Visitors to Grand Canyon this spring break should expect unpredictable weather and winter-like conditions (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
GRAND CANYON — Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park can expect long lines and full parking lots during the spring break season, which spans from early March through mid-April. As a result of increased visitation, traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with wait times of up to one to two hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots begin reaching capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus wait times may be prolonged.
Please follow these tips as you prepare to visit the South Rim:
- Arrive early—before 9 a.m. or later in the day—after 5 p.m.
- Monitor the South Entrance Station Webcam to help time your arrival
- Buy your park pass online at rec.gov or in Tusayan at one of the following businesses – IMAX Theater, Canyon Plaza Resort, Red Feather Lodge, and Westwind Air Service
- Passholders should use lane 1 at the South Entrance Station for shorter wait times
- The Hermit Road scenic drive is best experienced early in the morning and gets crowded by midday
- Consider taking the train from Williams, Ariz.
- If arriving from the east on Interstate 40 or from Phoenix on Interstate 17, consider taking US 89 from Flagstaff north to Cameron, Ariz. and then west on State Route 64, where you can enjoy first views of the Grand Canyon from Desert View
- Park campgrounds and lodging fill months in advance. Check availability and make reservations before you arrive
Key Shuttle Bus Updates
Three shuttle bus routes will operate on the South Rim between March 1 and May 27, 2023.
The routes in operation include the Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) with bus service at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center east to the South Kaibab Trailhead and Yaki Point; the Village Route (Blue Route) providing bus service to primary visitor facilities; and the Hermits Rest Route (Red Route) providing service from the Village along the west rim to Hermits Rest. All routes will start at 4:30 a.m. The Kaibab Rim and Hermits Rest routes will operate until one hour after sunset. The Village Route will operate until 10 p.m.
South Kaibab Trail day hikers can park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center and ride the Kaibab Rim Route (Orange Route) eastbound bus to the trailhead. Buses operate every 10-15 minutes.
Overnight backpackers and day hikers can take the Hikers’ Express Bus to the South Kaibab Trailhead from the Bright Angel Lodge during March, April and May at the following times:
- March – 7, 8, and 9 a.m.
- April – 6, 7, and 8 a.m.
- May – 5, 6, and 7 a.m.
The Hikers’ Express Bus also stops at the Backcountry Information Center and Grand Canyon Visitor Center on its way to the South Kaibab Trailhead.
Spring break travelers to Northern Arizona should anticipate winter-like conditions and unpredictable weather. Trails descending into the inner canyon from the South Rim (including the Bright Angel and South Kaibab) are all north facing and will remain icy and snow packed through much of the spring. Hikers should not walk on icy trails without assessing conditions and managing risk with foot traction and hiking poles.
For more information on Grand Canyon’s shuttle bus system, please visit the park’s shuttle bus webpage. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health measures may be in place, including capacity limits, temporary closures, and modified operations. For a list of what is open and what is closed in Grand Canyon National Park, please visit the park website here.
For more information on visiting the South Rim during busy periods, please visit: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/sr-tips.htm
Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.