This post was originally published on A Globe Well Travelled in 2017. The content has been revised and updated with fresh information.
There’s no words to describe the feeling of awe when you see the massiveness of the Grand Canyon for the first time.
I visited the Grand Canyon in 2009, 2011, and 2017. I know that sounds kind of excessive, but if you’ve seen this incredible place for yourself then you might just understand my attraction to it. This natural wonder is so amazing that it really does deserve three visits.
Most visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will experience either the South Rim or the North Rim. I’ve done both, and while the South Rim is definitely the more popular choice, I don’t think that necessarily means it’s the best option for everyone.
The South Rim is easier to access, has more viewpoints and hiking trails, and is open year-round. The North Rim is more remote which makes it much quieter. It sits at a higher elevation and is only accessible for part of the year.
So, which side of the Grand Canyon should you visit? Here’s my comparison of the South Rim vs North Rim, including what you can expect from each and which one might be best for your trip.
Quick summary:
Trying to choose between the Grand Canyon South Rim and North Rim? I’ve visited both over three separate trips, and this guide compares the scenery, crowds, hiking, accessibility and accommodation to help you decide which rim is the best fit for your visit.
Where to stay near the Grand Canyon:
🛎️ El Tovar Hotel – Historic lodge near the South Rim with unbeatable canyon access.
🌲 Yavapai Lodge – Comfortable stay just a mile from the South Rim, great for families.
🏨 La Quinta Inn Williams – Affordable option about 1 hour from the South Rim.
🛏️ Hampton Inn Kanab – Good North Rim base with modern amenities.
Grand Canyon South Rim vs North Rim: At a glance
Let me start by pointing out that the South Rim and North Rim are part of Grand Canyon National Park. They both overlook the same canyon, but from different perspectives. Each rim offers impressive views and amazing experiences.
The South Rim is by far the most popular and accessible option. It has more viewpoints, hiking trails, accommodation and visitor facilities, and it’s open throughout the year. The North Rim is much quieter and more remote, with fewer facilities and a shorter visiting season.
Here’s a quick comparison of the main differences:
| South Rim | North Rim | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | First-time visitors | Quieter trips and repeat visitors |
| Open | Year-round | Usually mid-May to mid-October |
| Crowds | Much busier | Much quieter |
| Elevation | Around 7,000 feet | Around 8,000 feet |
| Viewpoints | More viewpoints and easier access | Fewer viewpoints with less crowds |
| Hiking | Large range of trails | A few quieter hiking trails |
| Accommodation | More options | Very limited |
| Facilities | Extensive | Limited |
| Time needed | 1–3 days | Around 1–2 days |
For most people visiting the Grand Canyon for the first time, I’d recommend the South Rim. It’s easier to visit and gives you the classic Grand Canyon experience, with plenty of viewpoints and hiking trails to choose from.
That said, I also really enjoyed visiting the North Rim. If you’ve already been to the South Rim or you’re road tripping through southern Utah and northern Arizona from destinations like Page, it’s definitely worth considering as it might be easier to include on your itinerary.
Where are the Grand Canyon South Rim and North Rim?
The South Rim and North Rim sit on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon, and while they don’t look particularly far apart on a map, getting between them by road takes much longer than you might expect.
The South Rim is based around Grand Canyon Village and is the easiest side of the canyon to access. You can drive there from either the south or east, making it a fairly easy addition to an Arizona road trip.
The North Rim is much more remote. The nearest useful bases include Kanab in southern Utah and Page in northern Arizona, so the North Rim can work particularly well if you’re visiting the Grand Canyon on a road trip through the American Southwest.
Because there’s no road directly across the canyon, you can’t just drive from one rim to the other. This is worth keeping in mind when planning your trip — I’d suggest that you choose either the South Rim or North Rim rather than trying to see both.
Visiting the Grand Canyon South Rim
The South Rim, which is based around Grand Canyon Village, is the most popular spot for tourists visiting the Grand Canyon of America. I’ve visited the South Rim twice, and I think it’s the best choice if this will be your first time at the Grand Canyon. This area is the most accessible, it’s the easiest to get around, and it has the most viewpoints and hiking trails.
One thing to note is that the South Rim can get very busy, especially during the summer months. There are multiple large parking lots around the village, but you might end up parked nowhere near the rim. If this is the case, there’s a free shuttle bus service which can take you between the parking lots and the attractions along the rim.
👉 Read more: Grand Canyon in one day: The ultimate South Rim itinerary
How to get to the South Rim
You can drive to the South Rim via the south or the east on Highway 64. Grand Canyon Village is where you’ll find most of the visitor facilities and accommodation, along with some of the South Rim’s most popular viewpoints.
On my 2017 trip, I drove to the South Rim from the east along Desert View Drive, which I would definitely recommend as the viewpoints along this route were so much quieter than the ones at the village.
🚌 If you’re not interested in driving to the canyon, there is the option of doing a day trip from Las Vegas like this Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour.
Viewpoints at the South Rim
Mather Point is often used as an introductory Grand Canyon viewpoint, and it’s one of the easiest places to get your first look at the canyon. Yavapai Point and Hopi Point are also popular, particularly around sunrise and sunset.
There are plenty more viewpoints spread along the South Rim, so you don’t necessarily have to stick to the busiest spots around Grand Canyon Village.
On my most recent visit, some of my favourite spots were along Desert View Drive where it was much easier to escape the crowds. Moran Point, Grandview Point, and Desert View Watchtower were all spectacular places to take in the canyon views.
🚁 I did a Grand Canyon helicopter flight over the during my first Grand Canyon visit and it was absolutely incredible — the aerial view of the canyon is like nothing else I’ve ever seen! I highly recommend doing this if you’re willing to splurge on a special sightseeing activity.
👉 Read more: Is a Grand Canyon helicopter tour worth it? My honest review
Hiking at the South Rim
If you want to do some hiking, there are trails suitable for everything from an easy walk along the rim to challenging hikes down into the canyon.
The South Rim Trail is a 7-mile trail from Grand Canyon Village to Hermits Rest. This mostly flat trail follows the rim and can be shortened to any length you like, so this one is good for people who aren’t into the idea of a steep hike into the canyon.
Bright Angel Trail heads down below the rim and can also be shortened by turning around whenever you’ve had enough. My husband and I walked along the upper portion of this trail on our last visit, turning back after about 45 minutes.
Another option is Ooh Aah Point via the South Kaibab Trail, which takes you below the rim for spectacular canyon views.
Where to stay near the Grand Canyon South Rim
🛎️ There are a few options for staying near the South Rim. You can stay in Grand Canyon Village at El Tovar Hotel (a historic hotel very near to the canyon rim), though do keep in mind that you will have to book a room months in advance.
Yavapai Lodge is another option, it’s slightly further away at about a mile walk from the rim. Another nearby town with accommodation options is Tusayan, which is about a 10 minute drive from Grand Canyon Village.
🏨 We ended up staying at La Quinta Inn & Suites in Williams as it had better rates for accommodation, and was only about an hour drive from the South Rim.
Visiting the Grand Canyon North Rim
The North Rim only receives a fraction of the tourists that visit the South Rim, so if you’d prefer to avoid crowds, consider choosing this side of the canyon. It’s much more remote, which is a big part of its appeal, though this also means that there are fewer visitor facilities.
The North Rim actually sits around 1,000 feet higher in elevation than the South Rim. It has only a handful of viewpoints and hiking trails, so you can see all the main attractions in a relatively short time.
The biggest downside is that the North Rim isn’t accessible year-round. The main visitor season generally runs from mid-May to mid-October, so you’ll need to take this into consideration when planning your trip.
I visited the North Rim on a guided tour as part of a larger trip through North America, so my experience here was more of a quick day visit rather than an in-depth exploration. Even so, I found it noticeably quieter than the South Rim, and it was interesting to experience a completely different side of the Grand Canyon.
How to get to the North Rim
The North Rim is accessible via Highway 67. You can drive in from the nearby towns of Page, Arizona, which is about 2.5 hours away, or Kanab, Utah, which is about 1.5 hours drive.
Its location makes the North Rim particularly convenient if you’re already travelling through southern Utah. It’s much less convenient if you’re approaching the Grand Canyon from central Arizona, which is one of the reasons many visitors end up choosing the South Rim instead.
Viewpoints at the North Rim
Bright Angel Point is one of the most popular Grand Canyon viewpoints at the North Rim and is easily accessible from the main visitor area (note that this viewpoint is currently closed due to fire damage as of 2026).
If you have more time to explore than I did, there are also scenic roads leading out towards Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Along the way, there are quieter overlooks including Roosevelt Point and Walhalla Overlook, while Cape Royal has a short walking trail leading out to panoramic views across the canyon.
Hiking at the North Rim
Cape Royal Trail is a short and relatively easy walk, making it a good option if you’re mostly interested in taking in the scenery. Other currently open trails include Roosevelt Point, Point Imperial, Cliff Springs and Cape Final.
For something more challenging, the North Kaibab Trail is the only maintained trail descending from the North Rim into the canyon. You don’t have to go very far to get a good feel for the hike — Coconino Overlook makes a good turnaround point. This is what I chose to do when I visited the North Rim, and I found it to be very scenic.
There are still a number of hiking trails open at the North Rim, although some trails (including Bright Angel Point Trail) remain closed following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire. Check the current trail conditions on the NPS website before your visit.
Where to stay near the Grand Canyon North Rim
Accommodation around the North Rim is much more limited than at the South Rim, and following the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, there is currently no overnight lodging available inside the national park at the North Rim.
The North Rim Campground has reopened for the 2026 season (mid May to late October), although facilities are limited and there is no potable water available, so campers will need to arrive prepared.
If you want to stay as close to the North Rim as possible, Kaibab Lodge is located just a few miles outside the park entrance and has rustic rooms and cabins. This would be a convenient option if you want to get an early start at the canyon without staying a long drive away.
🛏️ Hampton Inn Kanab is a solid choice if you’d prefer to stay in a town with a wider range of restaurants, accommodation and other services. Kanab is further from the North Rim (about 1.5 hrs drive), but it’s conveniently located for exploring other destinations around southern Utah and northern Arizona.
My verdict: Should you visit the Grand Canyon South Rim or North Rim?
So, which side of the Grand Canyon should you visit?
If it’s your first time, I’d probably recommend the South Rim. It’s easier to access, is open year-round, and has more viewpoints, hiking trails, accommodation and visitor facilities. It’s also where you’ll find many of those classic Grand Canyon views, so if you’ve travelled a long way to see the canyon and only have time for one side, I think the South Rim is the safest choice.
That said, I really enjoyed my visit to the North Rim. It’s noticeably quieter and more remote, and the higher elevation and forested surroundings make it feel quite different from the South Rim. If you’ve already visited the South Rim, prefer getting away from the busiest tourist areas, or you’re road tripping through southern Utah and northern Arizona, I’d definitely consider the North Rim instead.
Having visited the Grand Canyon three times, I don’t think either rim is necessarily “better” than the other. They’re just different experiences. For me, the South Rim is the best choice for a first visit, while the North Rim is a great way to experience another side of the canyon if you have the opportunity to return.
Grand Canyon South Rim vs North Rim FAQs
Is the South Rim or North Rim better?
Neither rim is necessarily better, but I’d recommend the South Rim for most first-time visitors. The North Rim is better suited to travellers looking for a quieter and more remote experience.
Is the North Rim worth visiting?
Yes! The North Rim receives far fewer visitors than the South Rim and offers a much quieter Grand Canyon experience. I particularly enjoyed how peaceful it felt compared with the busy South Rim. It’s especially worth considering if you’re already travelling through southern Utah or northern Arizona.
Can you visit the South Rim and North Rim in one day?
Not realistically. Although the two rims are fairly close as the crow flies, there’s no road across the canyon. Driving between the South Rim and North Rim takes several hours, so I’d choose one rim if you only have a day to visit.
Which Grand Canyon rim is less crowded?
The North Rim is much less crowded than the South Rim. If avoiding crowds is a priority and you’re visiting while the North Rim is accessible, this is one of the biggest reasons to choose it.
Which Grand Canyon rim is closest to Las Vegas?
If you want to visit Grand Canyon National Park from Las Vegas, you can head to either the North Rim or South Rim. It’s a fairly long drive (about 4.5 hrs each way), so many visitors will choose to stay overnight or take an organised South Rim day tour. The West Rim is actually much closer to Las Vegas, though it’s located on Hualapai tribal lands and isn’t actually part of Grand Canyon National Park.
Is the Grand Canyon South Rim open all year?
Yes, the South Rim is open year-round, although weather can affect roads and trails during winter. This makes it the better option if you’re visiting outside the main summer season.
When is the Grand Canyon North Rim open?
The North Rim has a much shorter season because of its higher elevation and winter snowfall. It’s usually open from mid-May to mid-October. Access and services can also change from year to year, so check the current National Park Service conditions before planning your visit.
Leave a Reply