Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Grand Canyon South Rim

Experience the ultimate Grand Canyon South Rim adventure with a comprehensive audio tour. Discover famous highlights and hidden gems, with stories, tips, and directions automatically playing based on your location.

Duration: 16 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Grand Canyon South Rim - As the audio guides play commentary based on your GPS location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route(s) to match your interests and schedule.

Or you can use our trip planners for our suggestions on half, full, or multi-day itineraries.

Some of the many highlights are listed below;

  • Desert View Drive - Scenic Route 64 travels between the East Entrance and Grand Canyon Village, following alongside the Rim for about 25 miles.

This is a lovely scenic drive with many stunning viewpoints to stop and enjoy including Desert View, Navajo Point, Lipan Point, Moran Point, Grandview Point, and Duck on a Rock. The stunning climax of the drive is the Desert View Watchtower.

A very worthwhile cultural stop and opportunity to learn more about Ancestral Puebloans is available at the Tusayan Museum and Ruins.

  • Grand Canyon Village - The historic heart of the Grand Canyon and location of famous lodges and businesses, including the Kolb and Lookout Studios.

The Village area is very compact and we will have to park the car and explore the Rim Trail on foot, which is something not to be missed.

There are many superb views from the flat trail. The log train station and the mule barn are popular sightseeing locations in the Village.

  • Williams - Considered the gateway to the Grand Canyon, the town of Williams also has one of the best-preserved Route 66 experiences along its Main St with diner cafes, shopping, and lodging.

This is the start location for many visitors first arriving to see the Grand Canyon.

  • Duck on a Rock Viewpoint - No spoilers - we don’t really want to get too deep into why Duck Rock has its name, but you can probably work out why easily enough!

Just want you to know that it is a highlight that will be pointed out as we tour along Desert View Drive.

  • Chapel of the Holy Dove - This tiny A-shaped Ponderosa log chapel sits along Hwy 180 in the Coconino National Forest on the route between Flagstaff and the South Entrance.

Built in 1961/62 by the Watson Family who were medical practitioners in nearby Grand Canyon. The chapel remains open for all passersby for prayer or reflection, or even just a pretty photo.

  • Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower - The highlight of the 25-mile Desert View Drive that connects the Village to the eastern entrance to the park.

The tower is an architectural masterpiece by Mary Colter, in the Ancestral Puebloan style and offers impressive 100-mile views up and down the canyon on clear days.

Enjoy the architecture, location, and the collection of artifacts contained inside the tower.

  • Lipan Point - Lipan Point is one of the not-to-be-missed stops along Desert View Drive. Look way down to the Colorado River and you might be able to see powerful whitewater rapids. Hance Rapid is one of the most challenging along the river and is a class 7 to 8.

One of the most active archaeological sites in the Grand Canyon is at Unkar Delta, once home to Ancestral Puebloan people. This is one of only a few places in the South Rim where you can see The Grand Canyon Supergroup - layers of rock strata, all the way down to the Vishnu Basement Rocks, oldest at the canyon.

  • Little Colorado River Gorge - For visitors arriving from Cameron, AZ, the Little Colorado River Gorge might offer the first stop and sneak peek into what lays ahead after entering the National Park.

Although, it’s actually one of the largest tributary arms of the Grand Canyon, at over 3,000 feet (910 m) deep.

The Navajo Tribal Park offers an overlook and picnic ground facilities for a small entrance fee.

  • Grandview Point - One of the many scenic viewpoints along Desert View Drive, but this is one you won’t want to miss.

Panoramic views into the Grand Canyon and glimpses of the Colorado River. Popular also as it’s the location of the now dismantled Grandview Hotel. First built as a simple mining cabin and then expanded as tourism grew.

The Grandview Trail follows an original Native American route, that was also used to access the copper, gold, and silver mines, before the National Park was established. It’s a hike that requires preparation due to its steepness, sun exposure in the summer months, and ice and snow in the winter.

  • San Francisco Peaks - Just north of Flagstaff, as we drive to, or from, the National Park, the San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range and the highest point in the state of Arizona, rising to over 12,000 feet.
  • Mather Point - For many visitors, this is the very first view they will have of the massiveness of the Grand Canyon. It’s a first impression that will stay with you forever. Easily accessed from a large parking area using a paved all-mobilities trail. There is a large Visitor Center and cafe at the same location.

It is a scenic and rewarding but flat walk to use the Rim Trail to connect between the Village and Mather Point.

  • Yavapai Point - For visitors arriving at the Grand Canyon through the South Entrance, Yavapai is often the second panoramic view they will stop to enjoy after Mather Point.

You can dive deeper into the complicated geological story of the Grand Canyon at the Yavapai Museum of Geology. This combination bookstore, museum, with exhibits and visitor center is built in harmonious canyon rock to blend with the surroundings. It provides a covered viewing area with large picture windows. The three-dimensional map models allow an appreciation of the scale and colored layers throughout the South Rim.

What's Included
  • 24/7 Support via toll-free phone, live chat, and email
  • Offline Accessibility: Pre-download tours and access offline
  • Comprehensive Trip Planners available in-app, online, and as PDFs
  • GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) with 190 audio points during the tour
  • Flexible Itineraries: Follow suggested paths or craft your own journey
  • Unlimited Use: One-time purchase without expiration
  • Enhanced Experience with location-based storytelling, tips, and autoplay directions
What's Not Included
  • National Park Passes
Additional Information

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with this tour.

You’ll be guided to all the iconic attractions of the park, as well as hidden treasures, including an architectural marvel and a multitude of canyon views along a 23-mile picturesque drive.

Load up on captivating tales, insider tips and guideposts about the Grand Canyon that are triggered automatically along the route.

Savor the liberty to explore on your own terms offline, lending you more time to take in the sights that appeal to you, while steering clear of those that do not.

✅ Location-based automatic narration, tips and directions
✅ Navigate at a leisurely pace
✅ Tours function offline with GPS, no mobile service or WiFi required
✅ In-app advice and itineraries simplify trip planning
✅ Proposals for half, full or multiple day use
✅ No time restrictions or expiration, complimentary updates

Each vehicle requires a separate tour purchase.

Location
Williams
Start at one of the official tour introduction points (Williams, Flagstaff or Cameron) or join anywhere along the route and pick up the commentary at the next audio point. Open the GuideAlong app to preview the tour route and browse the suggested itineraries and trip planner.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.6
(26 Ratings)
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Albertina_o
Sep 3, 2024
Fantastic - It was a great audio of the way to the Grand Canyon. Loved hearing the history surrounding the Canyon and individuals that helped it get to where it’s at today!
Review provided by Viator
Derek_v
Jul 12, 2024
Great Value, Great if your short on time - Great self paced tour that allows you to customize your Grand Canyon experience. We only had a half day and we able to hit the must sees based on the tour guide. Loved how the audio cued up based on where you were.
Review provided by Viator
Melody_w
Jul 3, 2024
Love the audio tour - This was perfect for us. We were driving through and just stayed one night. Didn't have time for tours, but this allowed us to feel like we had spent more time there. Very nicely produced. Easy to use.
Review provided by Viator
Barcodeuk
Jun 28, 2024
Great Help and Worth the Money - We found the guide easy to use. Download it before you use it. Once downloaded, it uses GPS to tell you where you are. As with any tour guide, there are bits we didn't care for, and we wish the app had a simple skip. Over 90% was well worth the money. We would like to see two improvements to the app: the easy skip option and the ability to mark locations you have already heard.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Happiness64776063978
May 17, 2024
Grand Canyon Southern Rim Audio Driving’s Guide - The audio recording added knowledgeable history of the Grand Canyon and surrounding area. Tour recording kept us entertained while driving to and from destinations The recording worked perfectly at every point on our trip. My husband is a history buff and he extremely enjoyed the historical parts of the recording. We will buy other tours from this company in the future.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_b
May 13, 2024
Good App - Excellent App. Easy to use. Flawless directions and great commentary along the route. Would use again.
Review provided by Viator
Veronique_j
Apr 26, 2024
Grand Canyon tour and beyond - This tour is actually more than the Grand Canyon. It is actually a loop from Flagstaff and back, through Williams, the Grand Canyon, and Cameron. It is a big tour so we only did part of it. You can start anywhere. It also gives you historical facts and guides you to visit off-the-beaten-path places, which is always worth it. We recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
T_d
Apr 22, 2024
Great way to see the Grand Canyon! - This is our second audio tour (Kauai was our first) and they are the best way to see favorite sites like this. The commentary was informative and enlightening. The turn by turn directions (with distances) was incredibly helpful and we always knew where we were. This is a must-do tour if you want to see the sites on your own. Can't wait for the next one!
Review provided by Viator
Christopher_p
Jun 8, 2024
Definitely recommended for first time visit - This was great for first time visitors to the Grand Canyon. Gave a lot of interesting information and help show great places to see the views. Not only aided in the park but outside the park on the drive in and out.
Review provided by Viator
Pouya_j
May 27, 2024
Beauty of Geology - Geology and the making of the canyon was a great way to better engage with this natural wonder of the world. The gos based information was helpful to associate the information with the scenes in front of us.
Review provided by Viator
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September 2024
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