Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon drive: Distance, time & best stops
The distance from Flagstaff AZ to the Grand Canyon (South Rim) is 88 miles, with a 1h32m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon drive are Williams AZ, Raptor Ranch and Red Butte.
Planning a Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary
The Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon drive takes you to Arizona’s undisputed wonder of the world.
Flagstaff AZ is largely known as a gateway to the Grand Canyon. You can take a Grand Canyon day tour from here, but you can also do a day trip to Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Other Flagstaff experiences include haunted pub crawls, e-bike tours and an adventure course of wobbly bridges, ropes and ziplines. Stargazing enthusiasts can also take a tour of the Lowell Observatory and the Walnut Canyon National Monument is just to the east of the city. The latter is home to several ancient cliff dwellings.
Good Flagstaff accommodation options include the utterly charming Little America, and the great value Elev8.
The most visited section of the Grand Canyon is on the South Rim by Grand Canyon Village. This is where you’ll find the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which shows a 20 minute orientation film every half hour.
Most of the walking trails are also here, with the 12 mile, mostly paved Rim Trail being the most popular option. Free shuttle buses run along the route, so you can just do parts of it. The 0.7 mile stretch between Mather Point and the Yavapai Observation Station is the obvious taster.
The National Parks Service website has details of the tougher walks into the canyon.
Grand Canyon experiences departing from Grand Canyon Village include jeep tours.
Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Flagstaff AZ to the Grand Canyon (South Rim) is 88 miles. You can expect a driving time of around one hour and 32 minutes. The quickest route is usually via the I-40 and AZ-64, but this is not always the case.
The best stops to add to a Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary are Williams AZ, Raptor Ranch and Red Butte.
Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon drive: Williams AZ
Williams AZ is one of the main gateways to the Grand Canyon National Park. The Grand Canyon Railway leaves from here.
Otherwise, this is a Route 66 town with a decent selection of road trip kitsch. The main highlight is the Bearizona Wildlife Park, where you can view North American animals such as bison, black bears and Arctic wolves from your vehicle on a drive-through route.
Good Williams accommodation options include the Lodge on Route 66 and the La Quinta.
Flagstaff AZ to Grand Canyon road trip attractions: Raptor Ranch
Raptor Ranch in Grand Canyon Junction offers glamping for those who want to stay relatively close to the Grand Canyon. It also has daily birds of prey flying demonstrations.
Perhaps the quirkiest reason to visit Raptor Ranch, however, is Flintstones Bedrock City. This attraction, with models of Flintstones characters and dinosaurs, was opened in the 1970s and is now really showing its age.
Best stops between Flagstaff AZ and the Grand Canyon: Red Butte
Inside the Kaibab National Forest, Red Butte stands out above the Coconino Plateau. The trail to the 7,326ft summit is relatively short at about 1.25 miles one way, but the last section of the hike in particular is steep. It’s a well-marked trail, but keep an eye out for rattlesnakes while walking it – they are known to hang out here.
More Flagstaff road trips
Albuquerque to Flagstaff | Amarillo to Flagstaff | Denver to Flagstaff | Gallup to Flagstaff | Flagstaff to Kingman | Mesa to Flagstaff | Phoenix to Flagstaff | Prescott to Flagstaff | Flagstaff to Santa Fe | Scottsdale to Flagstaff | Tucson to Flagstaff | Flagstaff to Williams.
More Grand Canyon (South Rim) road trips
Albuquerque to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Mesa to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Phoenix to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Scottsdale to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Sedona to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Tucson to Grand Canyon (South Rim) | Williams AZ to Grand Canyon (South Rim).