Should I Visit the North Rim or South Rim of the Grand Canyon?
While many people may not realize there are actually TWO rims of the Grand Canyon, once the discovery is made, it begs the question: should I visit the North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park? While the South Rim draws the vast majority of the 5 million annual visitors to this National Park, that does not mean it is the automatic answer to that question. In fact, that statistic alone could be a reason to visit the North Rim instead. Below I’ll break down the differences between the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park so you can make the most informed decision. Or maybe you’ll just end up visiting both!
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The North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park?
While both rims are part of Grand Canyon National Park as a whole, they couldn’t be more different in terms of scenery, weather, temperatures, accommodations, amenities, and crowds. Each has their redeeming qualities, so if you are trying to choose between the North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, here’s your guide, including 7 main differences between the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand Canyon to help you decide.
Locations of the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park
Fair warning: the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand Canyon are approximately 4.5 HOURS apart! After all, it’s a big canyon in between. If you are short on time, you won’t be able to see both and you’ll have to choose between the North Rim or South Rim. If you DO have at least several days, you could choose to visit both. Just be sure to count on that drive time in between.
The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona, not far from the border of Utah. The closest towns are the small outpost of Jacob Lake, and the towns of Fredonia, AZ, and Kanab, UT. The closest airport is actually in St. George, Utah.
AIRPORTS:
- St. George Regional (UT) to North Rim: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to North Rim: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport to North Rim: 4 hours
TOWNS:
- Jacob Lake to North Rim: 1 hour
- Fredonia, AZ, to North Rim: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Kanab, UT, to North Rim: 1 hour 30 minutes
The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is also located in northern Arizona. The closest towns are Tusayan, Williams, and Flagstaff. The closest airports are Grand Canyon Airport and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is located 3 and a half hours south.
AIRPORTS:
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport to South Rim: 15 minutes
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to South Rim: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport: 3 hours 30 minutes
TOWNS:
- Tusayan to South Rim: 15 minutes
- Williams to South Rim: 1 hour
- Flagstaff to South Rim: 1 hour 30 minutes
And here’s the driving route between the North Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon (and vice versa):
Major Differences Between the North Rim and South Rim of the Grand Canyon
These differences cover it all: infrastructure, amenities, accommodations, hours, fees, crowds, weather, temperatures, attractions, scenery, and more!
#1: Infrastructure, Amenities, and Accommodations
Simply put, the South Rim has MORE! Within Grand Canyon Village itself, directly on the South Rim inside the park borders, there are multiple National Park lodges, restaurants, food courts, museums, shops, etc. And just a few minutes south of the park entrance is Tusayan, which has more hotels, restaurants, and shops.
The South Rim has more parking lots, free park shuttles within the South Rim, and closer access to more airports (Grand Canyon Airport, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport).
The North Rim on the other hand has just about 3 options for accommodations, a handful of places to eat, and much more limited additional amenities. For accommodations, you can camp, or you can choose between the National Park’s North Rim Lodge, the Kaibab Lodge, or Jacob Lake with its small inn.
The North Rim is also just harder to reach, as it is farther from major airports. Below are the closest airports to the North Rim and their approximate drive times.
- St. George Regional (UT) to North Rim: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to North Rim: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Grand Canyon National Park Airport to North Rim: 4 hours
*There are camping/campground opportunities at either the North Rim or South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
These major differences in infrastructure, accommodations, and amenities directly affect visitors. Due to the limited amount of lodging on the North Rim, it may be harder to book accommodations if you wait too long. On the other hand, the South Rim has way more options to choose from, but also houses way more people. So basically – just book early either way!
#2: Seasonal Operating Hours
This is a big one. The South Rim is open daily year round. The North Rim closes from mid October – mid May. This is due to the excessive amount of snow the North Rim receives in the winter, which closes down the roads and infrastructure.
#3: Fees
National Park entrance fees are the same on either the North Rim or the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park: $35 per vehicle (good for 7 consecutive days).
#4: Crowds
As mentioned before, the South Rim hosts more than 90% of the annual 5 million visitors to the South Rim. How you choose to look at this is up to you. Yes, there are a LOT more crowds on the South Rim. The parking lots, shuttles, restaurants, museums, visitor centers, shops, lodges, hotels, trails, and tours will ALL be busy. It will be hard to hike in solitude. You won’t get a picture alone. There will be lines and waits. However, if this is starting to bum you out, consider it is the way it is because the South Rim is easier to access. So you have to weigh your options and priorities.
The South Rim is busier because it is closer to major airports and because there are more accommodations to host everyone. You’ll have an easier time making and booking arrangements there. There’s a free park shuttle that will take you anywhere on the South Rim.
There’s arguably more to do from a quantity perspective. It doesn’t mean the trails, attractions, or sights are better, but they’re easier to access and arguably more of them. Also, if you are particularly interested in tours like helicopter tours or guided rafting tours, many of them operate in the South Rim but not necessarily out of the North Rim.
At the end of the day, remember that the North Rim may sound like an obvious answer to avoiding crowds, but it is going to be harder to reach, whether you fly or drive. And once you commit to the North Rim, there are less accommodations and more limited tours and ease of infrastructure.
#5: Weather and Temperatures
In a nutshell, the North Rim is cooler year round. During peak visiting season for both rims in the summer, average daytime temperatures are mid 80’s degrees Fahrenheit on the South Rim versus mid 70’s degrees Fahrenheit on the North Rim. Of course, overnight temperatures are proportional as well – mid 40’s versus upper 40’s.
Both the North Rim and South Rim receive their fair share of winter weather, but the North Rim is much more directly affected. The South Rim will get snow and ice, but can still remain open (though hiking in the canyon is not advised in these conditions). The North Rim receives so much snow that it CLOSES between mid October and mid May.
Overall, the best time of year to visit either rim are the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, with more moderate temperatures.
*One important note to make in regards to weather and temperatures is to point out the difference between temperatures on the top of the rims, and temperatures INSIDE the canyon. This is an important distinction to make, especially if you are considering hiking one of the 3 inner corridor trails in Grand Canyon National Park. There are several popular hiking routes along these inner corridor trails, which delve down into the canyon all the way to the bottom and the Colorado River. These are most notably the Rim to Rim hike, which spans one rim to the other, and the Rim to River hike, which most commonly descends and ascends the South Rim via the South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail.
If you are planning on hiking the inner corridor trails, either in part or whole, and either as a day hike or an overnight hike, it is critical to be aware of the temperature differences at the BOTTOM of the canyon. In summer, heat indexes can climb into the 130’s and 140’s Fahrenheit! At the time of this article being published, 3 individuals have already passed away this summer season due to heat related illnesses in the inner canyon. Even in fall, daytime highs in the canyon could be in the 90’s or even the 100’s. For this reason, hiking inner corridor trails is only recommended for very experienced hikers, those that have undertaken extensive training for their hike, and those that are thoroughly prepared with all the necessary gear. Overall, hiking down into the canyon is not recommended during the summer. The best time of year for this specific type of Grand Canyon hiking is mid and late spring to early and mid fall.
#6: Attractions
The main categories of attractions are largely the same at both the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. They just take on a different feel to them. And keep in mind, the attractions will be busier at the South Rim, and less so on the North Rim, generally speaking.
- There are scenic viewpoints and overlooks at either rim. Some of the favorites are listed below:
SOUTH RIM:
- Mather Point
- Yavapai Point
- Hopi Point
(all of these short scenic viewpoints can be accessed along the Rim Trail)
- Desert View Watchtower
NORTH RIM:
- Bright Angel Point
- Cape Royale
- Point Imperial
- Roosevelt Point
- There are top hiking trails for all ages and abilities at either rim. You can check out some of my personal favorites below:
NORTH RIM:
- The North Kaibab Trail
- The Widforss Trail
- Bright Angel Point Trail (not to be confused with the South Rim’s Bright Angel Trail)
- Cape Royale Trail
- Cape Final Trail
SOUTH RIM:
- South Kaibab Trail
- Bright Angel Trail
- The Rim Trail
- Shoshone Point Trail
- Mather Point Trail
Also, for the truly adventurous, you can consider hiking from one rim to the other on an epic Rim to Rim hike! The most common and most recommended route is from the North Rim to the South Rim. This allows hikers to experience the best of both hiking worlds on both the North Rim and South Rim, while also enjoying the unique perspective of the Grand Canyon from the bottom and the mighty Colorado River!
Check out these articles for more trail guides to the top hikes in Grand Canyon National Park:
- The 12 Best Day Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park
- The 13 Best Easy Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park
- There are visitor centers, National Park lodges, and museums to visit on either rim.
You can camp in campgrounds at either rim (and also dispersed, primitive camping in the surrounding Kaibab National Forest).
One of the biggest DIFFERENCES in attractions is arguably the availability of TOURS. Tours like guided rafting trips and helicopter flights largely take place on the South Rim, and operate out of that vicinity. That is one advantage in attractions that the South Rim has. But if your priority is to hike, then you can enjoy more solitude on the trails on the North Rim.
#7: Scenery
The stunning canyon scenery is present at both the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, but it has a distinct feel at each rim. The South Rim is more open and expansive, with notably desert characteristics. The North Rim is more enveloped in national forest, with towering pines found immediately along the rim in many places. The South Rim presents with more yellow, orange, and gold hues, while the North Rim can quite easily take on some of those “darker” northern hues like crimson, purple, and red.
One of my favorite scenic differences between the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park are the stunning aspen trees you’ll find on the North Rim. During the fall, those dazzling yellow leaves and white bark are breathtaking!
There you have it, the major differences between the rims that can help you answer the question: should I visit the North Rim or the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park? Let’s wrap it up below:
If you find yourself struggling to decide, then visit BOTH! It’s one of the most rewarding experiences to simultaneously witness the differences in both rims, while recognizing their harmonious unity as a whole. Just be sure to allow for enough time at both rims, while accounting for the 4.5 hour drive time difference between the North Rim and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. You can find more helpful resources below for visiting both rims!
*Regardless of how your itinerary turns out, book your arrangements as far in advance as possible. You can check lodging availability in the park here!
Planning Tips for the North Rim or South Rim of the Grand Canyon
Here’ s a few tips to keep in mind wherever your travels take you within Grand Canyon National Park:
- Check the Forecast Before – Grand Canyon sees it all: brutally hot temperatures, flash floods, ice, sleet, snow, thunderstorms, even tornadoes!
- Leave Pets at Home – pets are not allowed!
- Always Stay on Designated Trails
- Bring Plenty of Water
- Supervise Children at All Times
- Make Lodging Accommodations Far in Advance
- Bring All Necessary Hiking Gear for Trails
- Have a Pre-planned Itinerary
RELATED ARTICLES:
- The 12 Best Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park
- Guide to Hiking the South Kaibab Trail to Bright Angel Trail
- Essential Hiking Gear for Grand Canyon Trails
- First Timer’s Guide to Hiking the Rim to Rim
- Complete Step by Step Rim to Rim Training Plan
- Your Complete Rim to Rim Packing List
- National Park VS National Forest: What’s the Difference?
- How to Have the Best Southwest National Parks Roadtrip
- The 5 Best National Parks of the Southwest US
- The Top 12 National Park Marathons and Half Marathons
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