Grand Canyon and northern Arizona, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Northern Arizona sits on the Colorado Plateau, a high region of pine forests, stony deserts and canyons carved by the Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is the centerpiece of this landscape: a canyon about 445 km long and more than 1,800 meters deep, protected as a national park and listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The south rim concentrates the park services and is open year-round. Grand Canyon Village, on the canyon edge, has the historic lodges, the train station and the trailheads that descend into the canyon. Flagstaff, a college town at about 2,100 meters elevation, and Williams, one of the towns on the old Route 66, are the gateway bases on the access roads; the train that reaches the rim departs from Williams.

To the northeast, Page grew in the 1950s with the construction of Glen Canyon Dam, which created Lake Powell. Nearby are Antelope Canyon, with its undulating walls, open only to guided Navajo tours, and the Colorado River bend at Horseshoe Bend.

Further east, near Utah, Monument Valley brings together the red sandstone buttes that have appeared in many western films. It is a tribal park of the Navajo Nation, with its own rules and hours, and its base is the settlement of Oljato-Monument Valley on the Utah side.

This destination brings together 5 cities: Flagstaff, Grand Canyon Village, Williams, Page, Oljato-Monument Valley.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Grand Canyon and northern Arizona is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

✈ Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) · 7 km to Flagstaff

The larger airports are in Phoenix, about three and a half hours from the south rim, and Las Vegas, about four and a half hours. Flagstaff has regional flights and a long-distance train station. To get around the region, a car is the most practical option.

Suggested arrival point: Flagstaff

Arizona · Grand Canyon and northern Arizona Suggested arrival point

Flagstaff

A college town at about 2,100 meters elevation, surrounded by pine forests at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks. The historic downtown is next to the railroad and the old Route 66 brick buildings. It has the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered, and is close to Walnut Canyon and about an hour and a half from the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona · Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Grand Canyon Village

The village inside Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim, at about 2,100 meters elevation. It includes the historic hotels along the rim, the Williams train station, the visitor center near Mather Point, and the start of the Bright Angel and Rim Trail hikes. Park shuttle buses run to Hermit Road and the viewpoints to the west.

Arizona · Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Williams

Small mountain town west of Flagstaff on the old Route 66, with a historic downtown of bars, diners and 1950s signs. It was the last Route 66 town bypassed by the interstate. From the historic station every morning departs the Grand Canyon Railway train to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Arizona · Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Page

City founded in the 1950s for the workers of Glen Canyon Dam, in northern Arizona, next to Lake Powell. It is the base for Antelope Canyon, a narrow sandstone canyon visited with Navajo guides, for the Horseshoe Bend overlook over the Colorado River, and for boat trips on the lake.

Utah · Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Oljato-Monument Valley

A Navajo settlement in southern Utah, on the border with Arizona, next to Monument Valley. It has accommodations, a historic trading post and serves as the base for the Navajo tribal park, with red sandstone buttes like the Mittens, which have appeared in many Western films.

The local experience

Things to do in Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Page · Arizona · Canyon

Antelope Canyon

Narrow sandstone canyon on Navajo land near Page, with wavy walls carved by water and light beams at midday. It can only be visited on tours with authorized Navajo guides.

Williams · Arizona · Heritage train

Grand Canyon Railway

Historic train that links Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon over about 105 km, with vintage cars, musicians and Old West characters on board. Leaves in the morning and returns in the late afternoon.

Flagstaff · Arizona · Observatory

Lowell Observatory

An astronomical observatory founded in 1894 on a hill in Flagstaff, where Pluto was discovered in 1930. It has exhibits, guided tours and nighttime telescope sessions.

Grand Canyon Village · Arizona · Lookout

Mather Point

The most visited viewpoint on the South Rim, next to the visitor center, offering wide views across the canyon, the rock temples and a stretch of the Bright Angel Trail.

See 7 more places in Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

Oljato-Monument Valley · Utah · Tribal park

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

A Navajo Nation park on the Utah–Arizona border, with red sandstone buttes and mesas like the Mittens, a dirt road of about 27 km and Navajo‑guided tours.

Page · Arizona · Lookout

Horseshoe Bend

A horseshoe bend of the Colorado River about 300 meters below an overlook on the canyon rim, 8 km from Page, reached by a short walk from the parking area.

Grand Canyon Village · Arizona · Trail

Bright Angel Trail

The best-known trail to descend into the Grand Canyon from Grand Canyon Village, with rest houses and seasonal water in the first kilometers. Reaching the river and returning in one day is not recommended.

Flagstaff · Arizona · Archaeological site

Walnut Canyon

A national monument east of Flagstaff, with stone dwellings built by the Sinagua about 800 years ago on the slopes of a limestone canyon.

Grand Canyon Village · Arizona · Scenic drive

Hermit Road

About an 11 km road along the south rim, from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest, with nine overlooks. From March to November it’s accessible only by the park shuttle, on foot, or by bicycle.

Page · Arizona · Lake

Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam

An artificial lake of blue water between sandstone cliffs, formed by Glen Canyon Dam in 1964, next to Page. It has a visitor center at the dam, marinas and boat tours.

Grand Canyon Village · Arizona · Lookout

Desert View Watchtower

A stone tower about 21 meters high designed by Mary Colter in 1932, at the eastern end of the south rim, with views of the Colorado River and the Painted Desert. It is 37 km from Grand Canyon Village.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

From April to June and from September to October days are usually pleasant. In summer, the south rim has mild temperatures, but the canyon floor exceeds 40 °C and afternoon storms are common from July to September. In winter, the south rim and Flagstaff commonly get snow.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four to five days allow for two days at the Grand Canyon, one in Page and one in Monument Valley, with Flagstaff or Williams as stopovers. The south rim alone requires at least a full day, or two days to descend a trail.

Which city to stay in

Inside the park, in Grand Canyon Village, the lodges are within walking distance of the viewpoints and sell out early. Tusayan, right at the south entrance, and Williams are alternatives less than an hour away. Flagstaff has more options and lies on the route to Phoenix and Page. In Page and in Oljato-Monument Valley there are accommodations close to the canyons and buttes.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

How many days to spend at the Grand Canyon?

A full day lets you see the main viewpoints on the south rim and walk part of the rim trail. With two days, you can descend part of a trail into the canyon and see sunrise and sunset.

Do you need a car for the Grand Canyon and northern Arizona?

To travel between Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, Page and Monument Valley, yes: distances are large and public transport is limited. Inside the park, park buses connect the south rim viewpoints.

Which rim of the Grand Canyon should you visit?

The south rim is open year-round and has most of the services. The north rim, higher and more remote, usually opens only from mid-May to mid-October; check the park website.

Can you do the Grand Canyon as a day trip from Las Vegas?

You can, but it’s a long day: about four and a half hours’ drive each way to the south rim. Spending at least one night near the park makes the visit more relaxed.

What time zone is northern Arizona in?

Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and stays on UTC-7 year-round. The Navajo Nation, where Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley are located, does observe it: from March to November Navajo tours follow UTC-6, one hour ahead of Page and the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon and northern Arizona

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The cities on this trip