In Tusayan, just one mile south of the South Rim entrance to Grand Canyon National Park.

March 1–Oct 31: 8 AM–10 PM. Nov 1–Feb 29: 9 AM–8 PM. Hours may vary on holidays or special events.

March–October: first show 8:30 AM, last at 8:30 PM. November–February: first show 9:30 AM, last at 7:30 PM.

Six stories tall (about 70 ft high × 82 ft wide) with 12,000-watt, 6-channel surround sound.

Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time — a 35-minute immersive IMAX® film.

Adult, child, and senior pricing available; discounts online; children 5 and under are free. Check the site or box office for current rates.

Yes. Mobile tickets are accepted at the theater.

Yes, for groups of 15+ with advance reservations.

Explorer’s Café (with Pizza Hut Express) and café for quick meals and beverages.

Books, maps, apparel, Native American crafts, and Grand Canyon-themed gifts.

Yes — including the America the Beautiful annual pass and Grand Canyon entrance passes.

Yes. Staff can help with routes, tours, lodging, and events so you use your time efficiently.

Pink Jeep Tours.

Premium off-road vehicles and expert guides delivering rim viewpoints and photo stops.

Helicopters fly lower with more intimate canyon views; airplanes cover more ground at a lower cost per seat.

Yes, from half-day to multi-day expeditions with licensed outfitters. Book ahead, especially in peak months.

Yes — the Grand Canyon Railway runs from Williams, AZ and offers a vintage “Wild West” experience.

Yes — GPS-enabled audio apps guide you to top overlooks with narration and tips.

Yes — educational and group programs with special pricing are available; reserve in advance.

Yes — Grand Canyon Trail Rides operates scenic tours in the Kaibab National Forest near Tusayan.

Common options include ½-hour, 1-hour, 1½-hour, and 2-hour rides.

Yes — six Electrify America DC fast chargers (150–350 kW) on site in Tusayan.

Most EVs reach ~80% in about 30 minutes on a DC fast charger (speed varies by vehicle and state of charge).

Rates vary (per-kWh or per-minute by state). Nearby Level-2 options typically bill by the minute (often about $0.03/min).

Credit cards work fine; an app/membership can reduce cost (often ~25% savings on some networks).

Yes — free Level-2 chargers are commonly found at Market Plaza, Yavapai Lodge East, and Maswik Lodge (including Tesla plugs).

Yes — Tusayan has a Supercharger site (multiple stalls) convenient to the Visitor Center.

Rim Trail (easy scenic), Bright Angel (gradual descent), South Kaibab (steeper panoramic), and Hermit (rugged, quieter).

Strongly discouraged. Heat, distance, and elevation gain make it hazardous for most hikers.

Watch the IMAX for orientation, then visit Mather Point & Yavapai Point or stroll a Rim Trail segment.

IMAX + Hermit Road shuttle for overlooks, Yavapai Geology Museum, and a short hike below the rim.

Day 1: IMAX, Rim Trail, overlooks. Day 2: half-day below-rim hike or an air/rafting tour.

Mather Point and Yaki Point are favorites for first light.

Hopi Point (via the Hermit Road shuttle) offers sweeping west-facing vistas.

Kolb Studio, Hopi House, El Tovar Hotel, and additional village landmarks.

The Tusayan Ruins are about three miles west of Desert View (east rim area).

Yes — the paved Rim Trail is stroller-friendly with frequent viewpoints and shuttle access.

Water (more than you think), salty snacks, hat, sunscreen, sturdy footwear, and layers for temperature swings.

Arrive early or stay late, use shuttle routes, and consider below-rim trails where foot traffic thins quickly.

Summers are hot and dry; winters can bring snow/ice; evenings are cooler year-round. Always check the forecast.

Hermit Road is shuttle-only for much of spring–fall; schedules adjust by season.

Yes — fire bans and weather can pause these activities. Check conditions before you go.

Generally yes, but capacity is limited and may be reduced in winter. Book well ahead.

Spring and fall offer milder temps and lighter crowds; summer has full services but peak visitation.

Some lodging, tours, or services reduce hours or close seasonally. Confirm specifics before arrival.

Elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, ravens, and (with luck) California condors riding thermals.

Stay at least 100 ft/30 m from wildlife, never feed animals, and secure food/waste.

Yes — topics and locations vary by season; check the daily schedule on arrival.

No — the Visitor Center IMAX is in Tusayan, outside the park gates.

Yes — free parking for cars, buses, and RVs at the Visitor Center.

Yes — the theater and common areas are wheelchair accessible.

Yes — accessible restrooms are located inside the facility.

Only concessions purchased on-site are allowed in the IMAX auditorium.

Pets are not allowed inside the theater or food service areas (service animals permitted).

Yes — major credit/debit cards are accepted at box office, café, and shop.

Yes — complimentary Wi-Fi is available for guests.

Roughly 7 miles (10–15 minutes by car), just inside the park after the South Entrance Station.

Save time with maps and expert advice, secure tickets/tours/food, and get oriented with the IMAX film before entering the park.

Most experts estimate the canyon itself is about 5–6 million years old—when the Colorado River arrived and began carving it. Some theories suggest parts of the western canyon may be older (by ~10 million years). The rocks you see in the walls are far older (hundreds of millions to billions of years).

Age of incision vs. age of rock: the canyon is “young”; the rocks are ancient.

From the South Rim, ~6,000 feet at its deepest; from the higher North Rim, closer to ~8,000 feet at the deepest points.

Roughly 10–18 miles across in many sections.

Over vast time, a combination of processes shaped the canyon:

• Deposition: Changing environments laid down sediments that became rock layers (a “time record”).
• Uplift: The Colorado Plateau (≈140,000 sq mi) rose, lifting all those layers.
• River incision: The Colorado River cut down through the uplifted rock, exposing strata.
• Lake overspill (hypothesis): Ancient Lake Bitahochi may have overspilled, adding erosive force.
• Lava dams: Basalt flows created multiple temporary dams, affecting river flow and canyon width.

Some mechanisms remain debated; the broad outline above reflects widely cited factors.

About 1,450 miles from Colorado to the Sea of Cortez—277 miles of which flow through Grand Canyon.

No public road descends from the South or North Rim to the river within the national park. Limited river access exists outside the park via tribal/forest roads, but not for typical sightseeing.

Elevation change, plain and simple. The river corridor is much lower and significantly warmer.

They’re strata—distinct rock layers formed in different environments across ~2 billion years, each with its own color and composition.

Yes—especially on the South Rim (≈7,000 ft). It’s typically too warm for snow to persist at river level.

About 10–13 inches annually on the rims; less than 10 inches near the bottom.

No. Hunting is prohibited inside Grand Canyon National Park.

Sadly, yes—on the order of 5–15 a year on average, often hikers. There are 300+ rescues annually.

Know your limits, carry water, and plan conservatively.

About 1.2 million acres (≈85% is canyon terrain).

1919.

On the order of ~2,000 species (plants, animals, and more).

Roughly ~500 animal species.

Rarely seen on the rim, but they do live in the region. Always watch where you step.

About 4½ hours by road (it’s a long way around).

Grand Canyon uses a 1–10 scale (distinct from the international I–VI). Several rapids can reach a “10” at certain flows.

≈231 miles (by road, from the South Rim area).

≈81 miles.

≈278 miles.

≈212 miles from the South Rim by road.

Five tribes have Grand Canyon lands: Paiute, Havasupai, Hualapai, Navajo, and Hopi.

Evidence of human presence dates back ~12,000 years, including hunters following now-extinct megafauna (mastodons, mammoths, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats).

Yes. Staff reside at Phantom Ranch (overnight stays by reservation), and the Havasupai live in Supai Village (about two-thirds of the way down in their canyon).

Colorful badlands to the northeast—homeland to the Navajo and the Hopi.

The Hopi and Navajo reservations are roughly ~80 miles from the park.

Possibly. Hopi, Navajo, and Apache peoples are active in the broader region and maintain cultural traditions.

On Hualapai land at Grand Canyon West, roughly 4 hours from the South Rim (toward Las Vegas).

Commonly 4–6 hours down—and double that to hike back up. Not recommended as a day hike for most visitors.

Primarily Ponderosa pines at South Rim elevations.

It depends on time and budget. Start at the Visitor Center for advice and maps, then consider tour buses, helicopter or airplane flights, and mule rides. Mixing rim viewpoints with a short below-rim hike is ideal.

There’s no single “best” viewpoint. West Rim Drive (Hermit Road) and East Rim Drive (Desert View Drive) both offer outstanding vistas.

The South Rim (~7,000 ft) is warm in summer and cold/snowy in winter. Below the rim, temperatures are often ~20°F higher than on top.

Many facilities are historic and some don’t meet modern standards. For detailed guidance, request the Accessibility Guide (PO Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023) or consult the NPS accessibility resources.

The South Rim is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Camping, lodging, and restaurants operate year-round; reservations are strongly recommended in summer. Some facilities reduce hours or close in winter.

Yes. Grand Canyon National Park operates a free shuttle system. The Village Route runs year-round; seasonal routes serve other areas.

Yes—restrooms are located at visitor centers, major viewpoints, and key facilities.

Yes—restaurants and groceries are available inside the park and in Tusayan (~7 miles south of the village area). A food court is also available at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center complex.

Yes. Mather Campground (tents) and Trailer Village (RV hookups) take reservations (historically via 303-297-2757 / recreation services). Additional camping is available outside the park at Camper Village or dispersed sites in Kaibab National Forest (Tusayan Ranger District, PO Box 3088, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023).

Inside the park (Grand Canyon Village lodges), in Tusayan (just outside the South Entrance), and in Williams (~50 miles south).