Arizona · National Park
Best time to visit Grand Canyon
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS + NOAA
For Grand Canyon, the mild and quiet months are March, September and November: average highs of 50 to 85°F at the nearest NOAA station and visits at or below the yearly monthly average. May is busiest, with 11% of 2025 recreation visits. January was quietest, with an average high of 44°F.
Crowd index by month
Each bar is that month’s NPS recreation visits compared with the average month of 2025 (100 = average). May scored 138; January scored 52.
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026. Index = month ÷ average month × 100.
Weather normals by month
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip in | Crowd index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44.3 | 19.2 | 1.76 | 52 |
| February | 46.3 | 21.1 | 1.23 | 56 |
| March | 53.6 | 25.0 | 1.85 | 95 |
| April | 60.9 | 28.8 | 0.64 | 125 |
| May | 69.9 | 35.6 | 0.40 | 138 |
| June | 82.0 | 43.0 | 0.22 | 123 |
| July | 84.9 | 50.4 | 2.33 | 124 |
| August | 82.1 | 49.8 | 2.19 | 115 |
| September | 75.8 | 43.7 | 1.50 | 100 |
| October | 64.6 | 33.3 | 1.23 | 108 |
| November | 53.2 | 24.7 | 0.77 | 80 |
| December | 43.0 | 18.2 | 1.25 | 84 |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (monthly), station USC00023596. The station may sit at a different elevation than the places you visit, so expect cooler temperatures higher up.
Mild and quiet months
- March
- September
- November
Our rule, applied to the data above: average high between 50 and 85°F, and recreation visits no higher than the average month. It is arithmetic, not a forecast. Roads, trails and facilities can still be closed in these months.
Closures and seasonal dates
Park Closure North Rim Scenic Road Closure: Cape Royal and Point Imperial
The North Rim Scenic Drives (Cape Royal Road and Point Imperial Road) are closed through sunrise Nov. 3, 2026, to accommodate critical road repair and rehabilitation work. No services, fuel, and no water are available on the North Rim as of Oct. 15, 2026. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API campgrounds and alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Hours
Both Desert View (East Entrance) and South Entrance are Open 24 hours/day and 7 Days/week. Credit cards, and America the Beautiful passes are accepted for entry. Cash is not accepted at this time. The South Entrance Station, near Tusayan, Arizona, receives the most traffic, an experiences long lines and up to 2 hour wait times between 9:30 am and 4 pm.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
More on Grand Canyon: tour or DIY overview. TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.