Grand Canyon

Arizona

The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is a mile-deep gorge carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Its layered rock walls record nearly two billion years of Earth's history, and its rim offers some of the most famous views in the United States.

The Grand Canyon is the landmark of the American Southwest. A road trip that passes through Arizona is incomplete without standing at its rim: the scale of the gorge, the silence of the canyon walls, and the layers of red rock visible in the afternoon light are unmatched anywhere in the country.

Add Grand Canyon to a national parks road trip, plan a wider US road trip, or read the virtual road trip guide before you hit the road.

Start your trip here

What to see at Grand Canyon

• The South Rim, open year-round, with viewpoints like Mather Point and Yavapai Point.
• The Colorado River at the bottom, visible from the rim on clear days.
• The Grand Canyon Skywalk and the West Rim on Hualapai land.
• Nearby Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks, the region's highest mountains.

Start your trip at Grand Canyon

Click the button above to open the America road trip simulator with your journey starting at Grand Canyon. You will appear on the map near this place and can drive from there in any direction, or let the road lead you across the region. The simulator shows the local radio, encyclopedia articles, news, and weather as you travel, and progress is saved in your browser between visits.