Grand Canyon 2-Day Itinerary

Two days on the South Rim gives you both the sunrise and the sunset, one short hike and the whole length of the rim road. This plan assumes one night in the park or in Tusayan, arriving from Flagstaff or Williams around midday.

Day 1: the village and Hermit Road

12pm: Enter through the south gate, park at the visitor centre and walk five minutes to Mather Point for your first look.

1pm: Lunch, then walk west along the Rim Trail to Yavapai Geology Museum, where the windows and displays name the rock layers in front of you.

2.30pm: Continue on the Trail of Time to the village: Kolb Studio, Hopi House, El Tovar. Check in.

4.30pm: Board the Hermits Rest (Red) shuttle. Ride to the end, see Colter's rest house, then work back east, walking the Rim Trail between Pima Point and Mohave Point.

Sunset: Hopi Point. Arrive 45 minutes early. Take the shuttle back in the dark, with a jacket.

8pm: Dinner at El Tovar if you booked, otherwise at Bright Angel Lodge. Step outside afterwards for the stars.

Day 2: below the rim and Desert View

Sunrise: Yavapai Point or Mather Point, about 30 minutes before the sun comes up. It's cold, even in summer.

6.30am: Breakfast, then catch the Hikers' Express or the Kaibab Rim (Orange) shuttle to the South Kaibab Trailhead. Walk down to Ooh Aah Point or Cedar Ridge and come back up before the heat, following our hiking guide. In winter, swap for the Bright Angel Trail and bring spikes.

11am: Pack up and drive east on Desert View Drive. Stop at Grandview Point and Lipan Point.

1pm: Lunch at Desert View, then climb the Watchtower and look for the Colorado bending north towards the Painted Desert.

2.30pm: Leave through the east entrance. Turn north for Page, two hours away, or south for Flagstaff, about an hour and a half.

With a third day, head to Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon, as in our day trips guide. Walking the rim route in detail is covered in our South Rim guide.