How Far Is Zion National Park From Grand Canyon?
It depends entirely on which rim you mean. Zion to the Grand Canyon North Rim is about 110 miles and roughly a 2-hour drive; Zion to the far more famous South Rim is about 255 miles and roughly 4.5 hours. The North Rim is the closest piece of the Grand Canyon to Zion by a wide margin — about 145 miles and 2.5 hours shorter than the South Rim — which catches most first-time visitors off guard.
North Rim: the close one (110 miles, ~2 hours)
From Springdale and Zion’s south entrance you head east on SR-9 over the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, then south on US-89 and AZ-67, the highway that dead-ends at the North Rim. It’s roughly 110 miles and a little over two hours of genuinely scenic driving across the Kaibab Plateau. The catch: the North Rim is seasonal. AZ-67 and the rim’s facilities are open only from mid-May (it reopened May 15 for the 2026 season) through mid-October, and the road closes entirely once heavy snow arrives.
South Rim: the famous one (255 miles, ~4.5 hours)
When people picture the Grand Canyon — Mather Point, the Bright Angel Trail, the village and the railway — they’re picturing the South Rim. From Zion that’s about 255 miles and 4 to 4.5 hours, running US-89 south through Kanab and Page, or via Flagstaff, before climbing up to the rim. The South Rim is open year-round and has far more lodging, dining, and shuttle infrastructure than the North Rim, which is why most itineraries point here despite the longer drive.
What most people get wrong: assuming “the Grand Canyon” is one drive
The single biggest mistake is treating “Grand Canyon” as a single destination a fixed distance from Zion. The two rims are only about 10 miles apart as the crow flies but roughly 210 miles and 4–5 hours apart by car, because you have to drive all the way around the canyon — there’s no road across it. Plan for the specific rim you want. If you only have time for a quick add-on to a Zion trip and you’re visiting in summer or early fall, the North Rim is the obvious choice. If you want the classic Grand Canyon experience or you’re traveling in winter, you’re committing to the South Rim and the longer haul. A second gotcha for 2026: the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, so there is no in-park overnight lodging on the North Rim this season even though the roads, viewpoints, and trails have reopened — base in Kanab or near Zion instead.
Where to stay: Hotels in Springdale and Kanab: a central base for reaching both Zion and the Grand Canyon North Rim
Frequently asked questions
Renting a car? Most Utah parks trips start in Salt Lake City or Las Vegas — compare prices across every major rental company:
How far is Zion from the Grand Canyon North Rim?
About 110 miles and a little over 2 hours by car via SR-9, US-89, and AZ-67 — the closest part of the Grand Canyon to Zion.
How far is Zion from the Grand Canyon South Rim?
About 255 miles and 4 to 4.5 hours, typically via US-89 through Kanab and Page or via Flagstaff.
Can you visit Zion and the Grand Canyon in the same trip?
Yes. Pairing Zion with the North Rim is an easy two-park day or overnight in summer and fall; pairing with the South Rim works best as part of a longer multi-day Southwest road trip.
Why is the North Rim so much closer than the South Rim?
The two rims sit only about 10 miles apart across the canyon, but there’s no road across it — driving from one to the other means going roughly 210 miles around, which is why the North Rim is far closer to Zion.
Is the Grand Canyon North Rim open year-round?
No. The North Rim is seasonal, generally open mid-May through mid-October; AZ-67 closes for winter snow. The South Rim is open all year.
Keep planning your trip: Zion National Park guide · 7-day Utah road trip.
