JULY & AUGUST · MONSOON SEASON
“Most are surprised to see this weather in Arizona.”
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Interagency Access Pass
The offer is not valid with the Interagency Annual Pass. If you are a holder of an Access Pass or Senior Pass (formerly known as Golden Access or Golden Age passes) you can receive a 50% discount off of established standard rates at Bridge Bay, Canyon, Grant and Madison Campgrounds. The offer is not valid for Fishing Bridge RV Park. You must show your pass at check-in to receive the discount on your site only. Otherwise you will be charged the prevailing standard rate. For more information about Interagency passes, please visit this page on the NPS website.
Grand Canyon South Rim · Summer 2026
Cool off at 7,000 feet.
While the rest of the Arizona desert bakes, the Grand Canyon South Rim stays in the low 80s. The canyon keeps its own climate — and right now, it belongs to you.
106°F
PHOENIX, AZ · NEAR 1,000 ft
The Pavement Is Hot Enough
to Fry an Egg.
Phoenix averages 106°F in July. In 2024, the city saw 100+ degree temperatures for 100 days straight — a record. Las Vegas hit a high of 120°F. Scottsdale pools feel like warm soup.
84°F
SOUTH RIM, GRAND CANYON · 7,000 ft
The Rim Keeps Its Own Climate.
At 7,000 feet elevation, the South Rim averages a high of 84°F in July — 22 degrees cooler than Phoenix. Mornings start crisp. Evenings feel like a different state entirely. All in the largest Ponderosa pine forest in the U.S.
THE MISCONCEPTION
Everyone thinks Arizona is scorching.
The rim tells a different story.
The canyon’s reputation for heat belongs to the inner gorge — not the South Rim. At 7,000 feet above sea level, the rim sits in a completely different climate zone. While hikers heading to the bottom encounter temperatures over 100°F, guests staying at the lodges spend their days in the low 80s, their evenings in the 50s, and wake up to mornings that feel nothing like an Arizona summer.
SOUTH RIM ELEVATION
7,000 ft
Above sea level — nearly a mile higher than Phoenix.
JULY AVG. HIGH — PHOENIX
106°F
Historical NOAA average (2024 hit 110°+ almost every day)
JULY AVG. HIGH — SOUTH RIM
84°F
NPS historical averageLow humidity. No urban heat island.
JULY AVG. LOW — SOUTH RIM
54°F
Bring a layer for evening.Seriously.
What Summer Actually Feels Like at 7,000 Feet.
Mornings come in cool and clear. By midday you’re in a light layer or a t-shirt — not shade-seeking or sprinting between air-conditioned buildings. Evenings feel like October in a place you’ve always wanted to be.
Summer also brings the monsoon season (mid-July through August) — afternoon thunderstorms that roll in dramatic and fast, lighting up the canyon with a kind of electricity you can’t manufacture. They pass. The air turns clean. The views get sharp.
South Rim highs average 81–84°F June–August. Afternoon monsoon storms are common July–August. The inner canyon is significantly hotter — NPS advises against inner-canyon hiking midday in summer.
A DAY AT THE RIM
WHERE TO STAY
Lodges built for the rim.
Available for the summer.
El Tovar Hotel
THE HERITAGE ANCHOR
Built in 1905 and still the most storied address on the South Rim. Dining room with rim views. History you can sleep in.
Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins
RIM ACCESS. CANYON SOUL.
Steps from the trailhead. Rustic warmth and direct rim access since 1935. Wake up with the canyon already in view.
Thunderbird & Kachina Lodges
MODERN COMFORT. RIM LOCATION.
Contemporary rooms steps from the rim. Updated amenities and that unbeatable South Rim address.
Maswik Lodge
THE ACCESSIBLE BASE CAMP
A short walk from the rim. Spacious, relaxed, and on the shuttle route. Ideal for families and groups who want the full park experience.
The Grand Hotel &
Grand Canyon Hotel and Suites
GATEWAY COMFORT
Just outside the park in Tusayan — modern amenities, swimming pools, and more space without sacrificing canyon country atmosphere.
America's 250th
SUMMER 2026
The most American summer, at the most American landmark. Book before the season is gone.
THIS SUMMER
Trade the heat for the rim.
While the rest of the Southwest measures summer in how long you can stand outside, the South Rim measures it in canyon light. Book your stay before availability runs out.