Severe weather, natural disasters, tourist season, road maintenance, construction, the list goes on—there are many reasons why Arizona experiences frequent and unexpected road closures. While some closures may catch you by surprise, others can be mitigated with careful planning.
If you plan to head to Coconino National Forest in the winter or Grand Canyon National Park during peak tourist season, it’s important to be aware of possible road conditions and the accompanying closures you could face.
How to check for road closures in Arizona
Road closures in Arizona are tough to anticipate if you’re not sure where to look. Staying on top of active construction, road maintenance, and seasonal road closures is much easier when you utilize state-provided resources and information.
If you want to access road closure information by phone, you can dial 511 from anywhere in the state.
Coconino National Forest road closures
Snow and wet weather can make Coconino National Forest a dangerous place to be during the winter. To help protect the roads from sustaining significant damage and to prevent people from getting stranded in snowstorms, the national forest implements seasonal road closures. These commonly affect the following roads:
Grand Canyon National Park seasonal road closures
Certain roads in and around Grand Canyon National Park are closed during different times of the year, as well. Here are a few of the roads that are regularly scheduled to close.
Closed from: March 1 through November 30
During the busy season from March through November, this area of the South Rim is closed to private vehicles. For safety and to preserve the historical integrity of the road, the park limits access to shuttles only.
Closed from: Approximately December 1 through mid-May
Arizona DOT closes Highway 67 south of Jacob Lake to vehicle traffic for the winter season. The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park also closes access to all vehicle traffic.
Additionally, the gate at Jacob Lake is closed and locked, making roads beyond the gate inaccessible to public vehicles until park facilities reopen in May.
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