Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit Grand Canyon National Park are February, April and June — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. July is the crowd peak (531,134 monthly visits); January is quietest at 32% of peak.

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Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at Grand Canyon, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

Monthly crowd curve

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

Grand Canyon month by month

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station GRAND CANYON VISITOR CTR, AZ US (1 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit Grand Canyon each year

Grand Canyon National Park had 4,430,653 recreation visits in 2025, 10% fewer than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2018, with 6,380,495. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 4,669,660 visits a year, which makes it the 3rd most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for Grand Canyon in February

Computed from February's weather normals — Grand Canyon's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 27°F, below freezing
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Common questions

Grand Canyon month by month: notes from the park service

• January: January is North Rim off-season at Grand Canyon: the park service opens the North Rim only through November 30 or the first big snowstorm, its campground's tentative reopening date is May 15, 2027, and there is no fuel on the rim. Separately, flash flooding on August 29, 2026 closed the whole North Kaibab Trail along with Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground and the Black and Silver Bridges, with no reopening estimate yet.
• February: In February, Grand Canyon's North Rim is closed for the winter: the park service keeps it open only through November 30 or the first major snowstorm, and its campground's tentative reopening date is May 15, 2027. Hikers should also know that the entire North Kaibab Trail, with Phantom Ranch and Bright Angel Campground, has been closed since August 29, 2026 because of flash flooding, with no reopening date yet.
• March: March at Grand Canyon is still winter on the rims: the park says snow remains possible at higher elevations through April, and fog sometimes forms over fresh snow on cold mornings before burning off. Deep in the canyon it is far warmer, since temperature rises about 5.5°F for every 1,000 feet you descend.
• April: April is when Grand Canyon's winter usually starts to break, by mid-month, the park says. Rim highs climb into the 50s and 60s°F, while the river near Phantom Ranch is already in the 80s.
• May: May brings more frequent warm spells to Grand Canyon, though the park notes snow on the rims is not uncommon even now. Daily swings are huge in the dry season, with highs often more than 30 degrees above lows.
• June: Planning a June trip to Grand Canyon's North Rim? Check its status first.
• July: July starts Grand Canyon's monsoon: the park says thunderstorms are frequent in July, August and early September, mostly between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., bringing torrential rain, lightning and sudden flash floods. South Rim highs are usually in the 80s°F, while the river near Phantom Ranch passes 100.
• August: August at Grand Canyon is the heart of the late-summer monsoon. Days often begin clear, with clouds building by mid-morning into powerful thunderstorms; lightning from dry storms can start forest fires, and some storms bring large hail or damaging winds.
• September: September eases Grand Canyon into fall. The summer rains usually fade by mid-September, and rim highs fall into the 60s°F, while the river stays in the 90s.
• October: October on Grand Canyon's North Rim comes with few services this year. On the park service's status page (updated November 3, 2026) the North Rim is open through November 30 or the first major snowstorm, but the North Rim Campground has closed for the season, the General Store closed on October 15, there is no fuel on the rim (fill up at Jacob Lake or the North Rim Country Store) and overnight lodging is outside the park.
• November: November is the North Rim's last month of the year: the park service keeps it open through November 30, or until the first major snowstorm if that comes sooner. Plan it as a day trip with a full tank, since the rim has no fuel, its campground and General Store are closed for 2026, and lodging is outside the park.
• December: December is firmly winter at Grand Canyon. The park says to expect snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures on the South Rim, where nights are usually in the teens°F but sunny afternoons still reach the 40s.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.

Dive into a month

Comparing parks for the same trip? See how Grand Canyon ranks against all 63 parks in February, April and June.

Last verified 2026-09-24 · all parks