How to go from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon ?

The Grand Canyon is around 130 miles from downtown Las Vegas (275 miles to the renowned South Rim) and is a day trip no matter how you get there—though for those driving, we recommend looking into one of the Grand Canyon's hotel alternatives. There are numerous ways to get there, including driving oneself, using a bus, a small plane, or even a helicopter from the Strip.

Visiting the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since1979, has become a rite of passage for many Americans. The Grand Canyon was declared a national park by Teddy Roosevelt in 1908, and he urged people to "save it for your children and their children's children, and all who come after you, as the one great spectacle which every American should see."

And there's no better place to start your journey than Las Vegas. More than 6 million visitors visit each year to witness the awe-inspiring canyons, the 277-mile Colorado River that runs through it, and the 500 species of animals that live there (including the rare California Condor).

The North and South Rims of the national park are open to the public. Most people choose the South Rim since it is the park's most accessible area, with plenty of spots to pull over and marvel at the dizzying heights (7,000 feet above sea level). Of course, both rims are accessible: The Grand Canyon North Rim is 1,000 feet higher than the southern section, but it is more difficult to get and requires a 220-mile trip. If you prefer to walk between the rims, the Kaibab Trails will take you 21 miles through the canyon.

What Is the Most Economical Mode of Transportation From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon?

Driving to the Grand Canyon is the cheapest method to get there, depending on how many stops you plan to make, if you plan to stay overnight in one of the Grand Canyon's hotels or historic inns, and, of course, how many people you bring. Spend what you would for a 560-mile automobile trip (conservatively), excluding any stops you might want to make along the route. This will get you from the Strip's heart to the South Rim.

How Long Does Driving Take?

To get to the South Rim from Las Vegas, travel Highway 93 south toI-40 east to Highway64, which skirts the Hualapai Reservation. This travel takes about four and a half hours, and while you can get there and back in one day, you should consider staying overnight. Take your time on the route and stop by Hoover Dam's new bypass bridge (which actually looks down on the dam). You can also park and go on a tour of the dam. You'll be treated to breathtaking views of the desert landscapes of Southern Nevada and Northern Arizona.

Visit the South Rim Village's Historic District when you arrive at the South Rim, which was established during the construction of the Santa Fe Railroad in the early half of the twentieth century. From here, visitors can climb to the bottom of the canyon and back on the Bright Angel Trail, a hard hike that is one of the canyon's safest and most traveled, but not for everyone. Are you not a hiker? Spend time at the South Rim Visitor Center, which has exhibits and programs as well as "Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder," a 20-minute film that takes you on a journey from rim to river (without the physical exertion).

What is the quickest route from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon?

Nothing compares to leaving the neon of the Strip and being whisked away to the Grand Canyon in under 90 minutes. Via far the most dramatic (and quickest) method of arrival is by helicopter. Both Papillon Helicopters and Maverick Helicopters offer Grand Canyon Helicopter tours directly from the Strip (or Henderson), and depending on the tour you choose, you'll fly over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Mojave Desert, and land on the West Rim, descending 3,500 feet into the Grand Canyon's base, or the South Rim. A West Rim flight, which lands at the Hualapai Tribe's Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-bottom viewing deck suspended 4,000 feet above the canyon and the Colorado River, is recommended for those who dare.

You'll be wearing headphones during the flight, and most firms will either narrate your journey live or play a pre-recorded tour to ensure you don't miss a thing. Choose one of the flights that includes a brief night tour of the Las Vegas Strip prior to landing.

What is the duration of the flight?

If you fly commercially from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, your alternatives are restricted. The closest commercial airport is Flagstaff Pulliam, which does not provide nonstop service to Las Vegas. Instead, travel from Las Vegas to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, connect to Flagstaff, and then drive 90 minutes to the South Rim. Take one of the private charter flights to the Grand Canyon on "flightseeing" planes, which will take you over the most spectacular sites of the Mojave and Hoover Dam on your trip to the Grand Canyon.

These trips are available from both Papillon and Maverick. When you arrive at the Grand Canyon South Rim, you'll board a motorcoach that will transport you to key viewpoint locations along the canyon rim such Bright Angel Lodge and Mather Point. You can also add a helicopter or Hummer excursion to your itinerary. The flight is around two hours long, and a day journey will take about nine hours.

Is the Grand Canyon accessible by bus from Las Vegas?

From Las Vegas, bus excursions of the Grand Canyon's West and South Rims are available. The South Rim tour usually includes visits to the visitor center, the Mather Point and Bright Angel Lodge lookout points, as well as the spectacular views from Yavapai Point and a trip to Hoover Dam's bypass bridge. The majority of these tours include hotel pickup, hikes, Route 66 stops in Williams and Seligman, and hotel drop-off. A South Rim day can last up to 15 hours, which is slightly longer than a West Rim day.

Grand Canyon West, which is not part of Grand Canyon National Park, is visited by a number of trips. It'll be a shorter day, but it'll be spectacular—just make sure you know what you're in for. The Grand Canyon West trips include stops at the Grand Canyon Skywalk, Guano Point, Hualapai Ranch, and a return to Las Vegas on a hop-on, hop-off basis. These tours are typically a couple hours shorter than those offered on the South Rim.

Is There a Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon is open 365 days a year for those who prefer to avoid peak season, though you should be advised that the weather can be quite harsh. To avoid the 100-degree-plus temperatures (and people) of a South Rim summer, visit between March and May and September to November. Remember that while it does snow in the park (on average, 142 inches on the North Rim), it usually melts into rain on the way down to the canyon floor.

What Can You Do While Visiting the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon can be seen in a variety of ways. The most straightforward option is to simply relax and take in the unending crimson and purple vistas from the visitors' center; the South Rim bookstores, gift shops, and museums; and a few short treks. The Trail of Time, a 2.8-mile trek between the Yavapai Museum of Geology and Verkamps Visitor Center, is a wonderful option. It's meant to be a geologic timeline, with each meter representing one million years of geologic history. You'll find all of the rock layers identified, as well as explanations of how the canyon and its rocks came to be.

Those looking for a little adventure can walk part of the largely level Rim Trail, which begins at any point in the village, or along the historic Hermit Road, a picturesque road that runs along the rim for 7 miles from the west end of Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. Both the South and North rims provide day hikes around the canyon. Visitors are advised not to attempt hikes from the rim to the river and back in one day, especially during the summer months, according to the National Park Service.

You can rent bikes and go on guided bicycle rides after you arrive to the South Rim (Bright Angel Bicycles is close to the visitor center). Book a mule tour, such as the Canyon Vistas Ride, a three-hour journey that traverses along the canyon rim, for a more traditional ride. If you're feeling particularly daring, you can go on an overnight mule trek and stay at the famous Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon.

Visitors in the spring and summer may choose to plan a multi-day trip that includes a rafting trip down the Colorado River. Smooth water cruises can be arranged from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry, or a three-to 21-day whitewater journey down the Grand Canyon can be arranged.

The Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute, founded by naturalist Edwin McKee in 1932, organizes small group treks and finances interpretive speeches, research, and scientific papers. It continues to fund trail maintenance and history programs, as well as animal and natural habitat protection, as the National Park's official not-for-profit partner. Look them up before you go: they provide educational excursions that involve backpacking, camping, hiking, and whitewater rafting, as well as geology, archaeology, and other themes.