Grand Canyon tours from Phoenix and Scottsdale

7 min read Updated November 2026 Compare all tours

From Phoenix and Scottsdale the canyon is a long day away. The NPS gives the distance as 231 miles and the drive as about four hours, north on I-17 to Flagstaff, west on I-40 to Williams and up Highway 64. Tours rarely take that direct line. Most leave I-17 for Sedona, 113 miles from Phoenix according to Visit Sedona, and then climb through Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff. That adds the red rocks to the day and breaks up the drive, but it also explains why only two or three hours remain for the canyon.

If you have two days, staying a night in Flagstaff or Sedona and joining a tour from there gives you more time at the rim; our page on tours from Sedona and Flagstaff compares them. There is no direct shuttle bus from Phoenix to the canyon: Groome Transportation runs from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Flagstaff and connects there.

What each day tour includes

All these tours drive through Sedona or stop there, so the differences lie in the paperwork: who pays the park entry, how the fee for non-US visitors is handled and whether you eat on the way or bring food.

Tour	Group	Park entrance	Fee for non-US residents	Meals	Desert View	From	From
Grand Canyon, Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon from PhoenixAcross Arizona Tours	Small group	Included	Extra	None	No	$226	Book on GetYourGuide
Grand Canyon and Sedona day trip from Phoenix in a high-roof vanDetours Arizona	Small group	Included	Extra	None	No	$229	Book on GetYourGuide
Sedona and Grand Canyon small-group day trip from PhoenixArizona Scenic Tours	Small group	Included	Extra	None	No	$295	Book on GetYourGuide
Grand Canyon and Sedona from Scottsdale with lunchWandering Heart Adventures	Small group	Included	Extra	Lunch	No	$270	Book on GetYourGuide
Sedona and Grand Canyon day trip from Phoenix or ScottsdalePlatformPoints	Small group	Not stated	Not stated	None	No	$425	Book on GetYourGuide
Grand Canyon and Sedona day trip from Phoenix, park fees includedElegant Travel	Small group	Included	Included	Snacks	Not stated	$270	Book on Viator

Inclusions as listed on the tour pages; check them again when you book. The fee for international visitors is charged by the National Park Service at the gate or by the operator before the tour. Prices come from the booking platforms and change; if you book through these links we earn a commission.

Who pays the fee for non-US visitors

Since 2026, each non-US resident aged 16 and over pays a $100 nonresident fee at Grand Canyon National Park on top of the entrance fee, also when travelling with a tour company. Children aged 15 and under pay neither. On the Phoenix tours the standard entry for US residents is usually in the price, and each operator handles the fee in its own way.

Wandering Heart Adventures says the $100 is paid at the park entrance and is not part of the tour price. Detours Arizona must confirm each guest’s citizenship and collects the fee in advance, unless you show a non-resident America the Beautiful pass; bring a passport or ID card. Arizona Scenic Tours discusses the options with you after booking, for example the annual pass for groups of three or more or for visitors who plan to see other national parks, and can help you get it. Across Arizona Tours lists the park fees as included but adds that non-US residents might have to pay the additional $100. Elegant Travel includes entrance fees for both US and non-US residents. The PlatformPoints listing mentions neither entry nor the fee. The page on entrance fees and passes explains when the $250 non-resident pass pays off.

Day trips with Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon

Across Arizona Tours crosses the Sonoran Desert, stops among Sedona’s red rocks, follows Oak Creek Canyon and spends the afternoon at several South Rim viewpoints and El Tovar. A driver-guide gives live commentary, bottled water is included, and the tour stops for lunch and dinner, which you pay for yourself. Pickup is at hotels in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa or at a pickup point nearby. Children under 3 cannot join, the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the operator asks you to bring a jacket from autumn to spring.

Reviewers often mention the small group, regular toilet breaks and lunch at a trading post. The critical voices describe a day much longer than advertised: one guest counted more than 15 hours, of which about two were at the canyon, and could hear little of the commentary until the guide put the microphone on.

Detours Arizona uses high-roof vans with 9 or 13 seats, stops in Sedona, drives through Oak Creek Canyon and gives you about three hours around Grand Canyon Village, El Tovar and Hopi House. Pickup is at select hotels between 6 and 7 am, but the operator says it is not guaranteed and you may have to meet at another hotel; you must also call at least 72 hours before the tour to confirm. A folding wheelchair or walker can come along if you can climb three large van steps unaided. Children under 3 are not taken on the shared tour.

Arizona Scenic Tours visits the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Uptown Sedona, drives through Oak Creek Canyon and spends about two and a half hours at the South Rim, with a guided overlook and a second viewpoint on your own. It picks up across the metro area, including home rentals, in Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Phoenix and Peoria, and runs with at least two adults. All ages are welcome if you bring the child seats. One review from 2024 complains that the group was squeezed into a minivan rather than the roomy van described.

Scottsdale starts, smaller groups and a private van

Wandering Heart Adventures reverses the order. It reaches the park first, with two main viewpoints and free time in Grand Canyon Village, about three hours in all, and then serves lunch before Uptown Sedona and a photo stop at Red Rock State Park. Pickup in Scottsdale is between 5 and 6 am from September to February. The operator warns that fog can hide the canyon now and then. One guest from 2024 found the lunch, a salad eaten in the van, disappointing.

PlatformPoints stops at Bell Rock Vista, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and Uptown Sedona and then spends up to three hours at the South Rim, with Grand Canyon Village and Yavapai Point. The listing has a shared and a private option. Critical reviews mention fast driving on the mountain roads and a cancellation without notice.

Elegant Travel takes up to ten guests from a car park in front of Einstein Bros. Bagels at 8 am, where you can leave your car free of charge during the tour. The day stops at the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the crafts market at the Oak Creek Canyon Vista, then spends about two hours at the Grand Canyon in the afternoon. Wi-Fi, water and snacks are included. This tour cannot be refunded once booked.

Detours Arizona also sells its day as a private tour in an SUV. The price is per group, and the driver collects you between 6 and 7.30 am from most hotels and private homes in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area. More options for a party of your own are on the private tours page.

Food, water and the climb to 7,000 feet

The canyon rim sits at about 7,000 feet. Wandering Heart Adventures says it is on average about 30°F cooler there than in Phoenix or Scottsdale, and in November the NPS averages show a daytime high of 52°F (11°C) and nights below freezing. Take a warm layer even when Phoenix is hot.

Since a flash flood on 29 August 2026, the South Rim has been open for day visits with water restrictions. As of November 2026 the NPS asks visitors to bring their own water where possible, and its operations update of 4 November lists the El Tovar Dining Room and the Maswik food court as closed, while the Canyon Village Market is open from 7 am to 7 pm. Most Phoenix tours stop for meals on the way, but water and a snack in your bag are useful. Check the NPS current conditions page before the day.