Grand Canyon: Two Rims, One River Between
The Colorado River splits Grand Canyon National Park in two. Here is where the park sits, how each rim is reached, and what a drive between them takes.
- Route
- Drives Between Parks
- Mapped
Grand Canyon National Park is in the northwest corner of Arizona. Before you plan the drive, you need to know one thing about its shape. The Colorado River divides Grand Canyon National Park into a north rim and a south rim. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado River is a mile-deep canyon that bisects the park.
Location and layout
The park covers the two rims and the canyon between them. The South Rim averages 7000 feet above sea level. The North Rim sits across the river, reached by its own road from the north.
The South Rim has two visitor entrances. The South Entrance is 6 miles north of the town of Tusayan, Arizona. The East Entrance at Desert View is 25 miles west of the Navajo Nation town of Cameron, Arizona.
The North Rim has one visitor entrance. The North Rim Entrance Station is 30 miles south of Jacob Lake, Arizona, on State Route 67. The North Rim itself is 14 miles south of the entrance station.
South Rim access
South Rim locations run from west to east: Hermit Road, Grand Canyon Village, Desert View Drive and Desert View.
It takes about 90 minutes to drive from Flagstaff, Arizona to the South Entrance. From Interstate 40 and the town of Williams, Arizona, it takes about 60 minutes to reach the South Entrance. Phoenix, Arizona is south of Grand Canyon and is about a four-hour drive.
There is an airport in Tusayan, and the South Rim has rail service.
North Rim access
The North Rim is a different trip. There is no airport or rail service to the North Rim, so it can only be reached by road. You come in on State Route 67 from Jacob Lake.
Driving between the rims
The drive between South Rim Village and North Rim Village is about 212 miles and takes about 4 1/2 hours. From the South Rim, take State Route 64 to Cameron and Highway 89 to Bitter Springs. Then take Highway 89Alt to Jacob Lake and Highway 67 to the North Rim.
For a bigger loop, see the longer itinerary through the region.
Crossing the Colorado River
The park says the only way to cross the Colorado River by automobile is the Navajo Bridge. The Navajo Bridge is 137 miles from South Rim Village, at Marble Canyon.
Lees Ferry Road is 62 miles southeast of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Nearby tribal lands
The Grand Canyon Skywalk and the Waterfalls of Havasupai are on tribal lands outside the national park.
Before you leave, look up road conditions on the park's own website. If you are pairing this park with Utah, read Zion to Grand Canyon or the Utah Mighty 5.