Visiting the Grand Canyon is a bucket list trip for anyone on planet Earth. The sheer size of it will blow your mind and fill you with a sense of awe. It’s a magical place that will help you appreciate the Earth’s dramatic changes over its lifetime.
My three-day Grand Canyon National Park itinerary should provide you with a solid foundation for planning your trip and seeing the best of what the 13th National Park in our history has to offer!
How to Spend Three Days at Grand Canyon National Park
First things first, make sure you buy your Annual National Parks Pass!
Okay, with that out of the way, here’s my Grand Canyon National Park itinerary for your upcoming trip!
Image Credit: Alec Sills-Trausch. Day 1 Grand Canyon Itinerary – Arrival at Grand Canyon National Park
Start your trip at the Visitor Center and get a grasp of the park. Watch the introduction video.
Walk out to Mather Point for your first look at the Grand Canyon (if you come from the south entrance)
Grab your hiking gear, head out of the South Kaibab Trail, and hike down to Ooh Ahh Point. This will be a nice introduction hike and get you below the rim. You’ll need to jump on a shuttle for this one.
Watch the sunset, grab dinner, and enjoy the night sky from any overlook. You might even see some lights below as hikers travel in the dark.
Day 2 Grand Canyon Itinerary – Full-day adventure of the Grand Canyon
Set out on the Bright Angel Trail and go down to the 1.5-mile or 3-mile rest house. Remember, going down is optional. Coming up is mandatory. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can go lower.
Watch the sunset from either Yavapai Point or Mather Point.
Day 3 Grand Canyon Itinerary – Spend at least a half day before heading out
Wake up early for sunrise over the Grand Canyon (I suggest Shoshone Point. Powell Point also works great, but you’ll need to take a shuttle during summer.)
Take the shuttle to Hermits Rest (if you’re already nearby) and see the views. (You can get food/drinks/coffee here.)
Return to the village. Drive east and check out the Desert Watch Tower and all the overlooks on the 64 drive. Then, begin your drive back to Phoenix. (If you are going back to Vegas, this would add 40 minutes to your drive back the way you came.)
How Many Days Should I Spend at Grand Canyon National Park?
Ideally, you will spend two to three days at Grand Canyon National Park, allowing you to cross off much of this Grand Canyon itinerary. That said, you can spend one day here and see more of the park than those here for four days.
The sweet spot is three days, which allows you to explore different areas of the South Rim, take epic hikes , enjoy beautiful sunsets, and see wildlife.
The Best things to do at Grand Canyon National Park
Go Hiking
You cannot go wrong with a hiking trip centered around the Grand Canyon . Your options are almost endless with the Bright Angel Trail, South Kaibab, Rim Trail, and Hermit Trail.
Watch Sunrise or Sunset
Watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon is a rite of passage. I highly recommend it, and you’ll encounter far fewer people than at sunset — which is also brilliant as well.
I’ve been fortunate enough to do both and highly recommend them. The crowds at Mather Point will probably blow your mind. It’s a full-on zoo, but it’s super easy to access. If you want less crowds, just wander the Rim Trail near Mather Point or choose from the suggestions below.
Best Sunrise Spots: Aim for an Eastern View
Shoshone Point (a flat mile walk, small parking lot)
Mather Point (most popular)
Powell Point
Desert Watch Tower
Best Sunset Spots: Aim for a Western View
Lipan Point
Mather Point (most popular)
Yaki Point
Yavapai Point
Desert Watch Tower
Shoshone Point
Gaze Up at the Night Sky
Grand Canyon National Park is an International Dark Sky destination. For many, this will be the darkest sky you’ve ever seen. Once it gets dark, wherever you are in the park, just look up, and you’ll see constellation after constellation.
During the summer, the park offers evening star talks, which are a wonderful experience. If you’re into photography, check out my Night Photos article on how to land the perfect star and Milky Way shot. (Though you won’t be able to get a great Milky Way shot from the South Rim.)
Spot Wildlife
As you drive and hike throughout the area, keep an eye out for wildlife. The most seen animals are elk, deer, and mountain goats. But if you’re lucky, you’ll see big horn sheep or mountain lions.
Attend a Ranger Talk
Ranger talks and presentations are held throughout the day and week. They are an excellent opportunity to talk with an expert and learn some interesting facts about the park. As always, they are free!
Visit the Visitor Center
Take an hour to visit the Visitor Center, talk to the staff, and learn more about the park’s history. They have two great short films that I highly recommend. You’ll gain a greater appreciation of the park from watching either one.
Drive the Entire Grand Canyon Rim (West and East)
Most people congregate at Grand Canyon Village and the Visitor Center. By getting out of the congestion, you can appreciate the area a little more with the various overlooks and pull-offs showcasing the brilliance of Grand Canyon National Park. I recommend spending half a day driving along the rim and seeing the sights from different vantage points.
You’ll likely want to end at the Desert Watch Tower, which is a pretty cool symbolic place with epic views from which you can look down. It’s a must for your Grand Canyon National Park itinerary.
Note: You cannot drive the west rim road during summer. It is shuttle access only.
Take a Helicopter Ride Over the Grand Canyon
If you want the ultimate view of the canyon, a helicopter ride is an incredible way to see it. I haven’t done it, but my brother has done it a few times and told me it’s fantastic. If you’re a photographer, you’ll be blown away by the images you can get.
If budget isn’t an issue, I would definitely add this to your Grand Canyon itinerary.
Spend Some Nights Backpacking
The most popular spot is Phantom Ranch, which is understandable as it’s an iconic location. But if you cannot get permits there, there are so many other great places to spend a few nights inside the Grand Canyon.
If you’ve already been to the park before, you should aim for this!
Where to stay near the Grand Canyon
Lodging inside Grand Canyon National Park
See all options when deciding on your Grand Canyon National Park itinerary.
Bright Angel Lodge (mere feet from the Grand Canyon)El Tovar (mere feet from the Grand Canyon)Yavapai Lodge (5-minute drive to Mather Point/Visitor Center) — I’ve stayed here. Good bang for our buck. No microwaves in the room, FYI.
Visiting the North Rim of the Grand Canyon
I’ll get this out of the way quickly. Most people do not visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, so it’s not in this itinerary. It’s an extra four-hour drive from the south side and only open from May to October, thanks to its higher elevation and more significant snowfall.
For those who want to experience the canyon and want to do so with fewer amenities and fewer crowds, it’s a great place to be! This is especially true if you’re coming from Las Vegas and want to combine it with Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon.
This side offers stunning hikes and vistas, a change from what most people see. It’s also the best launching point for a Rim-to-Rim hike, considering the North Rim is 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim.
I recommend it as it lets you connect with nature without the crowds, but it is much harder to reach on a limited schedule.
Which Way Should I Enter the Park?
Coming from Phoenix: Most directions and people will drive to the south entrance on AZ-64. You can either drive through Flagstaff or cross I-40 and then north on the 64.
If it’s winter, the I-40 may be better for avoiding driving through the mountains, though US 180 is plowed as it’s frequently driven by those going to Snow Bowl.
If the Grand Canyon Entrance is backed up, another option is to enter from the east via Cameron. This route will be slightly longer but will allow you to explore a less-visited section of the park. I drove this route for the first time in December 2024 and was blown away by the stunning sights.
Drive time from Phoenix, East Entrance: 3 hours 30 minutes
Drive time from Phoenix, South Entrance: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Coming from Las Vegas: You’ll want to enter the park via the south on AZ 64 near Williams. If traffic is good, driving should take you about four hours. Then, your Grand Canyon itinerary begins!
Final Thoughts on Your Three-Day Grand Canyon National Park Itinerary
As you plan out your Grand Canyon National Park itinerary, try to keep it reasonable. You don’t want to stuff it too full, where you’re rushing from point to point. Allow yourself to enjoy the time and stumble upon other places that you really enjoy and have the chance to sit and soak it in.