Ultimate Phoenix to Grand Canyon Road Trip Guide
Are you planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix? If so, this article is for you.
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, a 277 mile long canyon spanning over a million acres, with layers of ancient rock and spectacular vistas all throughout. With it only being a 4 hour drive from Phoenix, it’s an absolute must-see if you have the chance.
This article will cover how to get to the Grand Canyon from Phoenix, including transportation options, road trip stops, what to do in the park, where to stay, and more.
Ready to plan a bucket list trip to the Grand Canyon? Let’s dive in!
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Phoenix to Grand Canyon Overview
- Distance: 3.5-4 hours/220 miles
- Ideal amount of time: 1-3 days
- Entrance fees: $35/vehicle (valid for 7 days), or America the Beautiful Pass
How To Get To The Grand Canyon From Phoenix
The Grand Canyon’s main entrance (South Rim) is a 3.5-4 hour drive from Phoenix. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport is the closest international airport, where you’ll find the cheapest flights.
If you’re driving there, I recommend using Discover Cars to find the cheapest rental cars before booking. From the airport, it’s a relatively easy and scenic drive through the desert that flies by quickly.
If you don’t plan on driving, there are a variety of tours that provide roundtrip transportation from Phoenix.
Here are the top-rated tour options available.
- Grand Canyon Van Tour: Small group tour to Sedona and the Grand Canyon from Phoenix
- Private Grand Canyon Van tour: Private tour of only your party to Sedona and the Grand Canyon from Phoenix
- Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour: Scenic helicopter tour of the South Rim from Phoenix
On the drive from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon, you’ll pass by many small towns, and there’s no shortage of facilities along the way. You can stop at the halfway point of the drive to eat in Flagstaff, and check out sites like Montezuma’s Castle along the way!
Here are some of the best stops to make on the drive from Phoenix to the South Rim.
Best Road Trip Stops
Montezuma’s Castle
If you only have time for one stop, Montezuma’s Castle is it. This is a well-preserved limestone cliff dwelling built between 1100 and 1400 AD by the Sinagua people, and the third designated national monument in the United States!
It has a visitor center with a museum, and a short path you can walk around to see the cliff dwellings. It will only take a half hour to visit, and it’s located right off of highway 17 on the way to the Grand Canyon.
Village of Oak Creek, Sedona
If you want to see Sedona’s iconic red rocks, make a detour into the Village of Oak Creek. Here you can see the famous Bell Rock mountain, or enjoy breakfast or brunch in town.
It’s a 30-45 minute detour, and you can continue driving down the Red Rock Scenic Byway to explore more of Sedona’s beauty if you have the time.
Flagstaff
The best place to stop and refuel halfway into your drive is Flagstaff. Flagstaff is a charming city with a historic downtown, dotted with restaurants, cafes, and quirky route 66 attractions.
It’s conveniently located off the highway, and is the last major city you’ll pass before heading towards the South Rim for the last hour of the drive.
Visiting The South Rim
Once you make it to the Grand Canyon’s South Entrance, you’ll drive through a station where you can purchase tickets, or present your America the Beautiful pass. Entrance is $35 per vehicle holding up to 15 people, and valid for 7 days.
The entrance station is a short drive from the visitor center, where you can park as your first stop. From the visitor center, it’s a short walk to the Mather Point Overlook. This is the most popular overlook in the park, and it has a nice expansive view of the canyon.
After checking out this viewpoint, you can begin walking south of the visitor center along the South Rim Trail. This trail stretches 13 miles along the rim, and has incredible viewpoints and rock outcroppings that people walk out onto.
When I visited the Grand Canyon, I spent a few hours walking on this trail and couldn’t get enough of the views!
From the visitor center, you can use the free Grand Canyon shuttle to get to other overlooks, as well as the hiking trails.
The two most popular hikes in the park are the South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail, which descend into the canyon, and are considered challenging routes. If you plan on hiking either of these, it’s best to start early in the morning, or go on a guided hiking tour.
Beyond the trails and overlooks, you can enjoy even more canyon views by driving the scenic Desert View Drive. This is a 23 mile stretch, from the south to east entrance station, with several excellent viewpoints that you can stop at off the side of the road.
You can begin the drive around 1-2 hours before sunset, and climb up the Desert View Watchtower for one of the best sunset views in the park!
Here are some of the best things to do at the South Rim.
- See the iconic Mather Point Overlook
- Hike part of South Rim Trail or join a guided hiking tour for the more challenging hikes
- Use the free shuttle to get to even more overlooks (Hopi Point, Mohave Point)
- Dine by the rim in Grand Canyon Village
- Drive the scenic 23 mile Desert View Drive
- Watch the sunset from Desert View’s Watchtower
Where To Stay At The Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon has cozy lodge style hotels in Grand Canyon Village and Tusayan, as well as campgrounds that you stay at overnight.
Hotels in Grand Canyon Village are steps away from the rim inside of the park, whereas Tusayan is a 5 minute drive from the park’s entrance. Here are the top-rated hotels.
- El Tovar Lodge: Rustic historic lodge overlooking the rim with a fine-dining restaurant
- Bright Angel Lodge: Cozy lodge with rim views, 2 restaurants, and a cafe in the park
- Yavapai Lodge: Pet-friendly hotel with rim views and 2 restaurants in the park
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Budget hotel with free breakfast and indoor pools in Tusayan, less than 5 minutes from the entrance
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay after visiting the park, Flagstaff and Sedona are both good choices. Flagstaff is a little over an hour from the park, and has a Hilton Doubletree and more budget options.
Sedona is two hours from the park, and has everything from luxurious wellness resorts to family-friendly hotels with pools. Check out our guide on where to stay in Sedona for a full list of options.
Road Trip Map
Grand Canyon FAQs
What are the different rims of the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim is the main and most visited rim. It has two entrances, the South, and East (Desert View Drive), which is located 23 miles east of the main entrance.
The South entrance is where you’ll find the visitor center, Grand Canyon Village, and all of the popular overlooks. From here, you can drive the 23 mile scenic Desert View Drive, which has several scenic viewpoints off the side of the road.
Beyond the main entrance, the Grand Canyon has a West Rim, that’s a 4.5 hour drive from Phoenix. This is the closest rim to Las Vegas, and not part of the national park since it’s located on Hualapai tribal lands.
It has scenic overlooks, a zipline, skywalk, and tourist activities, with an admission fee of $51/person (no America the Beautiful passes accepted).
How far is the Grand Canyon from Sedona/Flagstaff?
The Grand Canyon is a little over an hour from Flagstaff, and two hours from Sedona. If you want to cut your drive in half, Sedona is a great place to stay in between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon.
It has top-notch spa resorts, excellent hiking trails, and beautiful red rock scenery that’s worth checking out if it’s your first time in Arizona.
Check out our perfect weekend in Sedona itinerary for more details on all of the best things to do in town.
How far is the Grand Canyon from Antelope Canyon/Horseshoe Bend?
The Grand Canyon is a 2 hour drive from Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. It’s possible to visit the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend in a day, but Antelope Canyon requires you to go with a guide, so you’ll need to book a tour ahead of time.
If you want to visit all three of these natural wonders in a day, check out our Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon day trip guide!
How far is the Grand Canyon from Monument Valley?
Monument Valley is a 2.5 hour drive from the Grand Canyon’s main entrance, and a 5 hour drive (10 hours roundtrip) from Phoenix.
How far is the Grand Canyon from Zion National Park?
The Grand Canyon’s South Rim (main entrance) is a 4.5 hour drive from Zion National Park, whereas the North Rim is 2.5 hours, but only open seasonally.
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