Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona close to nothing. The South Rim Visitor Center is the most popular location for visiting the park. It offers the best views, has the most facilities and is the most accessible. The North Rim Visitor Center is less accessible and closes from late October to mid May , but some backpackers and hikers who wish to avoid the tourist crowds prefer it. Commercial airline service operates between Las Vegas Nevada, Flagstaff Arizona or Phoenix Arizona and the Grand Canyon airport at Tusayan just a few miles south of the South Rim Visitor Center.
Most people view the canyon from the South Rim Trail .
It is closed to automobile traffic from May to October , but free shuttle buses take tourists to all the vantage points. There are trails down into the canyon for serious hikers and backpackers , and even mule rides if you reserve well in advance. The National Park Service maintains Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. It contains several hotels and restaurants, a gas station, grocery store, Laundromat and several souvenir shops. The small village of Tusayan is about 6 miles south of the rim.