Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim: 10 Key Differences To Have In Mind Before You Visit

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At first glance, you wouldn’t think there would be many distinctions between the South Rim and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. After all, they both look down into the massive chasm of the canyon of the Colorado River, they lie just 10 miles apart “as the condor flies,” and they’re both parts of Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park.

But considering that getting from one side to the other involves either a difficult 21- to 24-mile rim-to-rim hike or a 4-to-5-hour drive, the two rims can feel eons apart — both in distance and in the atmosphere.

I’ve visited both rims of the Grand Canyon numerous times and have done both the arduous rim-to-rim hike and the long car drive between the two. Over the years, I have come to love the two rims for their distinguishing characteristics, including the North Rim’s rustic forest atmosphere and opportunities for solitude and the South Rim’s big iconic views and countless tourist amenities.

Here are nine of the major differences between the Grand Canyon’s North and South Rims.

Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim: 10 Key Differences To Have In Mind Before You Visit

1. Remoteness

There’s no question that the Grand Canyon South Rim is the most accessible of the park rims. Located just over an hour from the Interstate 40 town of Williams, or about an hour and a half from the mountain town of Flagstaff, the South Rim is an easy day trip from either.

On the other hand, the Grand Canyon North Rim is a lengthy trek from virtually any community — more than three hours from Flagstaff, nearly six hours from Phoenix, and four-and-a-half hours from Las Vegas. And driving between the two Grand Canyon rims is no easy feat either, taking between four and five hours over somewhat remote roads.

Pro Tip: The North Rim can also be accessed from the Utah side and combined with a visit to that state’s spectacular Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. From Kanab, Utah, the Grand Canyon North Rim is about an hour and 40-minute drive away.

2. Seasonal Schedule

Also contributing to the Grand Canyon North Rim’s limited accessibility is its visitation schedule. With an elevation of nearly 8,300 feet, the North Rim’s main road is closed from late October to mid-May each year due to heavy snowfall, and the park amenities are open from May 15 to October 15.

The Grand Canyon South Rim, which is about 1,000 feet lower in elevation, gets some winter snow, but the park is typically open year-round.

3. Climate

Because of the higher elevation at the Grand Canyon North Rim, visitors should expect cool temperatures, even in the summer. High temperatures average in the 70-degree F range in June, July, and August, while May and September are in the 60s, and October is in the 50s. Grand Canyon nights can be chilly all year long, and visitors should remember to bring a jacket and sturdy shoes for the cooler days and evenings.

The Grand Canyon South Rim can be hot in the summer, with average highs in the 80s in June, July, and August, and the 70s in May and September. Winters are cool, with average highs in the 40s and 50s in November, December, January, and February.

Pro Tip: Remember that if you’re heading out on a hike below the rim of the Grand Canyon from either rim, the temperature will rise as you go down. Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon is at about 2,460 feet elevation, and average highs climb above 100 degrees throughout the summer months.

4. Crowds

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon is known as the quiet side for a reason. Typically, the national park gets about 6 million visitors a year (the total was down considerably only in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is now back at its usual number of visitors), and the Grand Canyon’s website notes that most of the visitors see the canyon from their cars at overlooks along the South Rim.

A significantly smaller number of people (estimated to be about 10 percent of the total) see the Grand Canyon from the North Rim — a statistic that has been confirmed by my visits to both rims on the same busy fall weekend when crowds tended to be fairly sparse at Grand Canyon North Rim but heavy on the South Rim.

5. Hotel Availability

If your plan is to stay a night or two in the national park, you will have many more choices in the South Rim. Within the park itself, accommodations range from the historic El Tovar Hotel to more basic lodging in the Yavapai Lodge to camping at the two Grand Canyon park campgrounds. And within minutes of the national park entrance is the town of Tusayan, where a range of chain hotels, such as the Best Western Canyon Squire Inn and the Holiday Inn Express, are available.

At the Grand Canyon North Rim, accommodations are significantly more limited. Within the park, there is only the Grand Canyon Lodge and the North Rim Campground. The nearby towns of Fredonia and Page, Arizona, and Kanab, Utah, also offer lodging within a couple of hours’ drive from Grand Canyon.

Pro Tip: Regardless of the rim, hotels and campgrounds tend to fill up quickly. The Grand Canyon National Park Lodges website reports that lodging reservations are taken up to 13 months in advance. More information is available on the reservation site here.

6. Restaurants

Similar to the hotel scene, dining options are much more abundant at the Grand Canyon South Rim than at the North. Typically, the South Rim offers a range of restaurants for fancy sit-down dinners, cafeteria-style meals, and markets for snacks and conveniences. A list of options is available here.

Many fast-food and restaurant options are also available right outside the Grand Canyon South Rim entrance in Tusayan.

The North Rim offers a more limited range of dining options including the Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room, the Roughriders Saloon, the Deli in the Pines, and the General Store.

7. Iconic Grand Canyon Views

If you’re looking for the famous views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, the South Rim is where you’ll find iconic sights like Mather Point, Grandview, and the Desert View Watchtower. The South Rim is also the place to begin day hikes along the South Kaibab Trail to breathtakingly beautiful spots like Ooh Aah Point, Cedar Ridge, and Skeleton Point.

Of course, the Grand Canyon North Rim offers spectacular views as well, such as Cape Royal and Point Imperial, but they are fewer in number and tend to be less recognizable.

Pro Tip: Be sure to check the availability of the Desert View facilities before heading out to the Grand Canyon.

8. Recreation Variety

While the Grand Canyon North Rim is mostly about scenic drives and long walks or mountain bike rides along trails near the rim, the South Rim offers a range of recreational opportunities.

One of the most popular South Rim activities is to rent a bike and ride the paved Rim Trail (described in this PDF) which follows the edge of the canyon and offers splendid views of the canyon and the Colorado River along the way. There is also the nearby town of Tusayan, where visitors can book a helicopter or airplane ride over the canyon or take in an IMAX movie.

9. Different Vibes

By virtue of their levels of accessibility, the North and South Rims seem to attract travelers with different agendas.

Because the South Rim is easy to get to from Interstate 40, many of its visitors are there for a quick drive-through and a photo opp. In fact, park surveys have shown that the vast majority of visitors to the South Rim spend just a few hours there, driving the scenic road and stopping at a few of the convenient overlooks.

Visitors to the North Rim tend to be more interested in at least a night’s stay, and often longer. I have noticed that people appear to take their time on the North Rim, lounging in the deck chairs at the lodge to watch the sunset or pausing for the views on the Bright Angel Point Trail.

The North Rim also attracts many of the day-tripping rim-to-rim hikers, who are intent on serious rest and relaxation — either before or after their grueling hike across the canyon.

10. Getting Around

Shuttles

The only means of public transportation between the rims besides hiking and driving yourself is the Trans-Canyon Shuttle that runs between the North and South Rims once a day, in each direction. 

Within the South Rim, you can ride shuttle buses for free, and cut on fuel costs. The free shuttle buses operate in and around Grand Canyon Village. No tickets are required and bus stops are marked throughout the park by signs.

Meanwhile, for a shuttle from the Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim to the North Kaibab trailhead you must pay for the tickets at the Grand Canyon Lodge front desk, and the reservations are required 24 hours in advance. 

Buses 

When it comes to bus tours within the Grand Canyon National Park, Xanterra conducts Guided Bus Tours that include Sunrise, Sunset, Desert View Drive, and Hermits Rest Road. Tours on wheelchair-accessible coaches are available all year round.

Helicopters

Lastly, if you are at the South Rim already, a helicopter tour will add an extra thrill to your experience. You’ll be able to see parts of the Grand Canyon that you cannot observe from the South Rim viewpoints, and learn interesting insight from your pilot.

How To Choose

Overall, if you want the total Grand Canyon package, it’s best to visit both rims. But if you have to choose between the two, I recommend that first-time visitors focus on the South Rim for the numerous overlooks and variety of experiences. Those who are on a repeat visit to the area should definitely check out the North Rim for its secluded feel and its opportunity for a classic national park visit. Also, if you’re visiting Arizona between October 15 and May 15, your only option is the South Rim; the North Rim closes down each year for the cold weather months.

Pro Tip

Along with the North and South Rims of Grand Canyon National Park, there is also a third area called the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. Like the North Rim, the Grand Canyon West Rim scores high on the remoteness scale, being at least two hours away from the nearest major city and four hours (241 miles) from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

This rim’s most popular feature is the Grand Canyon Skyway. For more information on whether the trip to the Grand Canyon Skywalk is worth it, check out my article Is The Grand Canyon Skywalk Worth The Trip? Note that the West Rim is not a part of the Grand Canyon but is part of a Hualapai sovereign nation.

FAQs

Why Is the Grand Canyon’s North Rim Colder Than the South Rim?

The North Rim of the Grand Canyon experiences cooler temperatures because it is located at a higher elevation than the South Rim, sitting on an average elevation of nearly nine thousand feet above sea level. 

Which Rim of the Grand Canyon Should I Visit First, North or South?

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is mostly chosen by first-time visitors to the area not only for its beautiful views but also for numerous visitor services and family activities. The South Rim is open year-round. 

Can I Visit Both the Grand Canyon South Rim and the North Rim in One Trip?

Yes, but It takes time, planning, and effort to visit both Grand Canyon rims in one go. The drive between the park’s South Rim Village and the North Rim Village is over two hundred miles and takes about four and a half hours to drive.

What Time Are All Facilities on Both the South and North Rim of the Grand Canyon Open For Business?

Summer is peak season when all the park’s facilities on both the South and North Rim are open for business. However, be prepared for hordes of tourists and very limited lodging availability.

Is the North Rim the Least Visited Part of the Grand Canyon?

Yes, only 10% of Grand Canyon visitors make the long spectacular drive to reach this side of the Big Ditch. Those who do are rewarded with lush forests and green meadows of this hidden gem.