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License Information available under 'Proof of Image Sources'")
Furthermore, we analyzed all climate data and provide a recommendation about which months are best to visit Grand Canyon for your holiday.
Climate Overview
0 °C to 38 °C
0.12 – 0.98 in (0 – 4 Days of Rain)Show temperatures in degree
Geographical location
Table of Contents
The Grand Canyon is one of the greatest natural wonders on earth and delights over 5 million visitors from all over the world every year with its gigantic gorge.
The largest area of the canyon is part of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, dividing the state into two parts. With an area of almost 3100 square miles it is not possible to circumnavigate the Grand Canyon as part of a day tour.
One distinguishes between the South Rim and North Rim, while the Grand Canyon Skywalk is located in an Indian reserve in the so-called “Grand Canyon West” outside the National Park.
It does not offer the real experience of a Grand Canyon visit, and photography is prohibited there.
We therefore strongly recommend the South Rim or North Rim. From all important destinations (e.g. Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix) the southern edge is much easier to reach than the comparatively little visited northern edge.
The Grand Canyon is part of many USA tours together with Yosemite National Park, Monument Valley and Bryce Canyon over Las Vegas and California.
Climate at the Grand Canyon (weather)
The northern edge of the Grand Canyon (North Rim) is on average another 300 metres higher than the South Rim at around 2400 metres above sea level and has a completely different ecosystem. To illustrate the measured values, we have used the values of Phoenix as examples on this page (see climate table); they serve as an orientation for the southern edge of the Grand Canyon.
At the popular southern edge, daily temperatures of over 38 °C are the absolute rule from the end of May to around mid-September, the air is dry and hot. Even at night, temperatures in summer rarely fall below 24 °C. There is no rainy season at the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is noticeably cooler during the year, but also reaches peak temperatures above 40 °C in high summer.
Also the winter at the Gran Canyon is differently strongly pronounced: The south with the Grand Canyon Village is open all year round and only experiences light snowfall in exceptional cases. The wilder North Rim, on the other hand, closes completely due to the weather in winter. As a rule, the facilities on the northern edge are open from May to October. Spring and autumn at the Grand Canyon are still warm, but not as oppressively hot as summer.
Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon: Overview
JanuaryJan MaximumMax. 13 °C Northern Rim closed most of timeNorthern Rim closed | FebruaryFeb MaximumMax. 17 °C Northern Rim closed most of timeNorthern Rim closed | MarchMar Good time to travelGood time PerfectPerf. climate in Grand Canyon | AprilApr Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Grand Canyon | MayMay Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Grand Canyon | JuneJun Hot but good conditionsHot but ok |
JulyJul Very hot but possibleVery hot but ok | AugustAug Very hot but possibleVery hot but ok | SeptemberSep Hot but good conditionsHot but ok | OctoberOct Best time to traveltime PerfectPerf. climate in Grand Canyon | NovemberNov Good time to traveltime mostly PerfectPerf. climate in Grand Canyon | DecemberDec MaximumMax. 14 °C Northern Rim closed most of timeNorthern Rim closed |
When is the best time to travel at the Grand Canyon?
According to our climate records at the most important attraction in the USA, we advise visitors to avoid the enormous heat of the summer months of June, July and August if possible. September can also be very hot, especially in the first half of the month, so you should think of plenty of fluids and remember that the hiking trails up to the valley must be mastered again.
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon (South Rim and North Rim) is therefore March, April and May in spring and mid-September to mid-November in autumn. The southern edge is open all year round as described, here you should think of appropriate clothing in winter from November to the beginning of March. The nights reach lows of 5 °C on average.
Climate Chart Grand Canyon
Show temperatures in degree
Source of Data: German Weather Service (Offenbach) and Wikipedia
Climate Table Grand Canyon
In the following, you will find the climate table for Grand Canyon, containing information about Temperatures, Precipitation, and Hours of Sunshine.Temperatures, Precipitation, Sunshine
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Temperature | 13° | 17° | 22° | 28° | 31° | 34° | 38° | 36° | 34° | 29° | 20° | 14° |
| Night Temperature | 0° | 5° | 9° | 13° | 17° | 22° | 26° | 24° | 21° | 14° | 8° | 2° |
| Precipitation (inch) | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.87 | 0.24 | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.83 | 0.94 | 0.87 | 0.67 | 0.67 | 0.98 |
| Rainy days | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Hours of Sunshine | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
Show temperatures in degree
Temperatures
The annual average temperature is 19.9 °C.For comparison: London 11 °C, NYC 12 °C, LA 17.9 °C
Warmest month: July (32 °C)
Coldest month: January (6.6 °C)
Precipitation
Overall annual precipitation: 7.64 inch on 26 rainy daysFor comparison: London 24.06 in, NYC 41.57 in, LA 12.01 in
There is no rainy season (months with more than 6.9 in of precipitation).
Months that have possible snowfall: January, February, and December
Sunshine
As our climate table shows, June is the sunniest month with an average of 13.6 hours of sunshine per day. Over the year, there are 10.6 hours of sunshine per day on average. For comparison: London has 4.1, NYC has 7 and LA has 8.9 hours of sunshine per day on average.Highlights and Tours
For your first visit to the Grand Canyon we recommend the southern edge of the National Park due to its excellent infrastructure and pleasant journey. It is open 365 days a year and has several lodges as well as restaurants and shops directly in the park. In addition, there are several hotels directly in front of the park entrance (e.g. in Tusayan). However, we strongly advise you to book several months in advance, as many accommodations are quickly booked out.
The Grand Canyon entrance fee (as of 2016) is only $30.00 US Dollars per vehicle including all passengers. The pass is valid for 7 days for South and North Rim. Highlights of the Grand Canyon are the many hiking trails and vantage points, which can also be easily reached by (free) shuttle bus, especially on the southern edge. Outside the park, several organizers offer helicopter sightseeing flights over the canyon.
The park is part of the program of many USA car and bus tours through the southwest of the USA. A popular route is Las Vegas via Hoover Dam to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley and Arches National Park to the Canyonlands and via Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park back to the glittering city of Las Vegas. Longer USA tours also include Yosemite National Park, San Francisco and Los Angeles in California.
Popular Activities
Grand Canyon National Park: 2-Hour Small-Group Hummer Tour
Tours
from 112 $ »
Ride in comfort aboard a hummer and see the dramatic rock formations, gorges, and other natural and cultural wonders of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Grand Canyon: The Ultimate Grand Canyon National Park Tour
Tours
from 229 $ »
Get the ultimate guided tour of the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Learn from your guide about the geology, ecology, and history of America’s most famous natural landmark.
Grand Canyon: Off-Road Sunset Safari with Skip-the-Gate Tour
Tours
from 123 $ »
Bypass long lines and venture off-road down historic stagecoach trails through the Kaibab Forest. Visit viewpoints along the Canyon’s edge and enjoy sunset views on this guided skip-the-gate tour.
More attractions
Grand Canyon National Park: Guided Sunset Hummer Tour | Grand Canyon South Rim: Self-Guided Tour | Grand Canyon: IMAX Movie Experience with Optional Lunch | Grand Canyon: Morning Off-Road Safari with Skip the Gate | Shuttle Between Grand Canyon South Rim and Page | Ultimate Arizona Self-Guided Driving & Walking Tours Bundle | Grand Canyon & Sedona: Self-Guided Driving Tour Bundle |Current Weather and Forecast
Current Weather in Grand Canyon (Station Coconino County)
clear sky, 3.3 °CClouds: 0 % Wind: 0 mph
Air Pressure: 1022 hPa Humidity: 65 %
Air Pressure: 1022 hPa Humidity: 65 %
Last updated: 7th Feb 2023, 11:38 am
The next days …
| 7th Feb 2023 | 8th Feb 2023 | 9th Feb 2023 | 10th Feb 2023 | 11th Feb 2023 | 12th Feb 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 3 °C to 12 °C | 5 °C to 15 °C | 4 °C to 10 °C | 4 °C to 13 °C |  5 °C to 14 °C |  3 °C to 7 °C |
| 3 °C to 12 °C | 5 °C to 15 °C | 4 °C to 10 °C | 4 °C to 13 °C | 5 °C to 14 °C | 3 °C to 7 °C |
| Clouds: 0 % | Clouds: 3 % | Clouds: 5 % | Clouds: 3 % | Clouds: 42 % | Clouds: 99 % |
| No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | No Precipitation | 0.15 in of rain |
Weather information provided by OpenWeatherMap. (CC BY-SA)
Show temperatures in degree
USA: Regions
Grand Canyon is part of the holiday destination USA. We analyzed the climate for additional regions, in order to provide you with information about the best time to visit and the expected holiday weather:USA | Las Vegas | California | Florida | Southern United States | New York | Chicago | Alaska | Hawaii | Miami | Key West | Los Angeles | San Francisco | Washington D.C. | Seattle | Boston | San Diego | Orlando | New Orleans | Fort Myers |
Hottest Month
July: 38 °C
Day Temperature
July: 38 °CDay Temperature
Coldest Month
January: 0 °C
Night Temperature
January: 0 °CNight Temperature
Rainiest Month
December: 0.98 in
Rain
December: 0.98 inRain
Driest Month
May: 0.12 in
Rain
May: 0.12 inRain
Sunniest Month
June: 13.6 hours/day
Sunshine
June: 13.6 hours/daySunshine
Activities and Attractions
U.S. Southwest: 27-Tour Bundle on Self-Guided Driving App
National Parks
from 64 $ »
16+ National Parks Self-Guided Driving Tours Bundle
Tours
from 64 $ »
Distances to Grand Canyon
| London | New York | Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | 5130 mi | 2070 mi | 380 mi |
Where’s Grand Canyon?
Show Grand Canyon on MapContinent: North America
All Holiday Destinations in North AmericaShare your Experience and Win
We want to know: how was the weather during your Grand Canyon holiday? You can win a travel coupon of 1000 $. The price will be raffled among all submissions.
Grand Canyon: Experiences of our Visitors
We were hiking from the North Rim for 4 days at the end of April and had nice hiking weather during the day around 22 degrees, at night however uncomfortably cold under 10 degrees, the last day it even began to snow at times.
Weather Rating: 2 stars – Tricky
Best hiking weather mid to late September on the trails in the canyon. Very warm during the day, pleasantly cool in the early morning hours. We didn’t need a sleeping bag.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
Very warm but overall perfect travel weather. Dreamlike sunrise and sunset impressions, a few cumulus clouds paired with bright sunshine. Spectacular photo motives! Would travel again anytime in September.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent
We had great weather conditions. The sun was shining all day on our 3 days of travel. It was nice and warm, but not too hot. The nights were pleasantly cool. It was ideal weather for our hike to Phantom Ranch, as well as for the way back the next day.
Weather Rating: 5 stars – Excellent