Photos can’t compare to seeing Grand Canyon in person. What to know if you go.

USA TODAY

Each year, millions of travelers are drawn to Grand Canyon National Park.

Even though it’s widely photographed, nothing compares to seeing this natural wonder of the world in person.

Its sheer size (277 miles), as well as the marvel of its formation millions of years ago through erosion from the Colorado River, make it a special place.

And whether hiking or riding a mule to the bottom, or soaking in views along the rim, visitors are awed by its striking, steep walls of limestone, shale and sandstone rock.

Here’s what travelers should know about the Grand Canyon, one of America’s most popular national parks and the latest in USA TODAY’s yearlong series.

Evening colors and fresh snow on the Grand Canyon's North Rim, frame the Colorado River, which looks like a thin thread in this February 2019 file photo

Where is the Grand Canyon located exactly?

Nature's grand spectacle of towering red rocks lies along the Colorado River in northwest Arizona.

But not all of it is managed by the National Park Service. The park notes popular Havasu Falls and Grand Canyon Skywalk sit on tribal lands, and a portion of the canyon also extends into Kaibab National Forest.

The nearest major airport to the park’s popular South Rim is Phoenix Sky Harbor International,

That’s upwards of 3.5 hours away by car. However, American Airlines offers service to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, which is 1.5 hours away by car.

Rafters pause in a stretch of calm water on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon between the Granite Narrows and Deer Creek Falls rapids in this October 2017 file photo.

Which part of the Grand Canyon is closest to Las Vegas?

Grand Canyon’s West Rim is roughly 125 miles away from Las Vegas.

This part of the canyon lies within the Hualapai Indian Reservation, not the national park.

Admission to Grand Canyon West starts at $49. Access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottom walkway that extends out over the canyon, costs extra.

Who are the Indigenous people of the Grand Canyon?

Eleven tribes are historically associated with the canyon, according to the park:

Dianna Sue White Dove Uqualla, Havasupai Tribe council member, during the "Native Voices of the Grand Canyon" program on August 5, 2023, at Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Is North Rim as good as South Rim?

Both are beautiful.

The vast majority of people visit the South Rim, which is about 230 miles from Phoenix and is open year-round. It features stunning overlooks like Mather Point and Hopi Point and the park’s most popular trail into the canyon, Bright Angel Trail.

The far-less-traveled North Rim is located about 350 miles from Phoenix. It also offers scenic vistas, as well as hiking and camping opportunities with fewer crowds. But services, lodging, campgrounds and restaurants are only available from mid-May to mid-October. North Rim roads are completely closed from December through mid-May.

Some of the most adventurous travelers brave the 21-mile Rim-to-Rim hike connecting the South and North Rims.

A backpacker looks at Thunder River emerging from a rock wall on Grand Canyon's North Rim in this October 2017 file photo.

Can you drive your car in Grand Canyon National Park?

Visitors who prefer to drive can take a 215-mile journey from North Rim Village to South Rim Village.

There’s also a scenic 23-mile drive, Desert View Drive, between Grand Canyon Village and Desert View in the South Rim.

The morning sun illuminates the Desert View Watchtower on the Grand Canyon's South Rim in this Feburary 2019 file photo. The 70-foot-tall building was erected in 1932 and inspired by the "architecture of the Ancestral Puebloan people of the Colorado Plateau," according to Grand Canyon National Park.

How much does it cost to stay at Grand Canyon National Park?

There is a $35 entry fee for private vehicles at the park. Entry passes are good for seven days.

Standard campsite fees start at $18 nightly. Backcountry camping costs $10 plus extra nightly fees depending on the number of campers and location above or below the canyon rim.

There are also several lodges in Grand Canyon Village and an RV park, managed by third parties whose rates range widely by season and venue. For example, a one-night stay for two adults and two children can cost under $100 at Bright Angel Lodge or Maswik Lodge in February and roughly $580 at El Tovar Hotel in June.

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What is the best time to go to the Grand Canyon?

Spring and autumn months offer milder temperatures and fewer crowds than the summer, though fall weekends still see crowds. Winter can be serene, but visitors will need to be prepared for snowy weather and road closures.

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