Best time to visit Grand Canyon
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Tours in Grand Canyon
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you.
- 1
Grand Canyon Biblical Creation Hiking Tour • South Kaibab Trail - 2
Half Day Private Grand Canyon Guided Hiking Tour - 3
Grand Canyon Sunset Hiking Adventure Deep Below The South Rim - 4
Grand Canyon Full Day Private Tour & Hike - 5
4-Hour Biblical Creation + Sunset Tour • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim - 6
3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate Detour - 7
3 Hour Back-Road Safari to Grand Canyon with Entrance Gate By-Pass at 9:30 am - 8
Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset Tour with Dinner included - 9
Grand Canyon Tour from Tusayan - 10
Grand Canyon South Rim Tour with Lunch included - 11
Grand Canyon South & East Rim: Driving & Walking Audio Tour - 12
4-Hour Grand Canyon Morning Rim Tour featuring Biblical Creation - 13
Hire Photographer, Professional Photo shoot - Grand Canyon - 14
Small Group Day Tour to Grand Canyon from Flagstaff - 15
Grand Canyon South Kaibab Day Hike - 16
Grand Entrance Grand Canyon Sunset Tour - 17
Admission to IMAX Grand Canyon "Rivers of Time" - 18
Grand Canyon & Sedona Self-Guided Tour (Shuttle Areas Included) - 19
Grand Canyon Signature Hummer Tour with Optional Sunset Views - 20
Grand Canyon West: All Access Ticket - 21
Shuttle Between Las Vegas, Williams, Tusayan and Grand Canyon South Rim - 22
Grand Canyon Landmarks Tour by Airplane with Optional Hummer Tour - 23
Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon Adventure by Airplane - 24
Desert View Grand Canyon Jeep Tour - 25
Grand Canyon Private Guided Tour - 26
Grand Canyon Full Day Small Group Tour & Hike - 27
Grand Canyon Luxury Car Tour Experience - 28
Photoshoot in Grand Canyon - 29
Discover the Grand Canyon: A Self-Guided Tour - 30
Desert View Grand Canyon Sunset Tour
Last refreshed 2026-08-13.
Similar climatesZion95% · Monument Valley92% · Bryce Canyon90%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Grand Canyon (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Grand Canyon's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -6–3 | -2 | 8 | 85 | 10.6 | 59% | 17 | 184 | 3 | Moderate | 5 |
| Feb | -5–5 | 0 | 6 | 55 | 9.2 | 48% | 20 | 202 | 5 | Busy | 6 |
| Mar | -3–8 | 3 | 10 | 115 | 11.5 | 47% | 22 | 233 | 6 | Peak | 5 |
| Apr | 3–16 | 10 | 4 | 38 | 9.5 | 22% | 23 | 280 | 8 | Peak | 7 |
| May | 9–22 | 16 | 3 | 20 | 6.7 | 16% | 24 | 306 | 9 | Peak | 8 |
| Jun | 14–28 | 23 | 3 | 17 | 5.7 | 15% | 23 | 311 | 11 | Moderate | 8 |
| Jul | 17–30 | 27 | 9 | 58 | 6.4 | 26% | 20 | 293 | 11 | Moderate | 8 |
| Aug | 16–27 | 25 | 11 | 70 | 6.4 | 33% | 19 | 282 | 10 | Quiet | 9 |
| Sep | 13–25 | 21 | 5 | 43 | 8.6 | 26% | 18 | 259 | 8 | Moderate | 9 |
| Oct | 6–18 | 14 | 4 | 36 | 9.0 | 29% | 18 | 241 | 6 | Quiet | 8 |
| Nov | 0–10 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 36% | 18 | 210 | 4 | Quiet | 7 |
| Dec | -3–6 | 1 | 5 | 55 | 11.0 | 47% | 17 | 180 | 3 | Quiet | 5 |
UV Index in Grand Canyon by Month
UV index in Grand Canyon peaks at 11 (very high) in July, dropping to 3 (low) in December. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
Best months in detail
September
9/1013–25°C (feels 21°C) · 5 rain days (43h) · 259 sun hours · 26% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
August
9/1016–27°C (feels 25°C) · 11 rain days (70h) · 282 sun hours · 33% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 10 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (extreme)
June
8/1014–28°C (feels 23°C) · 3 rain days (17h) · 311 sun hours · 15% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
5/10-6–3°C (feels -2°C) · 8 rain days (85h) · 184 sun hours · 59% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
February
6/10-5–5°C (feels 0°C) · 6 rain days (55h) · 202 sun hours · 48% humidity · Busy crowd · UV 5 (moderate)
March
5/10-3–8°C (feels 3°C) · 10 rain days (115h) · 233 sun hours · 47% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 6 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 8 (very high)
April
7/103–16°C (feels 10°C) · 4 rain days (38h) · 280 sun hours · 22% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 8 (high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 9 (very high)
May
8/109–22°C (feels 16°C) · 3 rain days (20h) · 306 sun hours · 16% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 9 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 11 (very high)
July
8/1017–30°C (feels 27°C) · 9 rain days (58h) · 293 sun hours · 26% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 11 (very high) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 12 (extreme)
October
8/106–18°C (feels 14°C) · 4 rain days (36h) · 241 sun hours · 29% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 6 (moderate) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 7 (high)
November
7/100–10°C (feels 5°C) · 3 rain days (27h) · 210 sun hours · 36% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 4 (moderate)
December
5/10-3–6°C (feels 1°C) · 5 rain days (55h) · 180 sun hours · 47% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
The North Rim reopened in 2026 with no drinking water anywhere
The two rims are not two viewpoints on one trip. The South Rim is open every day of the year; the North Rim is a seasonal operation roughly 350 km away by road, and it is still recovering from the Dragon Bravo Fire of July 2025, which destroyed around 70 structures including the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and the North Rim Visitor Center.
The North Rim reopened for the 2026 summer season, with the full North Kaibab Trail back in use from 15 May for foot traffic only. But the National Park Service states plainly that potable water is not available anywhere on the North Rim during the 2026 season — including at the North Kaibab Trailhead and Supai Tunnel. Everything you drink, you carry in.
Our monthly figures describe the canyon's climate. They cannot tell you that the rim you picked has no tap.
Sources: NPS — National Park Service welcomes visitors back to the North Rim for the 2026 summer season , NPS — Status of the North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park
What are the best months to visit the Grand Canyon?
For the South Rim, spring and autumn — roughly March to May and September to November — give mild rim temperatures without midsummer heat or crowds. The South Rim is open all year. The North Rim is only a summer option, and in 2026 it carries no potable water at all.
How many days do you need to do the Grand Canyon?
Two full days covers the South Rim viewpoints, a stretch of the Rim Trail and a partial descent below the rim. Add a third day if you want to reach Havasupai Gardens or take the shuttle out to Hermits Rest at a relaxed pace. Rim-to-rim by road is a five-hour drive, so treat the North Rim as a separate trip rather than a day out.
What is the cheapest time to go to the Grand Canyon?
January and February. Gateway lodging in Tusayan and Williams is at its lowest, the South Rim stays open, and the canyon under snow is the view most photographs miss. The trade-off is short daylight and icy rim trails that need traction devices. The North Rim is not an option then in any case — it is a seasonal operation, closed through the winter months.
Is the North Rim open?
It reopened for the 2026 summer season after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, with the North Kaibab Trail open to foot traffic from 15 May. Facilities are heavily reduced — the Grand Canyon Lodge and North Rim Visitor Center were destroyed — and no potable water is available anywhere on the North Rim this season.
When not to visit Grand Canyon?
Late June to early August, if crowds and heat matter to you. The South Rim averages around 29C in July and the inner canyon runs far hotter — every summer brings heat rescues from the Bright Angel Trail. The other window to avoid is any inner-canyon hike in midsummer, when rangers advise being off the trail between 10am and 4pm entirely.
What is the least crowded month at the Grand Canyon?
February. The South Rim stays open all year, gateway lodging is cheapest, and the viewpoints are close to empty compared with the summer peak. Expect snow on the rim, daytime highs near freezing and icy trails that need traction devices — but also the clearest air of the year, since summer haze is largely absent.
What are the temperatures at the Grand Canyon by month?
On the South Rim, July is the warmest month at about 29C by day, while January nights fall to around −6C. The rim sits above 2,100 m, so it is far cooler than Phoenix or Las Vegas year-round. Temperature rises sharply with descent: the inner canyon at Phantom Ranch typically runs 10–15C hotter than the rim on the same afternoon.
Is Grand Canyon colder than Vegas?
Substantially, and visitors underestimate it constantly. The South Rim sits above 2,100 m against Las Vegas at around 600 m, so it runs roughly 10–15C cooler in any given month, and January nights on the rim drop to about −6C. People arrive from a warm Vegas afternoon dressed for the desert and find snow on the rim.
What is the driest month at the Grand Canyon?
June, averaging only about 4 mm of rain, just before the North American monsoon arrives. February is the wettest at around 41 mm, falling largely as snow on the rim. The monsoon brings dramatic but short-lived afternoon thunderstorms in July and August, which carry real lightning risk at exposed viewpoints.
What should a first-time visitor do at the Grand Canyon?
Walk a stretch of the South Rim Trail between Mather Point and Yavapai Geology Museum for the classic panorama, then descend even a short way below the rim — Ooh Aah Point on the South Kaibab is about 45 minutes down — because the canyon only acquires scale when you are inside it. Ride the free Hermit Road shuttle for sunset. Allow twice the time you think for the drive between viewpoints.
Is Zion or the Grand Canyon better?
They answer different questions. The Grand Canyon is about scale viewed from above, and much of the experience is looking rather than walking. Zion puts you on the floor of a narrow canyon with big vertical walls and river hikes, so it rewards people who want to be active. Zion needs the shuttle for most of the year; the Grand Canyon's South Rim is drivable and open all year.
What not to miss at Grand Canyon National Park?
Sunrise or sunset from Hopi or Mather Point, a walk below the rim however brief, and Desert View Watchtower at the eastern end, which most day visitors skip entirely. If you are there in 2026 and considering the North Rim, remember it carries no potable water this season after the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire — everything you drink must be carried in.
Frequently asked questions about visiting Grand Canyon
When is the best time to visit Grand Canyon?
September is the highest-scoring month (9/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 13–25°C (5 rainy days). The top three months by score are September, August, June.
What is the worst time to visit Grand Canyon?
March is the lowest-scoring month (5/10). Typical conditions: -3–8°C (10 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in Grand Canyon?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in November and peaks in March. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
Which months in Grand Canyon have good weather but fewer tourists?
August (climate 9/10, crowd index 38) and September (climate 9/10, crowd index 44) — shoulder months with above-average climate and below-median search-interest. Often the best value-for-weather trade.
What is the UV index in Grand Canyon by month?
UV peaks at 11 (very high) in July and is lowest in December at 3 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan 3, Feb 5, Mar 6, Apr 8, May 9, Jun 11, Jul 11, Aug 10, Sep 8, Oct 6, Nov 4, Dec 3. May, June, July, August reach very high or extreme levels — apply SPF 50+, wear a hat and protective clothing, and limit direct sun between 11:00 and 17:00.
What is the UV index in Grand Canyon in July?
July is the peak UV month in Grand Canyon, with a daily-peak UV index of 11 (very high). At this level, sunburn can occur in under 20 minutes on unprotected fair skin. Apply SPF 50+, wear protective clothing and a hat, and avoid direct midday sun (11:00–17:00).
How high can UV get in Grand Canyon on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 11 (very high), but the top 10% of days reach UV 12 (extreme) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, December. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.