Grand Canyon South Rim??

[sam4msu]

When visiting the south rim should I point my car toward the town of Grand Canyon? Is that really a town or is it just the point at which all of us tourists go to see the big hole??
Thanks
Sam

[ftuley]

The Grand Canyon
is a park located in the state of Arizona, and is an integral part of the desert culture and image of the southwestern U.S.A. There is the Grand Canyon Village located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. The village is one of the most popular tourist destinations for the Grand Canyon, attracting over five million visitors a year. The drive follows the canyon’s South Rim to Grand Canyon Village. There are two ways to approach the Canyon: the remote Grand Canyon North Rim and the more accessible (and therefore more crowded) South Rim. The majority of visitors to the South Rim of the park arrive from the south on Arizona highway 64 North (AZ64N)
(conjoined with US highway 180). Alternately, one can enter the south rim from the east on AZ64.

For the south entrance: from Flagstaff, you can take US hwy 180 (US180) northwest to Valle where it joins with AZ64N, and continue north to the south rim; or take I-40 west toward Williams to the junction with AZ64N and continue north to the south rim. Both routes are approximately 80 miles (129 km). The approx 60 miles (97 km) on US180 is a narrow 2-lane mountain road through a heavily forested area. The I-40 west is a wide multi-lane interstate for approx 20 miles (32 km), to AZ64N route which is a slightly wider, less mountainous 2-lane highway, and the recommended route during winter weather. There are two lanes at this entrance reserved for pass and prepaid entrance fees (now lanes 1 and 4), which can be pre-purchased outside of the park at the National Geographic Theater/Visitor Center.

For the east entrance, take US89 south from Page, AZ or north from Flagstaff to the junction with AZ64 at Cameron. It is approx 25 miles (40 km) from the junction to the east entrance of the park, and approx 25 miles (40 km) from the east entrance to the south rim village area. Click here to see Grand Canyon Maps or this one North rim map and one more Grand Canyon Village map.
Visitors to the North Rim use highway Alt-89 to highway 67 (closed in winter). I hope this helps.

Click here for more information: Things to Do in Arizona, Grand Canyon Tours.

[grandier]

^ it seems like ftuley had already answered the question. Anyway, i could still remember that i've had the same "direction" problem as yours when i last visited Grand Canyon. Advice for first time visitors? research on the net or read on forums like this. gee :)