Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim: Which is Best?

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is a place that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime. Carved by the Colorado River and filled with layered bands of colorful rock stretching for 277 miles, it’s no wonder the Grand Canyon is one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World.

canyon view from point imperial in the grand canyon north rim

Grand Canyon National Park is divided by the Colorado River into two rims – the North Rim and the South Rim. Ideally, you’d visit both sides of Grand Canyon National Park, but since they’re a strenuous 21+ mile hike or a long 4-hour drive from one rim to the other, people are often forced to pick just one to visit.

If you are short on time and have to decide between the North Rim or the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, this is the guide for you!

canyon view from bright angel trail in the grand canyon

In this Grand Canyon North Rim Vs South Rim guide, I will share the differences between the two rims. That way, you can decide if you should visit the North Rim or South Rim. Or both!

Spoiler Alert: You can’t go wrong either way!

Table of Contents

Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim: Which Is Best?

girl standing on the cape royal trail in grand canyon north rim

girl sitting by an overlook on the south rim of the grand canyon

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Know Before You Go: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

North Rim: North Rim roads are closed to all vehicles between December 1 – May 14, and no visitor services are available from October 16 – May 14. Check current conditions/closures here.

South Rim: The South Rim is open all year, but snow could potentially cause road or trail closures during the winter.

Overview: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

angels window on cape royal trail in grand canyon north rim

girl hiking at skeleton point on the south kaibab trail in the grand canyon

The North Rim is known for its remote landscape and empty trails. The pace is much more relaxed here than on the South Rim. You can travel more slowly, and due to the quietness and emptiness, the canyon often feels more profound and spectacular.

The South Rim is known for its panoramic canyon views and wide array of facilities and activities. Crowds are thicker here than on the North Rim. The pace is quicker and more overwhelming, and solitude is harder to find, but it’s hard to beat all of the amenities and things to do.

Location: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

girl hiking down the south kaibab trail in the grand canyon

Unless you want to walk 21+ miles from the North Rim to the South Rim (or vice versa), the only way to get from one rim to the other is by driving 4 hours around the canyon.

The North Rim is located 30 miles south of Jacob Lake, AZ on Highway 67. The actual rim of the Grand Canyon is an additional 14 miles south of the park entrance.

The South Rim is located 60 miles north of Williams, Arizona (via Route 64) and 80 miles northwest of Flagstaff (via Routes 180 and 64).

Scenic Drives & Overlooks: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

lipan point sunset on the south rim of the grand canyon

The North Rim’s main drive is about 14 miles long from the entrance to the rim and is open to personal vehicles. This drive is forested and known to be teeming with wildlife (we didn’t see any, though). Other scenic drives stem from the main road, offering rim overlooks and leading to popular points of interest like Cape Royal and Point Imperial (no vehicles or trailers longer than 22 feet). Hiker shuttles transport visitors from the lodge to the North Kaibab trailhead, but time slots are limited, so you must reserve your spot ahead of time.

The South Rim’s main scenic drive, Desert View Drive, is 23 miles long and open to personal vehicles. Desert View Drive features gorgeous panoramic views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, with plenty of overlooks to stop at. Another scenic drive (Hermit Road) travels 7 miles along the canyon rim but is only open to personal vehicles from December 1 – February 29; however, you can bike or hike it year-round. Free shuttle buses transport visitors to different trailheads and overlooks along the rim (from Hermits Rest to Yaki Point), but note that the shuttle does not travel past Pipe Creek Vista on Desert View Drive.

Hiking Trails: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

girl hiking on the transept trail in the north rim of the grand canyon

The North Rim has a wide variety of hiking trails – quite a few more trails than the South Rim. On the North Rim, hikes range from 0.5 miles to 10 miles. And of course, the North Kaibab Trail leads to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and to the Colorado River. My favorite trail on the rim is the Transept Trail.

The South Rim is home to mostly strenuous trails, but there are some easy-to-moderate hikes, like Shoshone Point and the Rim Trail. Two maintained trails lead from the rim to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and to the Colorado River – Bright Angel and South Kaibab. The Rim Trail offers a family-friendly experience, with several miles of semi-flat trail and many opportunities to hop on and off the shuttle. My favorite trail is the South Kaibab Trail.

Camping: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

tent set up on north rim campground in the grand canyon

tent set up on mather campground campsite in the south rim of the grand canyon

The North Rim has one frontcountry campground – North Rim. With 87 sites that accommodate tents and RVs, the North Rim Campground is open from May 15 – October 15. With a valid backcountry permit, hikers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers can camp on the North Rim in the winter.

The South Rim has two frontcountry campgrounds – Mather and Desert View. Both accommodate tents and RVs, but anyone with larger/longer trailers and RVs should camp at Mather. Mather has 327 sites and is open year-round, while Desert View has 50 sites and is only open from around mid-April to mid-October.

Three campgrounds are below the rim – Bright Angel, Cottonwood, and Havasupai Gardens. These can be accessed via both the North and South Rims. You’ll have to win a lottery to reserve the campgrounds below the rim.

Winter Access: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

The North Rim is closed to vehicles from December 1 – May 14 due to extreme snowfall. Visitor services are not available from October 16 – May 14. Hikers, snowshoers, and cross-country skiers can trek from the South Rim (or from Jacob Lake) to the North Rim and camp on the North Rim with a backcountry permit.

The South Rim is open during the winter for those who want to escape the crowds and the heat. The South Rim usually receives 4-5 feet of snowfall per year, so in the event of extreme snowfall/conditions, certain trails and roads are subject to closure.

Weather: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

girl sitting on the bright angel trail at the grand canyon

The North Rim sits at a high elevation (around 8,000 feet), so summer temperatures are mild on the rim but warm on the inner canyon trail. Rain and thunderstorms are also more frequent on the North Rim than on the South Rim. If you are staying overnight on the North Rim, dress for cold weather, even in the middle of summer.

The South Rim is lower in elevation (around 7,000 feet) than the North Rim; however, that is still a high altitude. So while it is typically warmer on the South Rim than on the North Rim, temperatures can still get pretty chilly in the summer, especially at night and early in the morning. In the winter, snowfall of 4-5 feet is common on the rim. And note that the inner canyon temperatures can be up to 15 degrees warmer than rim temperatures.

Avoid hiking in the inner canyon in the middle of the day, from spring through fall, as it will be extremely hot.

Dogs: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

The North Rim only allows leashed pets at the North Rim Campground, on the bridle path that connects the North Kaibab Trail, and the portion of the Arizona Trail north to the park entrance station. Pets are not allowed below the rim, on the park shuttle bus, in the lodge rooms, or in buildings. There is no kennel on the North Rim.

The South Rim only allows leashed pets on trails above the rim, at frontcountry campgrounds, and in developed areas. Pets are not allowed below the rim, on park shuttle buses, and in-park lodging (except those staying in a pet-friendly room). Pets may also be boarded at the Grand Canyon Kennel.

PAVEMENT AND PAW SAFETY

Air Temperature	Asphalt Temperature
77ºF / 25ºC	125ºF / 52ºC
86ºF / 30ºC	135ºF / 57ºC
87ºF / 31ºC	143ºF / 62ºC
102ºF / 39ºC	167ºF / 75ºC

Amenities: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

girl sitting by a campfire at mather campground

The North Rim has a campground, general store, restaurants, a visitor center, potable water, a lodge, and restrooms.

The South Rim has campgrounds, a visitor center, potable water, lodges, and restrooms. There are also bike rentals, restaurants, cafes, shopping plazas, markets, museums, and more.

Nearby Parks/Towns: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

sitting in the subway cave in sedona arizona at sunrise

The North Rim is significantly more remote than the South Rim. The nearest towns are Jacob Lake, AZ (about 1 hour from the North Rim) and Kanab, UT (about 1.5 hours from the North Rim). Kanab has much more in terms of lodging, restaurants, and activities. Page, Arizona (with Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon), Zion National Park, and Bryce National Park are all relatively close to the North Rim.

The South Rim is certainly easier to access than the North Rim. The nearest towns are Tusayan (about 15 minutes from the South Rim), Williams (about 1 hour from the South Rim), and Flagstaff (about 1.5 hours from the South Rim). Sedona, Page, and Petrified Forest National Park are within 2-3 hours of the South Rim.

FUN FACT: Both rims are roughly the same distance from Las Vegas! (4.5 hours)

Crowds: Grand Canyon North Rim Vs. South Rim

canyon view on the cape royal trail in the grand canyon north rim

The North Rim receives fewer than 10% of Grand Canyon’s total visitor traffic. The few facilities and things to do aren’t very spread out, so it’s possible that certain areas could feel crowded in the summer months. However, if you step away from the lodge and campground, solitude will be much easier to find.

The South Rim can get extremely crowded. Due to the larger range of facilities and things to do, most of Grand Canyon’s visitors come to the South Rim. Therefore, it feels much more crowded than on the North Rim. But everything is more spread out, so finding solitude is still possible on the South Rim.

Grand Canyon North Rim or South Rim FAQs

I Just Have One Day – Should I Visit the North Rim or South Rim?

If you only have one day, I’d explore the South Rim. This side is easier to access, has more services, and is much less remote. This all equates to an easier day trip.

For one day on the Grand Canyon South Rim, I’d suggest hiking part of the South Kaibab Trail (to Ooh Aah Point or Skeleton Point), cruising the scenic Desert View Drive and stopping at different viewpoints, and catching an epic sunset at Lipan Point.

Have three days? Check out my ultimate 3 day Grand Canyon itinerary!

Can I See the North Rim and South Rim In One Day?

sunset canyon view from the transept trail

girl watching the sunset from lipan point on the south rim of the grand canyon

Seeing both rims of the Grand Canyon in one day isn’t realistic, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

But if you are on a time crunch and want to skim through them, you could technically make this happen. You could enter the South Rim at sunrise, hike part of the Rim Trail and gaze out at the rim from a couple of viewpoints, and then drive 4 hours to the North Rim, where you would have time to hike one short trail or cruise the scenic drives. It would be advisable to stay overnight in the park, though.