Grand Canyon South Rim at a glance
The Grand Canyon lies entirely in Arizona. The South Rim is the part of the national park that most visitors see. It includes Grand Canyon Village, Mather Point and the Desert View Drive out to the Desert View Watchtower. The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. General entry needs neither a reservation nor a timed-entry ticket, while tours, lodging and a few special programs are booked separately.
Most visitors arrive by road. Williams is about 60 minutes from the South Entrance, Flagstaff about 90 minutes and Phoenix about 4 hours. Las Vegas is roughly 278 miles (447 km) away via US 93, I-40, Williams and AZ 64. Prices on this site are in US dollars and apply to 2026. They can change.
This guide covers fees and passes, what is open right now, tours and day trips, helicopter flights from Tusayan, the Grand Canyon Railway, the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails, the main viewpoints, weather and where to stay.
Our picks: Grand Canyon South Rim tours
Already at the park, the jeep tour to Desert View is a good half day with the entry included. From Las Vegas, the plane saves the long drive; the bus day is the low-cost option. The train from Williams is the classic way in.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
South Rim by plane from Las Vegas with a Hummer tour
- Return flights to the South Rim
- Open Hummer in the park
- Lunch box
Return flights to the South Rim, an open Hummer in the park and a lunch box, with hotel transfers in Las Vegas. International guests pay the park entry at check-in.
Check availability →
45-minute helicopter flight from the South Rim
- 45-minute helicopter flight
- Painted Desert and Marble Canyon views
A 45-minute flight over the Kaibab National Forest and the canyon toward the Painted Desert and Marble Canyon.
Check availability →
South Rim sunrise, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend
- Regular park entry
- Antelope Canyon ticket by option
- Horseshoe Bend entry
An 18-hour day with the regular park entry, Horseshoe Bend and an Antelope Canyon ticket by option. A guide tip from $30 per person and the $100 surcharge for non-US residents from 16 are extra.
Check availability →
Desert View and South Rim jeep tour
- Certified guide
- Park entry
- IMAX tickets
Three hours with a certified guide along the rim to Desert View, with the park entry and IMAX tickets.
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South Rim day trip from Las Vegas with lunch
- Return transport with Wi-Fi
- Lunch
- Water and a snack
Fourteen hours with return transport and Wi-Fi, lunch, a snack bar and water. Non-US residents pay the park surcharge on top.
Check availability →
Grand Canyon Railway return ticket from Williams
- Return train ride
- Snacks in First Class
The train from Williams to Grand Canyon Village and back. The park entry is included for US residents only; non-US residents from 16 pay $100 on top.
Check availability →Grand Canyon South Rim tours and flights
Day tours from Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sedona, jeep and bus tours, helicopter flights and train trips, with live prices and availability. Check whether park entry is included.
Plan your South Rim visit
Status, fees, tours and how to reach the park.
Is the South Rim open?
Entrances, trails, lodging and the North Rim, with dates.
Entrance fee and passes
$35 per vehicle, plus $100 per person for visitors who do not live in the US.
South Rim tours
Jeep, bus and guided options, and what each one includes.
From Las Vegas
A day tour with lunch from $129, or the 278-mile drive.
From Phoenix or Sedona
Day tours with pickup, plus distances to the South Rim.
Helicopter flights from Tusayan
Flights of 25 to 30 minutes or longer. They do not land in the canyon.
Grand Canyon Railway
Williams to the Grand Canyon Depot in 2 hours 15 minutes each way.
Trails and viewpoints
Where to walk, where to look and when to go.
Hikes on the South Rim
The Rim Trail, open trail sections and safety.
Bright Angel Trail
Open from the rim to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse.
South Kaibab Trail
Ooh Aah Point, Skeleton Point and the closure below Tipoff.
Mather Point
Visitor Center, sunrise views and parking.
Hermit Road
Shuttle, nine viewpoints and Hermits Rest.
Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Drive, hours and free timed tickets for the upper floors.
Sunset and sunrise
Where to watch, with example times for 2026.
Village, facts and practical pages
Background, seasons and where to base yourself.
Grand Canyon Village
Historic buildings, shuttles and services.
Grand Canyon facts
Length, width, depth, age and visitor numbers.
Weather and snow
Monthly temperatures from a station on the South Rim.
Best time to visit
Seasons compared, from snow to monsoon storms.
Grand Canyon in December
Snow, roads and the train in winter.
Getting there
Drive times, airports and shuttles from Flagstaff and Williams.
Where to stay
Park lodging is suspended. Tusayan, Williams and Flagstaff work as bases.
A few things to know before you go
What is open, what is closed and what it costs in 2026.
Entry costs more for visitors from abroad
Since 1 January 2026, each person aged 16 and over who does not live in the US pays $100 on top of the regular entry fee, unless a valid pass covers it. A nonresident annual pass costs $250.
Entrance fee and passes →Open does not mean fully running
The South Rim and both approach roads are open around the clock. Lodging run by the park concessioners has been suspended since 31 August 2026 because of flood damage to the water line. Tusayan, outside the park, is not affected.
Where to stay →Trails are open only in part
The Bright Angel Trail is open from the rim to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse, and the South Kaibab Trail to Tipoff. Phantom Ranch and the Colorado River bridges are closed, so a normal rim-to-rim route is not possible.
Hikes →Some viewpoints and areas are limited
Lipan Point and its access road are closed to everyone from 22 June to 23 December 2026. The upper floors of the Desert View Watchtower open only when staff are available, with a free timed ticket on site. The North Rim has been open only in part since the 2025 fire.
Current status →Conditions change, so check the current status with the National Park Service before you go.
Beyond the South Rim
Other places that have their own guides.
The Skywalk is not at the South Rim. It lies at Grand Canyon West, outside the national park, and has its own page on the Skywalk. For Sedona, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and a wider Arizona trip, see Adventures Arizona. If you start from Las Vegas and want to add Hoover Dam, Hoover Dam has its own guide. This site stays with the South Rim.
More independent guides to Arizona and southern Utah
Separate guides from the same team.
Arizona
Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Sedona and road trips across the state.
Tucson
Sabino Canyon, Mount Lemmon, desert museums and the missions of southern Arizona.
Kanab
The Wave, White Pocket, Coral Pink Sand Dunes and slot canyons on the Utah–Arizona border.
Hoover Dam
Powerplant tours, the Memorial Bridge, Lake Mead and trips from Las Vegas.
Grand Canyon South Rim: frequently asked questions
Is the Grand Canyon South Rim open?
Yes. The South Entrance and the Desert View East Entrance are open 24 hours a day all year. Open does not mean every building and trail is available: park lodging is suspended since 31 August 2026, Phantom Ranch is closed and the Bright Angel Trail is open only to Mile-and-a-Half Resthouse. See the status page.
Do I need a reservation to enter the park?
No. General entry needs neither a reservation nor a timed-entry ticket. Tours, lodging and special programs are booked separately, and the upper floors of the Desert View Watchtower use a free timed ticket on site.
How much is the entrance fee in 2026?
A private vehicle pays $35 including its occupants, a motorcycle $30 and a person on foot or by bike $20, each valid for 7 days. Visitors who do not live in the US pay an extra $100 per person aged 16 and over unless a pass covers it. Details are on the entrance fee page.
Can I stay inside the park?
Not at the moment. Lodging run by the park concessioners has been suspended since 31 August 2026 because of flood damage to the water line. Tusayan, Williams and Flagstaff are the usual bases. See where to stay.
Is the Grand Canyon Skywalk at the South Rim?
No. The Skywalk is at Grand Canyon West on tribal land outside the national park. It is a different destination and not part of a South Rim visit.
Is grandcanyonsouthrim.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no connection to the National Park Service, the park lodging concessioners, the Grand Canyon Railway or any tour operator. For official alerts, check the National Park Service before you travel.