North Rim from the South Rim: 220 Miles — Not a Day Trip

220 miles • ~5 hours each way via US-89 and AZ-67 • North Rim open mid-May through Oct 15 only • Book Grand Canyon Lodge months ahead

220 mi

South to North Rim by road

~5 hr

Each way (10 hr round trip)

US-89 + AZ-67

Via Navajo Bridge

Mid-May–Oct 15

North Rim season

~8,000 ft

North Rim elevation (1,000 ft higher)

10 degrees F cooler

Than South Rim on average

Lowdown Verdict

Do NOT day-trip the North Rim from the South Rim. Ten hours of driving for a few hours at the rim is a recipe for exhaustion and regret. Either book at least one night at Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim as a proper multi-day trip, or do a rim-to-rim hike (North Kaibab Trail to South Kaibab or Bright Angel, requiring a backcountry permit). The North Rim deserves a full day — give it one.

Why the North Rim Is Not a Day Trip

The canyon looks narrow on a map — about 10 miles across at the rim as the crow flies. By road, the South Rim and North Rim are 220 miles apart. There is no bridge across the canyon for vehicles. The only crossing is Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon, nearly 100 miles north of Grand Canyon Village.

The Math Is the Problem

220 miles each way. 5 hours each way. 440 miles and 10 hours of driving round trip. Even leaving the South Rim at 5 AM, you arrive at the North Rim around 10 AM, get 3 to 4 hours maximum before you must turn around to avoid driving AZ-67 in darkness, and arrive back at the South Rim after midnight.

AZ-67 through the Kaibab Plateau has no lighting, significant wildlife crossing activity (mule deer and Kaibab squirrels), and no services for 45 miles between Jacob Lake and the rim. Night driving here is genuinely risky.

The Season Window Is Narrow

AZ-67 (Highway 67) closes for winter snow on December 1 each year and stays closed until approximately May 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operates on an even shorter season — typically mid-May through mid-October. If you arrive in November, April, or any time outside the season window, you will drive 5 hours to a locked gate.

Even in the open season, the North Rim sits at 8,000 feet — about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim — and summer temperatures are roughly 10 degrees F cooler, with afternoon thunderstorms common from July through September.

The Route: South Rim to North Rim

If you commit to the North Rim trip — and you should, with a night or two booked — here is the drive in detail.

1

Grand Canyon Village to Bitter Springs — US-89 North (100 mi, 1.75 hr)

From the South Rim entrance, head east on AZ-64 (Desert View Drive) through Cameron, then north on US-89 past the Painted Desert and through Bitter Springs. This stretch is open desert — flat, fast, and not particularly scenic but efficient. Fill your gas tank in Cameron or Page; services thin out significantly after Bitter Springs.

2

Bitter Springs to Navajo Bridge — Alt-US-89 West (30 mi, 30 min)

Turn west on Alternate US-89 toward Marble Canyon. Navajo Bridge crosses the Colorado River at Marble Canyon — there are actually two bridges here, the historic 1929 span now a pedestrian walkway and the 1995 highway bridge. Stop at the interpretive center and look down at the Colorado River 467 feet below. Condors often roost on the bridge cables. This is one of the most remarkable short stops on the entire route and takes only 20 minutes.

3

Jacob Lake Junction — US-89A and AZ-67 South (50 mi, 1 hr)

From Marble Canyon, continue west on US-89A to the Jacob Lake junction. Jacob Lake Inn is the last food and gas before the North Rim — stock up. Turn south on AZ-67 through the Kaibab Plateau: ponderosa pine and aspen forest, open meadows, and zero cell service. The road descends into the park boundary and ends at the North Rim parking area, 45 miles from Jacob Lake.

What to See at the North Rim

The North Rim has fewer paved viewpoints than the South Rim but deeper solitude and more dramatic canyon perspectives. The three anchors below are the core itinerary for any North Rim visit.

Bright Angel Point — 0.5-Mile Paved Trail

The signature North Rim viewpoint, reached by a 0.5-mile paved trail from the lodge parking area. The trail follows a narrow fin of rock with canyon dropping away on both sides — the most exposed walking on a paved surface at either rim. The point looks directly into Bright Angel Canyon and Roaring Springs Canyon. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. This is where the North Kaibab Trail begins its descent to Phantom Ranch 14 miles below.

Cape Royal Scenic Drive — 23 Miles, Angel's Window, Point Imperial

The Cape Royal Road runs 23 miles east from the main lodge area to Cape Royal, the southernmost viewpoint on the North Rim. En route: Point Imperial at 8,803 feet — the highest point on either rim of the Grand Canyon, with views into Marble Canyon and the Little Colorado River gorge. The road ends at Cape Royal where a 0.6-mile paved trail leads to Angel's Window, a natural arch in the rock with the Colorado River visible 3,000 feet below. Allow 3 to 4 hours for the full drive and both stops. See our dedicated Cape Royal guide.

Widforss Trail — 10 Miles Round Trip, Solitude Hike

The best North Rim hike for fit visitors with a full day. Widforss Trail follows the North Rim's forested edge for 5 miles to a remote canyon viewpoint, with almost no other hikers past the first mile. The trailhead is 1 mile north of the main lodge area. Shade is abundant through the ponderosa and spruce forest, unlike South Rim trails. Allow 5 to 6 hours. Water is not available on trail — carry at least 3 liters.

Uncle Jim Trail — 5-Mile Loop, Mule String Views

A 5-mile loop through old-growth forest to a viewpoint overlooking the North Kaibab Trail switchbacks — you can watch mule strings descending Roaring Springs Canyon below. Uncle Jim Trail starts at the North Kaibab trailhead, 2 miles north of the lodge. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours. The forest is often cooler than the viewpoints by 5 to 10 degrees F — useful in mid-summer.

North Rim Lodging: Book Months Ahead

There is one lodging option inside the park at the North Rim. Plan well ahead — this is not a room you will find available three days before your visit in July.

Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim

The only in-park option. A historic 1937 lodge building with a sun room overlooking the canyon, a dining room (reservations required for dinner), a Western saloon, and a variety of cabin types ranging from frontier log cabins to motel-style units. The Bright Angel porch view from inside the lodge is alone worth the trip.

Open seasonally approximately mid-May through mid-October. Book 4 to 6 months ahead for June through August. See the Grand Canyon hotels guide for booking details and alternatives.

Jacob Lake Inn (45 Miles North)

Located at the junction of US-89A and AZ-67, Jacob Lake Inn is the nearest lodging outside the park. Motel rooms and cabins, a restaurant, and a bakery famous for its cookies. Reasonable rates and usually more available than the Lodge, though still books up in peak season.

Staying at Jacob Lake adds 45 minutes each way to your North Rim day but keeps options open if the Lodge is sold out.

The Rim-to-Rim Option

For fit and experienced canyon hikers, a rim-to-rim hike connects both rims through the canyon interior. Most hikers descend the North Kaibab Trail from the North Rim and exit via Bright Angel Trail at the South Rim (or vice versa) over 3 to 5 days with nights at Phantom Ranch or designated campgrounds. This requires:

  • A backcountry permit (lottery-based through recreation.gov, applied for 4 months in advance)
  • Phantom Ranch reservations if you want a bed below the rim (also lottery-based, applied for 13 months in advance)
  • Shuttles or a car shuttle between rims to return to your starting vehicle
  • A high baseline fitness level — the North Kaibab Trail is 14 miles to the river and gains 5,761 feet

See the Grand Canyon permit lottery guide for full application instructions. The rim-to-rim hike is one of the most rewarding multi-day hikes in the American Southwest — it is worth the planning.

North Rim FAQ

How far is the North Rim from the South Rim by road? +
The North Rim is 220 miles from the South Rim by road, not 10 miles as the crow flies across the canyon. The drive runs north on US-89 through Cameron and Bitter Springs, then west on Alternate US-89 across Navajo Bridge at Marble Canyon, then south on AZ-67 through Jacob Lake and the Kaibab Plateau to the North Rim. Allow 5 hours each way, 10 hours round trip, not counting any time spent at the rim.
Can you do a day trip from the South Rim to the North Rim? +
No. A round trip from South Rim to North Rim and back is 440 miles and roughly 10 hours of driving alone. Even leaving at 4 AM you would arrive at the North Rim around 9 AM, have only 3 to 4 hours before you must turn around to reach the South Rim by dark, and arrive home after midnight. The Lowdown Guide verdict: do not day-trip it. Book at least one night at Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim or plan a rim-to-rim hike as a multi-day trip.
When is the North Rim open? +
The North Rim is open mid-May (approximately May 15) through October 15 each year. AZ-67, the highway leading to the North Rim, closes for winter snow on December 1 and remains closed until mid-May. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operates on a shorter season within those dates. The North Rim sits at approximately 8,000 feet elevation — about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim — and receives significantly more snow in winter.
What are the best things to see at the North Rim? +
The top three North Rim experiences are: Bright Angel Point, a 0.5-mile paved trail from the lodge to a narrow promontory with views into the canyon on three sides; Cape Royal, the end of a 23-mile scenic drive with Angel's Window (a natural arch framing the canyon below) and the best panoramic views at the rim; and Point Imperial at 8,803 feet, the highest viewpoint on either rim of the Grand Canyon, with views into the Marble Canyon and Little Colorado River gorge. All three require no permit, just park entry.
Where do you stay at the North Rim? +
Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim is the only lodging inside the park on the North Rim. It offers motel-style cabins and a main lodge building with canyon views, a dining room, and a saloon. Reservations must be made months in advance, especially for June through September. Outside the park, Jacob Lake Inn (45 miles north on US-89A at the AZ-67 junction) provides the nearest alternative. The North Rim Campground is within the park and requires advance reservations through recreation.gov.

Continue Planning

All Day Trips →

Day trip options from the South Rim

Bright Angel Point →

0.5-mile paved North Rim trail

Cape Royal Guide →

Angel's Window and Point Imperial

Widforss Trail →

10-mile solitude hike on the North Rim

Grand Canyon Hotels →

North Rim Lodge and South Rim options

Permit Lottery Guide →

Rim-to-rim backcountry permits