National Parks in Arizona
Arizona has 3 national parks: Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Saguaro National Park. None of them requires an entry reservation.
Fees and rules checked against NPS.gov · Updated October 6, 2026
Grand Canyon
Arizona
A mile-deep gorge cut by the Colorado River, with two very different rims.
$35 per car1 video
Petrified Forest
Arizona
Colorful badlands of the Painted Desert and fields of 200-million-year-old petrified logs
$25 per car
Saguaro
Arizona
Two desert districts on either side of Tucson, filled with giant saguaro cactus forests
$25 per car
Compare the parks
| Park | Entry | Reservation | Best time to go | How long to stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon | $35 per car | Not required | March to May and September to November for comfortable hiking. Summer is busy and hot below the rim. Winter brings snow-dusted views and few crowds on the South Rim. | 1 to 2 days on the South Rim; add a day or two for an inner-canyon hike. |
| Petrified Forest | $25 per car | Not required | April, May, September and October bring mild days, while summer is hot with afternoon monsoon storms. | Half a day covers the main stops; a full day lets you add longer hikes. |
| Saguaro | $25 per car | Not required | November through April brings mild, sunny days, and late April through June is the time to see saguaros in bloom. | One day covers both districts at a fast pace; two days lets you hike in each. |
Planning guides
- Best Time to Visit Grand Canyon National ParkWhen to visit Grand Canyon: South Rim and North Rim seasons, inner-canyon heat, monsoon storms, winter snow, crowds, and what is open in fall 2026.
- Grand Canyon South Rim Itinerary: How to Spend 1 or 2 DaysA 1- or 2-day South Rim plan: free shuttle routes, Hermit Road, the best viewpoints, rim and below-rim day hikes, sunrise and sunset spots, and where to stay.
- Best Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park15 Grand Canyon hikes from the paved Rim Trail to Plateau Point, with NPS distances, elevation, fall 2026 flood closures, water status and heat safety.
- Camping in Grand Canyon National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations and TipsGrand Canyon camping for fall 2026: Mather, Desert View and North Rim campgrounds, Recreation.gov booking, dry camping rules, RV limits and backcountry permits.
Nearby parks in other states
- Zion National ParkUtah · about 90 miles as the crow flies
- Bryce Canyon National ParkUtah · about 103 miles as the crow flies
- Capitol Reef National ParkUtah · about 158 miles as the crow flies
- Mesa Verde National ParkColorado · about 168 miles as the crow flies
- Canyonlands National ParkUtah · about 208 miles as the crow flies
See the full list of U.S. national parks · Open the park map · Compare park passes