8 Ways to Avoid Crowds at the Grand Canyon

If you’re planning to visit the Grand Canyon National Park (also known as the South Rim), it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. In fact, over 5 million people travel to the park every year, all in search of breathtaking sightseeing opportunities. Is it possible to find a secluded area to enjoy the Grand Canyon with just your family? Here are 8 top tips to help you dodge the crowds at one of the most popular national parks in the United States.

Several visitors to the Grand Canyon in wintertime stand atop a scenic lookout point

1. Visit the Grand Canyon During Off-Season

Despite its location deep in the Arizona desert, weather at the Grand Canyon National Park experiences all four seasons and a huge range in temperature throughout the year. Because of this, warm weather draws the largest crowds. Consider visiting in autumn or early spring when visitation is lower, or even in winter for beautiful views of the snow-dusted canyon walls.

For an even more secluded experience, visit on weekdays and avoid holiday weekends like Memorial Day (last Monday of May), 4th of July, and Labor Day (first Monday of September).

Free Entry Days at the Grand Canyon

There are also several days where there are no entry fees at the Grand Canyon, which typically brings in more visitors than usual:

Martin Luther King Day (3rd Monday of January annually)
First Day of National Park Week (occurs in April annually)
Juneteenth (June 19th annually)
Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act (August 4th annually)
National Public Lands Day (September 28th annually)
Veterans Day (November 11th annually)

A woman wearing a backpack stands in front of a sprawling Grand Canyon lookout point

2. Start Your Sightseeing Early

Staying nearby overnight? Visit the park in the early hours of the morning! You’ll witness an incredible sunrise before the park starts to fill with visitors. The South Rim is open 24 hours a day, so you can even visit in the evening and discover an incredible starscape above you after most of the visitors have left.

3. Find Peace on a Grand Canyon Hiking Trail

There are 136 hiking trails at Grand Canyon National Park, ranging in length and difficulty. Popular trails like the Rim Trail and Bright Angel Trail are heavily trafficked due to their ease of effort and sightseeing opportunities. Choose less popular trails for a more secluded environment; the further you travel on the trail, the less hikers you are likely to encounter.

A sightseeing helicopter flies over a massive Grand Canyon stone gorge

4. Explore on a Private Grand Canyon Tour

There are plenty of beautiful lookout points across the canyon’s edge, but there’s no more exciting way to experience the national park than from the sky! Grand Canyon South Rim tours also offer the option to create a private experience designed just for your family. Popular private Grand Canyon tours include:

South Rim Helicopter Tours: Fly over the deepest and widest canyon gorges, incredible rock formations, the Colorado River, and the Kaibab National Forest
Airplane Flights Over the South Rim: From the comfort of a climate-controlled airplane, enjoy the aerial views with accompanying headset music and narration in multiple languages
Hummer Ground Excursion: Travel to multiple lookout points aboard a military-style Hummer vehicle. Your guide will choose the least-busy regions to visit and explore. Hummer tours can also be booked at sunset or can included a guided Grand Canyon hike.

5. Skip Traffic Lines and Use the Shuttle

The National Park Service offers free shuttle service for visitors to the Grand Canyon National Park. Multiple bus routes can transport you to many lookout points and destinations within the park, eliminating the need to navigate the crowds walking throughout the park.

Exterior of the El Tovar Hotel located within the Grand Canyon National Park

6. Enjoy a Picnic at the Canyon’s Edge

There are plenty of dining options at the Grand Canyon National Park, from upscale restaurants at the canyon’s edge to casual bites in the nearby food court. If you’re looking to have a more private meal, pack a lunch instead of waiting for a table at a restaurant or standing in line at a food counter. Enjoy a meal along the canyon’s edge surrounded by some of the most majestic scenery in the world – just remember the importance of disposing of all trash properly!

7. Monitor the South Entrance Station Via Webcam

Driving to the Grand Canyon National Park? If you’re staying in nearby Tusayan, you can actually watch the South Entrance Station on the NPS website via webcam! This is a great way to track traffic and gauge the amount of visitors currently at the park.

Visitors to the Grand Canyon West stand atop the Skywalk Bridge over a massive canyon gorge

8. Visit the North Rim or the Grand Canyon West

The South Rim is just one region of the Grand Canyon. Across from the national park is the North Rim, and 250 miles away is the Grand Canyon West. These areas also offer incredible sightseeing opportunities but receive less visitation than the Grand Canyon National Park.

Visit Grand Canyon North Rim

Travelers visit the North Rim for its secluded ambiance and rugged forestry. The least trafficked region of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim offers hiking trails, campsites, and stunning views of the landscape. Because of its 8,000-foot elevation (1,000 feet higher than the South Rim), the North Rim receives significant snowfall and is closed to visitors in the winter.

Visit Grand Canyon West

Just a 2-hour drive from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West is the home of the world-famous Skywalk bridge and many unique lookout points. You can fly from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West in a state-of-the-art helicopter and even land all the way on the very bottom! Grand Canyon West is the only area of the park that allows helicopter landings on the canyon floor and also offers Colorado River boat rides, free shuttle service, and a Hualapai Native American cultural center.

Several bright red helicopters parked at the Grand Canyon Airport

Experience the Grand Canyon with Papillon

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters has been transporting adventurers over the Grand Canyon National Park since 1965. Now the world’s largest and longest-running air tour operator, we offer daily departures to the South Rim, Grand Canyon West, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and beyond. Our vast tour catalogue includes many family flights and private tours to create a truly personal experience. Whether you’re visiting the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas or anywhere else, we look forward to showing your family to the most cherished national park in the United States.