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No offense, but if you’ve got a question you’re just dying to ask about Grand Canyon National Park, chances are pretty good that it’s been asked by hundreds, probably thousands of people before you. Karlyn Bunting, president of Grand Canyon.com, should know - he and his staff have spent two decades answering them.

So here, in no particular order, are five of the 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions About the Grand Canyon:

1. Where is the Grand Canyon? Northern Arizona.

2. How do you get there?

If you fly: There are four international airports located within 5 to 8 hours drive of Grand Canyon. In order of proximity to the South Rim, they are: Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Salt Lake City, Utah

There are also three small municipal airports located closer to the park: Flagstaff, Arizona (connecting flights through Phoenix); Page, Arizona (connecting flights through Phoenix or Denver); St. George, Utah (connecting flights through Salt Lake City)

If you drive: Phoenix, Arizona is 230 miles South, approximately 4.5 hours from the South Rim. Las Vegas is 280 miles West, approximately 5 hours from the South Rim. Los Angeles is 500 miles West, approximately 9 hours from the South Rim. Albuquerque is 400 miles East, approximately 7 hours from the South Rim. Page/Lake Powell is 150 miles Northeast, approximately 2.5 hours from the South OR North Rim. Flagstaff is 85 miles South, approximately 1.5 hours from the South Rim, and Williams is 60 miles South, approximately 1 hour from the South Rim.

3. Can you get to the Grand Canyon without doing all that driving?

By train: AMTRAK offers service to Williams, Arizona, where you can then connect with the Grand Canyon Railway to Grand Canyon South Rim.

By bus: day tours to the South Rim are offered from Phoenix, Las Vegas, Flagstaff and Sedona. Overnight bus tours offered from Phoenix, Los Angeles. By plane: scheduled air service is offered to the South Rim from Las Vegas. Charter service is available from other cities.

Once you get to the park, you’d have to get around using shuttles or taxis.

There is no train, bus or airline service to the North Rim.

4. South Rim? North Rim? West Rim? What’s the difference?

Grand Canyon South Rim: the “quintessential Grand Canyon,” open all year, the South Rim is the most visited side of the canyon. Average altitude 6,500′-7,000′

Grand Canyon North Rim: the “connoisseur’s Grand Canyon,” open from mid-May to mid-October only; cooler, more scenic, less crowded, supports more plant and animal life. Average altitude 7,000′-8,000′

Grand Canyon West: the “alternative Grand Canyon;” open all year; located East of Las Vegas on Hualapai Indian Tribal Lands, the future site of the Grand Canyon Skywalk, average altitude 4,500′

5. What’s the best time to come to Grand Canyon? Karlyn’s employees, who all reside in the Grand Canyon area, are partial to late April and early May, but their absolute favorite season is late September to early October, when temperatures are cooling and crowds are thinning. Autumn foliage at the North Rim is an incredible sight to behold.

Didn’t find the answer to YOUR Grand Canyon question? Stay tuned for Parts II, III, and IV of “Grand Canyon.com’s Top 20 Grand Canyon FAQ’s!”

In Part I above of “The Top 20 Grand Canyon FAQ’s,” we answered the most frequently asked questions about how to get to the Grand Canyon, and which side you might want to visit from. In Part II, we’ll answer questions about where to stay, how much it costs to get in, where you can and cannot drive to, and, we’ll answer what is perhaps the Grand Canyon’s #1 FAQ.

6. Where do you stay?

At the South Rim there are 6 hotels inside the park, which are typically booked 6 months to a year in advance, managed by the park concessionaire, Xanterra Parks & Resorts.

There are also 5 hotels outside park’s South boundary in the town of Tusayan, Arizona: the Best Western Grand Canyon Squire Inn, the Quality Inn Canyon Plaza, the Rodeway Inn Red Feather Lodge and the the Grand Hotel.

South Rim Gateway communities (in order of proximity): Williams, Arizona; Cameron, Arizona; Flagstaff, Arizona; Page/Lake Powell, Arizona.

At the North Rim there are cabins inside park, which are also booked 6 months to a year in advance. These are also operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts. The Kaibab Lodge is located 30 miles North of the park’s Northern boundary. The Jacob Lake Inn is located 60 miles from park’s North boundary.

North Rim Gateway communities (in order of proximity): Kanab, Utah; Page/Lake Powell, Arizona; St. George, Utah.

At the West Rim, the Hualapai Lodge, Grand Canyon Caverns Inn and the Frontier Motel & Cafe are all located near Peach Springs, Arizona on Route 66.

West Rim Gateway communities (in order of proximity): Kingman, Arizona; Seligman, Arizona; Williams, Arizona; Las Vegas,Nevada and Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona.

7. Can you camp at the Grand Canyon? Yes, but advance reservations are also recommended for Grand Canyon campgrounds.

8. Can you drive your car in the park? Yes, but get there early to beat the mid-day crowds, OR pre-pay your Grand Canyon park entrance fee so you can go through the Express Lane (South Rim). Once inside the park, park your vehicle and use the free shuttles to get around the village or the Hermit’s Rest (West Rim) drive.

9. Do you have to pay to get into the Grand Canyon? Yes, Grand Canyon National Park is a Federal Fee area. Entrance fee is $25 per vehicle, which is good for one week’s time. You can also use a National Park Pass, Golden Eagle Pass, Golden Age Pass (for age 62+) or Golden Access Pass (for the disabled).

10. How do you get on a mule ride? If you’re visiting within 6 months, you’re not likely to get on. Grand Canyon mule rides are typically booked 9 months to a year in advance. Still interested? Contact Xanterra. Still, Karlyn advises would be “dudes” to call his office first and “let my people tell you what you need to know BEFORE you make that call.”

Did you guess which FAQ is #1? Here’s a hint: we saved the best for last. And if you still haven’t gotten the answer to YOUR question, be watching for Parts III and IV of “The Top 20 Grand Canyon FAQ’s.”

About the Author
Alley Keosheyan has been answering these and scores of other Grand Canyon questions since 1987 and firmly believes that the only stupid question is the one that’s never asked. If you’d like to ask her or her co-workers a question (and they’ve heard some doozies), call (866) 944-7263 or visit http://www.GrandCanyon.com.

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