. Famous and gorgeous lake accessible from Page.
- Rainbow Bridge. National Monument accessible only by boat tour.
- Navajo Bridge & Lees Ferry. Underrated places to walk over and play in the Colorado River, as well as view California Condors.
- Glen Canyon Dam & NRA. Visitor center to learn about the dam, which forms Lake Powell.
- Navajo National Monument. Located closer to Monument Valley, this is a nice place to see cliff-dwellings.

Grand Canyon West
Grand Canyon West is also not part of the national park. This area is owned by two tribes.
- Grand Canyon Skywalk. Walk out over the Grand Canyon on a see-through bridge.
- Havasu Falls. Lottery-only hike to see gorgeous waterfalls at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
- Peach Springs. Route 66 town that provided the inspiration for Radiator Springs in the movie Cars.
- Hoover Dam. Famous, massive dam with a visitor center and tours.
- Lake Mead. This lake is formed by the Hoover dam and offers boat tours. Easily accessible from Las Vegas.

Choose the Best Part of the
Grand Canyon in 5 Minutes
See South Rim, North Rim, West Rim, and Page side‑by‑side so you instantly know which one fits YOUR dates, driving route, and priorities.
Inside the guide:
*Clear maps + realistic driving times so you know how long it actually takes to reach each area and the main viewpoints
*What to see and do in each area so you don’t stress about “missing the good stuff”
*Where to stay nearby so you pick the right town and spend less time in the car
*Time‑ and crowd‑saving tips so you get more hours at the rim and fewer stuck in traffic or shuttle lines
Plan Your Trip
Start Here
- Grand Canyon Beginner’s Guide: Itinerary + Lodging & Tips
- The Best (and Worst) Times of Year to Visit the Grand Canyon
- 16 AWESOME Things to Do at the Grand Canyon
- 15 Fun Things to Do with Kids at the Grand Canyon
- The 12 ABSOLUTE BEST Activities When Visiting Page, Arizona (+ Where to Eat and Stay)
- Driving in the Grand Canyon: 10 Things You NEED TO KNOW
- Which Entrance Should You Use For the Grand Canyon? (Entrances and 4 Areas Explained)
Where to Stay and Eat
- Where to Stay at the Grand Canyon: Options & Our Recommendations (South Rim)
- Where to Camp at the Grand Canyon (South Rim)
- 13 Best Places to Eat at the Grand Canyon: Your Food Guide for the South Rim
- Bright Angel Lodge: An Honest Review
- The Best Unique Hotels & Resorts In Kanab, Utah
Best Hikes and Sites
- Grand Canyon Mule Rides: Our Review and What You Need to Know
- The Grand Canyon Railway: Our Full Review + Helpful Tips
- 11 Things to Do in the Grand Canyon Village
- How to Visit Horseshoe Bend (+ Rafting Review)
- How to Hike Wire Pass to Buckskin Gulch Trail (+ Permit Requirements)
- Is Coral Pink Sand Dunes Worth Visiting? (Things To Do)
- How to Get to Red Canyon (Peek-A-Boo) in Kanab: On Your Own or With a Tour?

Nearby
- How Many Days to Visit Monument Valley? Perfect 1-Day Itinerary with Maps & Must-See Spots
- Driving in Monument Valley: 10 Things You Need to Know
- How to Visit the Hoover Dam: The Best “Dam” Things to Do
- How to Visit the Four Corners: Perfect 7-Day Itinerary
- How to Visit Utah’s Parks: Epic 5-7 Day Itinerary
More About the Grand Canyon
- Hiking in the Grand Canyon: What You Need to Know (Hikes, Tips, Gear)
- How Many People Have Died in the Grand Canyon?
- Hiking in the Desert: 11 Things to Know Before You Go
Prefer to Watch?
Watch More
- Watch Before Visiting the Grand Canyon! [Updates, Lodging, Food, Tips] (51 min)
- 10 Best Things to Do at the Grand Canyon! (15 min)
- Mistakes of Visiting the Grand Canyon! (15 min)
- Grand Canyon Trip Planner (40 min)
- The BEST of the Grand Canyon (20 min)
- Grand Canyon 101 for First-Time Visitors (11 min)
- 7 Things to See in the GRAND CANYON VILLAGE (8 min)
- Bearizona: A Fun Stop on the Way to the Grand Canyon (7 min)
- 10 Things to Know about Grand Canyon’s North Rim (11 min)
- 11 Great Things to Do at Jacob Lake, AZ (15 min)
- Antelope Canyon: Our Full Review (24 min)
- 10 GREAT Things to Do at the Grand Canyon! (15 min)
- What to Know About Mule Rides at the Grand Canyon (18 min)
- What to Know About Hiking in the Grand Canyon (11 min)
- Where to Stay and Camp at the Grand Canyon (15 min)
- Where to Eat at the Grand Canyon (11 min)
- 20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Grand Canyon (13 min)
- Grand Canyon: Don’t Do These 7 Things (11 min)
- Things that Surprised Us About the Grand Canyon (18 min)
- The Best Things to Do in Monument Valley (13 min)
- 5 Great Places Everyone Should Visit (47 min)
- The Best Of Page, Arizona (13 min)
- Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel: Our Full Review (Luxury Dome vs Coach) (14 min)
- The Perfect Day Exploring Hidden Gems Between Las Vegas & the Grand Canyon: Nelson Ghost Town & More (20 min)
- The Perfect Day Driving ROUTE 66 to the Grand Canyon SKYWALK [Oatman, Kingman, Williams] (Video Only)
- The Grand Canyon Railway: A Trip Back in Time (23 min)
- The Perfect 48 Hours at the GRAND CANYON: Biking, Mule Rides, and Sunset! (24 min)
- The Best of Page, Arizona: Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, & Buckskin Gulch (35 min)
- If You Have Less Than $1000 For Your National Park Trip, Visit HERE (20 min)
- Epic 8-Day Road Trip Around the Entire Grand Canyon! (2 hrs 3 min)

Planning a Trip to the Grand Canyon, Utah’s National Parks, and Monument Valley? Copy Our 11‑Day Road Trip.
Get our done‑for‑you, 11‑17 day route with exact drives, maps, and must‑see stops so you don’t waste time in traffic or miss the best views.
Inside the guide:
*Day‑by‑day plan for the Grand Canyon, Utah’s Parks, and
Monument Valley
*Exact times, routes, and photo stops
*Includes audio stories to listen to as you drive
*Best Friend Guarantee: Love it or get your money back