Want to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon? The iconic red rock formations and the plunging canyon is an incredibly popular day trip from Las Vegas, so you have a few options to choose from. The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders in the world, so a trip out there is a truly memorable experience. How you get there depends on how you like to travel, what your budget is, and how much time you have. Either way, there are seriously incredible views along the way that’ll stay with you for a lifetime. So, let’s get you there. Here are some of the best ways to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.
Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon
Tour
The easiest way to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is by taking an organised tour. Sit back and let someone else do the planning, organising, and preparation – all you have to do is book it. There are loads of tour operators around the Las Vegas strip and there isn’t much difference in the price, but some will offer slightly different stops along the way.
Most of the tours will stop at Hoover Dam, an incredible feat of modern construction, and on the famous Route 66. They’ll then take you to the South Rim so you can get the perfect pictures from the iconic Mather Point Outlook, Bright Angel Point, and Hopi House.
Tours might be a fuss-free way of getting from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, but it is a long day. You’ll get picked up at 6am, not returning until around 10pm. You do get commentary along the way, though, as well as bottled water, snacks, and lunch.
Helicopter
It might be the fastest way to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, but it is the most expensive. Travelling by helicopter is undoubtedly luxurious and – let’s face it – the coolest way of getting to the Grand Canyon. But of course, the high price point isn’t for everyone. However, it is a good choice for those who don’t want to or can’t walk around the expansive canyon, or those who simply want to create a special memory.
There are several helicopter tour operators on the Las Vegas Strip. Most of them will take you over the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Fortification Hill, and the Colorado River, as well as getting to see the vast Mojave Desert from a birds-eye view.
If you do want to or can walk around, you can land at the West Rim and admire the views from the iconic Eagle Point. If you’re a daredevil, you can also pay an additional fee and walk across a glass walkway that’s suspended over 4,000 feet above the bottom of the canyon.
Car
We know organised tours aren’t for everyone. Sometimes you just want the adventure of taking to the open road yourself, with the independence and freedom to come, go, stop, rest, wherever and whenever you like. If you’re in Las Vegas on holiday, you can hire a car from either the airport or downtown, but bear in mind that you might come across additional charges when hiring from the airport.
The drive takes anywhere from four to five hours, spanning over 300 miles. You drive along interstate highways for most of the way, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t scenic. When you reach the border of Arizona, you get wonderful scenic viewpoints of Lake Mead, maybe taking a detour to visit the Hoover Dam, before getting on your way through the Mojave Desert.
It’s an easy drive through the desert, continuing on that route for a few hours until you reach Williams, Arizona. Here, you can stop in the quirky town of Seligman, Arizona – it’s known for being the birthplace of the iconic Route 66. You can jump on Route 66 for a while, before making your way down the AZ-64 that leads you directly to the Grand Canyon National Park.
Bus
The most affordable option to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is by bus. Firstly, you start off in Las Vegas at the Greyhound bus terminal. From there, you hop on a bus to Flagstaff in Arizona, which takes around five hours. If you get the 6:55am bus, it’ll get you there for 1:30pm. Then, there’s a direct shuttle bus from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon, which takes around 90 minutes.
Bus & Train
If you crave adventure, you might enjoy combining a bus and train journey to get to the Grand Canyon. You start off by getting the Greyhound from Las Vegas to Flagstaff, then instead of getting the shuttle from Flagstaff to the park, you can switch things up by getting on the Grand Canyon Railway. The historic Grand Canyon Railway is a super fun way to get there while offering remarkable views along the way. It departs from Williams, which is about 30 miles from Flagstaff – you can hop on another bus or grab a taxi.
Then, when you’re in Williams, the iconic Grand Canyon Railway takes you directly to the South Rim, taking around two hours. There are six different classes, so you can ride the more affordable and basic cart with bench seats or go ultra-luxurious and ride in your own private cart.
However you get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, the memories will stay for you for a lifetime.
