NATIONAL PARK

Grand Canyon National Park - South Rim

West of the village, Hermit Road leads to more overlooks (including the phenomenal Hopi Point) on its way to Hermit's Rest, where you'll find restrooms, a snack bar and a gift shop. The road is closed to private vehicles March through November but can be accessed by the park's free shuttle bus during these months.

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In peak summer travel season, brace yourself for crowds. In most areas of Grand Canyon Village, parking is scarce. Free shuttles run year round at the village, and it's often wise to park at the visitor center and use the shuttle to get around. To avoid parking headaches all together, consider riding the free shuttle from Tusayan (the park's gateway town); service is available June through September.

If you're driving into the park through the South Entrance Station (near Tusayan), take note: There are five entry gates with one gate dedicated to prepaid passes. This is a very popular point of entry and crowds can be large, so paying admission outside the park at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Tusayan is a smart move when traffic is heavy. Passes also can be purchased at most Tusayan hotels and at visitor centers in Williams and Flagstaff. Of course, the most obvious way to avoid possible delays is to get an early start.

National Park Service/National Park Service
Both helicopter and airplane tours of the canyon are available from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, 5 miles south of the park headquarters. For information and reservations contact Grand Canyon Airlines, (866) 235-9422; Grand Canyon Helicopters, (928) 638-2764; Maverick Helicopters, (928) 638-2622 or (800) 962-3869; or Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters , (928) 638-2419 or (800) 528-2418.