The Grand Canyon is one of the most majestic natural sights in the world, and one of the most popular national parks, too. In this article, we’ll discuss how to get to Grand Canyon National Park, including the best airports to fly into and the best roads to drive!
If you are flying to Grand Canyon National Park, I recommend flying into the Harry Reid International Airport. This airport is close to the Grand Canyon, as well as Zion National Park and Death Valley National Park.
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Driving to the Grand Canyon? The best scenery is found along Highway 67 and Route 89A on your way to the North Rim and Highway 64 if you’re driving to the South Rim.
My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. I’ve been to this park many times, and I can’t wait to help you visit the Grand Canyon.
Let’s talk more about how to get to Grand Canyon National Park, including my advice for the best airports and roads in the area!
Where is Grand Canyon National Park Located?
Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona. The park has two different sections you can visit — the North Rim and the South Rim. These areas are separated by a 4-hour drive, so you’ll want to decide which section you are hoping to visit before you plan out your route!
If you’re visiting the North Rim, you’ll be about 2.5 hours from Page, AZ, 2.5 hours from St. George, UT, and 4.5 hours from Las Vegas, NV. The nearest national park to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is Zion National Park (2 hours).
Kanab, UT, and Page, AZ, are the closest towns to the North Rim with a decent number of amenities.
The South Rim is about 1.5 hours from Flagstaff, AZ, 3.5 hours from Phoenix, AZ, and 4 hours from Las Vegas, NV. The nearest national park to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is Petrified Forest National Park (3 hours).
Tusayan, AZ, and Williams, AZ, are the closest towns with amenities to the South Rim.
What is the Closest Airport to Grand Canyon National Park?
Technically, the closest airport to the Grand Canyon is the Grand Canyon Airport, but you can only fly there with a private or chartered flight. Since you can’t catch a commercial flight here, it’s not really an option for most people.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport
The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is the closest commercial airport to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
This is a small airport with limited options, but if you want to cut down on your drive time, you might decide to fly here. You can fly through American Airlines or United.
All flights through this airport connect from Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, or Denver, but there are several flights a day to pick from. You’ll only have to drive about 1.5 hours to get to the Grand Canyon once your flight touches down in Flagstaff.
Other Regional Airports Near the Grand Canyon
Prescott Regional Airport
The Prescott Regional Airport is another option if you want to fly to a smaller airport that’s a bit closer to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon than some of the bigger international airports.
This airport is only 2 hours away from the Grand Canyon and hosts connecting flights from Denver and Los Angeles through United.
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St. George Regional Airport
If you want to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, you could fly into the St. George Regional Airport (SGU), which is a 3-hour drive from the North Rim.
You’ll have a connecting flight in Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, or Denver. This airport is serviced by Delta, American Airlines, and United.
What Are the Largest Airports Near Grand Canyon National Park?
If you don’t want to pay a premium price to fly into one of the smaller regional airports listed above, it will make the most sense to fly into a larger international airport near the Grand Canyon, such as the airports in Las Vegas or Phoenix. Ticket prices to these airports can be hundreds of dollars cheaper without adding too much extra drive time.
Harry Reid International Airport
If you don’t want to go through the hassle of connecting to a smaller airport, I’d recommend flying to the Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, which is a 4-hour drive from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
This major airport will have any flight you need to get you to the Grand Canyon area fast, regardless of where you’re flying from!
I recommend flying into Las Vegas if you’re hoping to visit the Grand Canyon as well as the Utah parks. This airport puts you in a central location for easily getting to all the parks in the area without too much driving.
A route I recommend for visiting three national parks in one trip is Las Vegas to Zion (3 hours), explore Zion with this itinerary, Zion to Bryce Canyon (1.5 hours), explore Bryce Canyon with this itinerary, Bryce Canyon to Grand Canyon North Rim (3 hours), explore the Grand Canyon with this itinerary, Grand Canyon North Rim to the Grand Canyon South Rim (4 hours), explore the South Rim, then drive from the South Rim back to Vegas (4 hours).
Now that’s an amazing trip!
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
You can also fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) if you’re hoping to focus your trip on some fun Arizona cities and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
From this airport, it’s about 3.5 hours to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. It would be easy to fill a few days with activities in the Phoenix area and then stop in Sedona for a day or two as you make your way up to the South Rim.
If you’re hoping to fit in another national park during the same trip, visiting Petrified Forest will only add a few hours to your drive.
The Best Roads to Grand Canyon National Park
Driving to the Grand Canyon makes for one unforgettable road trip across the western United States! You’ll take different roads depending on which rim of the Grand Canyon you’re looking to visit. Here are some things you can expect on the roads that lead to Grand Canyon National Park.
Highway 67 (Jacob Lake to the North Rim)
Highway 67 is the main highway that leads to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. You’ll drive this road as you make your way from Jacob Lake down to the park entrance.
This highway is beautiful and scenic. You’ll pass through plenty of trees and meadows as you drive along this 2-lane road. Be on the lookout for bison, deer, coyotes, and other wildlife during your drive!
Highway 67 completely closes to vehicles during the winter. It closes by December 1 or the first major snowfall, whichever comes first. The road reopens in the spring, usually sometime around mid-May.
RVs and trailers can travel this road without any issues.
Cape Royal Road (North Rim Visitor Center to Cape Royal)
You won’t travel the Cape Royal Road to get to the park, but I wanted to mention this road if you’ll be visiting the North Rim.
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The Cape Royal Road leads out to Cape Royal on the North Rim. You’ll pass by many other points of interest and viewing areas along the way.
This road doesn’t permit vehicles longer than 22 feet, so you’ll need to keep that in mind if you’re hoping to explore the North Rim of the park.
Highway 89 and 89A (North Rim to South Rim)
If you’ll be traveling between the North Rim and the South Rim, you’ll take Highways 89A and 89 to do so!
Highway 89A takes you from Jacob Lake near the North Rim out toward Page, AZ. As you drive along this highway, you’ll skirt along the southern edge of the Vermilion Cliffs and cross over the river on the Navajo Bridge. This route is extremely scenic!
After driving over the Navajo Bridge, you’ll then drop south to where the road meets up with Highway 89. You’ll continue driving along Highway 89 to reach the turn-off for the South Rim. This stretch of highway is desolate, and you won’t find much by way of amenities until you get closer to Cameron, AZ.
These roads are both 2-lane highways that are suitable for RVs.
If you’re looking to travel between the South Rim and the North Rim without your own vehicle, consider taking the Trans Canyon Shuttle, which runs between the two rims once a day from May 15th to October 15th. Reservations are required, so book ahead of time if you’d like to use the shuttle.
Highway 64 (Cameron to Williams via the South Rim)
To get to the South Rim, you’ll likely drive to either Williams or Cameron, AZ, and then jump on Highway 64 to get to the park.
From Williams, you’ll take Highway 64 north to the South Entrance of the South Rim. From Cameron, you’ll take Highway 64 west to the Desert View Entrance of the South Rim. Either way, you’ll be traveling on Highway 64 to get to the South Rim!
This road has two lanes and is suitable for RVs and trailers.
Traveling west from Cameron is the most scenic section of Highway 64. You’ll pass by several scenic overlooks, including beautiful views of the Colorado River gorge.
When you reach the park entrance, the highway turns into Desert View Drive, one of the most beautiful areas to explore in the park. Desert View Drive provides access to many fabulous viewpoints of the Grand Canyon!
This road can accumulate fairly large amounts of snow, so be cautious if you’re traveling during the winter months.
Traveling north from Williams, you’ll pass through the Kaibab National Forest and Tusayan, a small gateway town just outside of the park entrance. This stretch of road is desolate, and you won’t find much out here as you travel between Williams and Tusayan.
If you keep going north on Highway 64 for a few miles past Tusayan, you’ll enter the park via the South Entrance, where you can then easily reach the visitor center and the Grand Canyon Village area.
Highway 180 (Flagstaff to the South Rim)
Highway 180 is just a regular highway that travels from Flagstaff up to the South Rim. You’ll drive along this road for a while before meeting up with Highway 64 and heading up to Tusayan and the main part of the park.
This information should help you get to the Grand Canyon fast — there are so many incredible adventures waiting for you in this breathtaking national park. Happy trails!
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