Getting there: distance by car to the South Rim is 512 miles from LA, 277 miles from Las Vegas, 224 miles from Phoenix. Driving time from Flagstaff in Arizona is about 1hr 30mins.
By air: Arizona has a number of scenic airlines offering trips from Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson and Lake Powell. Most UK tour operators feature pre-bookable flights by helicopter or aircraft from Las Vegas for short hops, full day and overnight trips. An overnight excursion costs from about £140.
By rail: the Grand Canyon Railway operates a regular steam-train service from Williams to the South Rim. The rail journey covers some 65 miles of northern Arizona countryside and arrives just steps from the Rim.
Location: points of entrance to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are through Tusayan Highway 180 and Desert View on Highway 64. Entrance to the North Rim is via Jacob Lake on Highway 67.
Dimensions: depth of the inner South Rim is 4,500ft; inner North Rim 5,700ft. The Canyon is 10 miles wide and 277 miles long and the highest elevation is the North Rim at 8,200ft. The Grand Canyon 2bn years old.
Best time to visit: greatest traffic congestion is in late morning or mid-afternoon. Try to arrive before 10am and after 2pm to avoid long lines at the entrance station.