Grand Canyon is Open. South Rim hotels in Tusayan are open for business.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is Arizona's largest airport and the most common starting point for South Rim trips — about 231 miles, a 3-hour-35-minute drive, from the Grand Canyon. It has the widest flight selection in the region, with onward regional connections to Flagstaff and Page. There are no scenic flights direct to the canyon from PHX; Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines flies the canyon from Boulder City near Las Vegas, where we've operated since 1927.
Jump to canyon routes ↓The spec snapshot. Sources: FAA / City of Phoenix, May 2026.
Tap a landmark to highlight it. Distances per Google Maps, June 2026.
PHX is the workhorse for Arizona travel — barely 3 miles from downtown Phoenix, with the widest, cheapest flight selection in the state. For the Grand Canyon it's a 231-mile, 3-hour-35-minute drive to the South Rim, or a short regional connection onward.
Many canyon travelers fly PHX, then either drive, connect to Flagstaff (FLG) on American Eagle and drive the last 90 minutes, or fly Page (PGA) on Contour for Antelope Canyon. To actually fly over the canyon, route to Las Vegas and connect to our scenic flights from Boulder City.
The signature view. Toggle canyon access vs. who flies into PHX.
Phoenix isn't a scenic-flight base, but it's the broadest gateway. For the South Rim, drive (3h 35m) or connect to Flagstaff (FLG) on American Eagle and drive the last 90 minutes. For Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell, Contour flies Page (PGA). To fly over the canyon itself, route to Las Vegas and connect to our Boulder City scenic flights.
South Rim pick
* Regional airline schedules & fares are set by the operating carriers and vary; Contour Page fares starting at, as of June 2026. Scenic flights are operated by Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines from Boulder City (BLD), near Las Vegas. Confirm current schedules & fares at booking.
| Route | Time | Mode | Operator | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix → Flagstaff (FLG) then ~1h 30m drive |
~50 min | Regional air | American Eagle | Shortest drive to South Rim | Fares vary |
| Phoenix → Page (PGA) Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell |
~1h 15m | Regional air | Contour Airlines | Slot canyons & Lake Powell | $99* |
| Phoenix → South Rim by road via I-17 & AZ-64 |
3h 35m | Drive | — | Direct self-drive · 231 mi | — |
| Phoenix → Las Vegas → Boulder City connect to scenic flights |
~1h 10m + transfer | Air + scenic | Major carriers → GCSA | Flying over the canyon | see routes |
A top-ten US hub — the widest schedule of any Arizona airport.
Phoenix Sky Harbor is an American Airlines hub and a major Southwest Airlines base — together those two carry more than 70% of passengers. Every major US carrier plus a growing roster of international airlines serve PHX, with onward regional connections to Flagstaff (FLG) and Page (PGA) that put the Grand Canyon region within easy reach.
| Carrier group | Role at PHX | Terminal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Major hub | T4 | Hub American Eagle connects to FLG |
| Southwest Airlines | Large base | T4 | With AA, carries 70%+ of passengers |
| Delta · United · Alaska · Frontier | Network & low-cost | T3 / T4 | Nationwide nonstops |
| International & regional | Intl carriers · Contour to PGA | T3 / T4 | ~5% intl; Contour serves Page (PGA) |
3 miles from downtown. PHX Sky Train links terminals, transit & rentals.
Sky Harbor is unusually central. Taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles serve both terminals; the PHX Sky Train links to Valley Metro light rail at the 44th Street station.
Drive I-17 north to AZ-64 for the South Rim, or connect to Flagstaff (FLG) and drive the last 90 minutes. For Page, fly Contour or drive ~4h 20m.
The free, 24-hour PHX Sky Train connects both terminals to the consolidated Rental Car Center and light rail — no shuttle bus required.
The credibility layer. Pilot data in the collapsible block.
| Runway | Length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 8/26 | 11,489 ft (3,502 m) | Longest |
| 7R/25L | 10,300 ft (3,139 m) | Widebody-capable |
| 7L/25R | 7,800 ft (2,377 m) | Inner parallel |
Calendar year 2024 (City of Phoenix Aviation Dept.).
Drop replacements in. Filenames preset for the image pack.
Which airport should you use? Compare, then pick.
| Code | Airport | To South Rim | Service | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLG | Flagstaff Pulliam Flagstaff, AZ |
81 mi / 1h 32m | Commercial | Nearest commercial airport to the rim | Compare → |
| GCN | Grand Canyon National Park Tusayan, AZ |
1 mi to park entrance | Charter / scenic | Arriving at the rim by air | Guide → |
| PGA | Page Municipal Page, AZ |
130 mi / 2h 30m | Commercial | Antelope Canyon & Lake Powell | Guide → |
| LAS | Harry Reid International Las Vegas, NV |
via scenic flight | Commercial | Connecting to canyon scenic flights | Guide → |
| AZA | Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Mesa, AZ |
240 mi / ~3h 45m | Commercial | Low-cost (Allegiant) alternative | Compare → |
Tap any question to expand.
Drive or connect to the South Rim and Page from PHX — or route to Las Vegas and fly the canyon with Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines, flying the canyon from Boulder City since 1927.