A guided three-hour drive in an open-air Jeep from Tusayan along Desert View Drive, with viewpoint stops, a geology talk and time at the Desert View Watchtower at the east end of the South Rim.
Most South Rim visitors see Mather Point and the village and never make it east along Desert View Drive, the 23-mile road that runs along the rim to the Desert View Watchtower. It is a quieter side of the park, with views upriver where the canyon opens out toward the Painted Desert. This guided tour covers the whole drive in an open-air Jeep Wrangler, with a guide handling the driving, parking and commentary. Tours leave from the operator's desk at the IMAX Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Tusayan, just south of the park entrance.
The route follows the paved road east with stops at several viewpoints. Your guide gives a geology presentation along the way, explaining the layers you can see and how the Colorado River cut them, and the tour finishes at Desert View, where you have time to climb the Watchtower, designed by Mary Colter in the 1930s, and look down on the river. Viewpoints vary with traffic and conditions. Lipan Point is one of the usual stops, and viewpoints can be closed for maintenance, in which case your guide uses others.
The Jeeps are open-sided with a canopy for shade, and in colder months the operator adds side enclosures and heat. There is no air conditioning, so summer afternoons are warm and winter mornings are cold. Some stops involve short walks on gravel or uneven paths, and you need to climb in and out of the vehicle on your own. Children aged 2 and over can join. Park entry for the tour is included, but only for the tour itself.
Weigh the price against your options. If you have a car, you can drive Desert View Drive yourself for the cost of park entry. The tour earns its place if you want a guide who knows the geology, if you do not want to drive after a long trip, or if you would rather spend your time looking than parking. Sunset departures on the same road are also offered.
What to expect
The experience
Check in at the tour desk inside the IMAX Grand Canyon Visitor Center in Tusayan. Arrive about 30 minutes before departure. About 23 miles of Desert View Drive to the eastern end of the South Rim, with several viewpoint stops and a guided geology talk. The tour ends its outbound leg at the Desert View Watchtower, where you can climb the tower and look down on the Colorado River.
Best time
Morning light is softer on the eastern viewpoints, and sunset departures run along the same road.
How long
Plan for about 3 hours.
Tips
Open-air Jeep Wranglers with a shade canopy. Side panels and heaters are used in cold weather, and there is no air conditioning. Park entry for the tour is included. Non-US residents aged 16 and over owe the nonresident fee, which the operator collects at check-in by cash or card. The operator's two-hour Grand Entrance tour goes as far as Grandview Point if you are short on time. Layers and a hat. It can be cold and windy in an open Jeep even in spring and fall.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Visitors without a car, or anyone who wants a guide to explain the geology along the quieter east side of the rim.
- Families
- Check the minimum age, height and weight limits when you book; most of these trips suit older children and teens best.
- Couples
- A shared outdoor adventure that gets you off the main viewpoints and into the landscape.
- Pair with
- Pairs well with Desert View Bus Tour or South Rim Helicopter Flight if you have a second day.
- Time needed
- About 3 hours.
Good questions
Where does the tour start?+
At the operator's desk in the IMAX Grand Canyon Visitor Center on Route 64 in Tusayan, just outside the park's South Entrance. Hotel pickup is not part of the tour.
Is the park entrance fee included?+
Yes, for the tour itself. If you want to go back into the park later, you need your own park pass. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay the nonresident fee.
Is this an off-road tour?+
No. This route stays on paved roads. The operator's South Rim Journey adds a mild off-road section if you want some dirt road.
Can young children come?+
Children aged 2 and over are welcome. Everyone must be able to get in and out of the Jeep without help and stay seated during the drive.
Is Lipan Point included?+
Not always. Viewpoints can close for maintenance, in which case your guide will use others.
