Visitor Center

Busy 2017 Memorial Day Weekend Expected

The Memorial Day Weekend is always a busy at the Grand Canyon.  To get the most of your visit, here are some tips plus a link to the National Park Survival Guide to dealing with crowds.

  • Take the Tusayan Route and don’t drive into the park. Take the shuttle bus from the IMAX Theatre.
  • Get to the park early – by 9:00 a.m. if possible
  • The Hermit’s Rest (Red) Route is best experienced in the morning; by late morning, the shuttle bus lines are long to access this route – waiting two to three buses is not uncommon
  • By 10:00 a.m, parking is limited around the visitor center, so proceed to lots A-D
    • The Rim Trail and shuttle bus stops are a short walk from lots A-D
    • Parking lot D is good for those with RVs and trailers; RVs can also park in lot B
  • If visiting the South Rim for three hours or less:
    • Park the car at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center or parking lots A or B (depending on the time of day) and take a walk along the Rim Trail
    • Wanting to ride a shuttle bus – take the Kaibab Rim (Orange) Route
  • If arriving in the afternoon and have four to five hours:
    • Leave the car and shuttle buses behind and take a walk along the Rim Trail
    • Take your private vehicle out along Desert View Drive; Grandview and Lipan Points may be full, but there is typically parking at other viewpoints along this road; Desert View Point almost always has available parking

Twitter feed that outlines current parking and road conditions: @GrandCanyonNPS

South Rim Crowd Survival Guide.