Grand Canyon Packing List and What to Wear at the Grand Canyon
This Grand Canyon packing list will help you figure out what to wear to the Grand Canyon on your national park vacation.
If you’re planning a trip to Grand Canyon National Park, you may be wondering what to wear at the Grand Canyon. This Grand Canyon packing guide will break down everything you may need.
We’ve included what to pack for the Grand Canyon in summer and winter, and what types of activities you should plan for while filling up your suitcase.
Keep reading for our complete Grand Canyon packing checklist and scroll to the bottom for Grand Canyon packing tips and planning guides.
Grand Canyon Packing Checklist
Use this Grand Canyon packing list to plan your outfits and gear for your next Grand Canyon vacation. We’ve included everything from clothes and shoes to camping supplies.
Personal Items
These are the necessities you don’t want to forget to bring to the Grand Canyon. I recommend printing or screenshotting reservations as phone service in this area can be spotty.
Identification cards
Credit cards
Reservation confirmations
Travel insurance info
Phone & electronics
Chargers and headphones
Sightseeing and Daytime Outfits
What to wear at the Grand Canyon during the day can range from athletic wear and hiking boots to cute outfits for posing in photos at the rim. We’ve included activewear in a separate section of this Grand Canyon packing list, but check out the ideas below for clothes to wear at the Grand Canyon for sightseeing in every season.
Summer
Spring and Fall
Winter
Hiking and Activewear
Many Grand Canyon trips include some hiking or biking, so pack your favorite activewear to be comfy on the trails. Layers are best as you move from the cooler rim to the heat down in the canyon. This post has more ideas for what to wear hiking.
Dinner and Evening Outfits
You don’t have to dress up for evenings at the Grand Canyon, but you will need to stay warm if you plan to be outside walking or stargazing. Some dining rooms at the resorts in Grand Canyon Village are a bit fancier, so you may want to clean up and pack a nicer outfit. This evening Grand Canyon packing list really only applies if you want to dress up for dinner.
Shoes for Grand Canyon
What shoes do you need for the Grand Canyon? This depends greatly on your plans, but at the least, you’ll need some comfortable walking shoes for the rim. If you plan to hike into the canyon, upgrade to a pair of hiking sneakers or boots. You don’t need to bring all of the shoes on this Grand Canyon packing list, we’re just including a few different options to pick from.
Other Clothing and Accessories
Don’t forget to add a shady hat, sunglasses and pajamas to your Grand Canyon packing list.
Pajamas
Undergarments
Gear and Electronics
Water bottles are a must on a Grand Canyon packing checklist, but the rest of these items will make your Grand Canyon experience even more memorable and comfortable.
Hygiene & Health
In addition to toiletries and cosmetics, your packing list for the Grand Canyon should include lots of sun protection for your face and body and a mini first aid kit if you’re hiking.
Camping Gear
If you’re camping at the rim or in the canyon, check this Grand Canyon packing list for what you may need.
Sponge and biodegradable soap | You can grab dishwashing supplies from the market on the rim if needed.
Trash bags and food storage bags | Remember to only dispose of trash in designated areas and pack out anything you take on the trails.
Grand Canyon Packing List Tips
Below we’re answering all of the questions you may have about packing for the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Activities
What to wear to the Grand Canyon will largely depend on what you plan to do there. The most popular Grand Canyon activities include hiking, biking, camping and visiting viewpoints along the rim.
If you only plan to visit the Grand Canyon lookouts or walk a couple of miles along the rim, you can simply wear weather-appropriate outfits for the Grand Canyon without needing any special gear.
For hiking or biking, you’ll need appropriate footwear and activewear. For longer hikes into the canyon, I recommend a pair of hiking boots for traction and ankle support. Hiking sneakers or trail runners may work better for some people and in summer as they’re typically lighter and cooler.
Camping at the Grand Canyon will add a lot of items to your packing list. Our camping gear section above includes items you may need for camping both at the rim and down in the canyon.
Grand Canyon Weather and Seasons
No matter the season, you’ll encounter a variety of weather conditions from day to night and between the rim and lower canyon. Even in boiling summers, cool nighttime temps mean you should bring layers if you’re visiting for longer than a day trip. And as you move further down the canyon on hikes, the temperatures increase by 1 degree for about every 200 feet in elevation.
Summer is the busiest season, and daytime temps average in the 80s at the rim and the 100s in the canyon. Nights cool off into the 50s at the rim. Early summer is dry but monsoon season starts toward July and August, so add rain gear to your Grand Canyon packing list.
What to wear at the Grand Canyon for spring and fall should include a mix of warm and cold weather outfits, as average high temps can range from the 50s to 70s at the rim and the 70s to 90s in the canyon. Nighttime lows can drop into the 20s in early spring and late fall, so jackets are essential, especially for morning hikes. Spring at the Grand Canyon is very dry and fall can transition from occasional rain showers in the early months to some snowfall by November.
Winter can be frosty, with an average of 58 inches of snow each year at the South Rim. What to pack for the Grand Canyon during this time should include warm clothing for daytime highs in the 40s at the rim and 50s in the canyon. Winter low temps at the rim average in the 20s.
If you hike into the canyon in winter, you will probably need crampons for the ice and snow that accumulates on the upper trails. Phantom Ranch at the canyon floor averages less than 1 inch of snow yearly, though.
Grand Canyon Travel Guides
One day Grand Canyon itinerary
Two day Grand Canyon itinerary