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Grand Canyon travel guide

A mile-deep canyon carved by the Colorado River

The Grand Canyon from the South Rim. Photo: Lennart Sikkema, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

10h 30mflight from London
LASnearest main airport
25° in Julwarmest month
0° in Deccoolest month

The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and up to a mile deep, revealing almost two billion years of rock layers. The South Rim, open all year, has the classic viewpoints and visitor facilities.

It's a popular stop on south-west road trips from Las Vegas or Phoenix, with Monument Valley, Sedona and Zion nearby.

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What Grand Canyon is known for

  • The canyon

    A vast gorge of red and orange rock layers.

  • Sunrise and sunset

    The rock glows at dawn and dusk.

  • Hiking

    Trails such as Bright Angel and South Kaibab.

  • Helicopter flights

    Flights over the canyon.

Top things to do in Grand Canyon

  1. 1

    Mather Point

    The classic first viewpoint on the South Rim.

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  2. 2

    Desert View Watchtower

    A stone tower on the eastern rim.

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  3. 3

    Bright Angel Trail

    Hike a short way down for a different view.

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  4. 4

    A helicopter flight

    Over the canyon from Tusayan or Las Vegas.

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Where to stay in Grand Canyon

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Best time to visit Grand Canyon

Best value: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct. April, May, September and October: mild weather for viewpoints and hikes.

  • Best valueGood weather, smaller crowds
  • PeakBusiest, highest prices
  • QuietCheapest, cooler or wetter
0.3 C0°J2.2 C2°F6.4 C6°M10.2 C10°A15.7 C16°M22.3 C22°J24.7 C25°J23.3 C23°A19.3 C19°S12 C12°O5.3 C5°N0.2 C0°D
Bar height is the average temperature in Grand Canyon, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Getting there and around

About 10h 30m from London to LAS, and flights from most UK airports.

Drive to the South Rim. Free shuttle buses run inside the park.

Find flights to Grand Canyon (LAS)

Shows the cheapest fares for next month on Aviasales, our flight partner. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you. Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow.

Good to know

  • Don't try to hike to the river and back in a day.
  • Book rim lodges up to a year ahead.
  • The North Rim is closed in winter.
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Grand Canyon FAQ

South Rim or West Rim?

The South Rim is the national park and the classic views. The West Rim has the Skywalk.

How long should I stay?

One or two nights.

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