Grand Canyon South Rim Day Trip from Flagstaff: Ruins & Lava

Small groups see ruins and crater before the canyon, no big-bus crowds

You visit three distinct landscapes (ancient pueblo ruins, a volcanic crater with lava fields, and the Grand Canyon South Rim) all in one day without arranging your own transport or park entry. Hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and all park fees are included. Departs 8–8:30am daily and returns around 5–5:30pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Wupatki National Monument30m · entry included
2. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument15m · entry included
3. Cameron Trading Post30m
4. Grand Canyon South Rim3h · entry included
5. San Francisco Peakspass by

Grand Canyon and Ancient Ruins Tour

• Visit Wupatki National Monument
• Explore Sunset Crater Volcano
• Break at Cameron Trading Post
• Tour Grand Canyon South Rim
• Walk and shop at South Rim
• View San Francisco Peaks

The experience

The drive north from Flagstaff climbs through ponderosa pine, and within an hour you're standing inside Wupatki National Monument: a 900-year-old Ancestral Puebloan settlement with over 100 rooms still visible, an above-ground kiva, and a blow hole where air flows up from the ground like the earth is breathing. Your guide walks you through the layout, points out the Hohokam-style ballcourt, and the Painted Desert spreads out behind it in layers of rust and cream. It's the kind of place that makes you realize how much civilization was here before anyone wrote it down.

Then you drive to Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, where an 8,042-foot cinder cone rises from a field of ancient lava flows so dark and jagged they look like the ground froze mid-rupture. There's a one-mile loop trail at the base if you want to walk it, or you can stand at the overlook and just take in the scale of it: the volcano, the lava, the San Francisco Peaks in the distance. After that, a break at Cameron Trading Post gives you time to grab food or use facilities before the final push to the Grand Canyon South Rim.

The South Rim is where the day opens up. You enter from the east gate and drive the scenic route to the south gate, stopping at overlooks where the canyon drops away in front of you: layer after layer of red rock, shadow, and distance. The light changes as you move along the rim, and there's time to walk, shop at the visitor center, or just stand there. The whole day is about nine hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, and you're back in Flagstaff by early evening.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Flagstaff, entry to Wupatki National Monument and its 900-year-old pueblo ruins, a walk around Sunset Crater Volcano and its lava fields, a break at Cameron Trading Post, scenic driving along the Grand Canyon South Rim from east to south gate, time to explore overlooks and the visitor center, and bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 100

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Angels Gate Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Grand Canyon South Rim plus two lesser-known Arizona landmarks in one day without renting a car or navigating park logistics yourself: the fixed schedule and included transport are what fit all three stops into a single afternoon.

Traveler reviews

4.78★★★★★★★★★★

32 verified traveler reviews

5 ★29

4 ★0

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour depart and return?

Departs between 8–8:30am and returns approximately 5–5:30pm. Total duration is about 9 hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off in Flagstaff are included. You'll need to provide your hotel information 72 hours before the tour date.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, entry to Wupatki National Monument, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park are included.

Do I need to pay an additional fee?

Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older will be charged an additional $100 USD per person for national park access. Contact the tour company to arrange this payment before your tour date.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes walking through the Wupatki ruins and an optional one-mile loop trail at Sunset Crater. Moderate physical fitness is recommended.

What should I bring?

Bring a valid photo ID (required for residency verification if you're a non-U.S. resident), sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes. Bottled water is provided.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.