Las Vegas To Grand Canyon By Car: Road Trip Itinerary

One of the most beautiful and easily accessible American Southwestern road trips is the one from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park. I’ve done this road trip a few times, especially while living in my campervan full time. Most recently, I met up with a friend in Vegas and spent 7 days exploring Arizona and Nevada.

The Grand Canyon is majestic, and something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. After all, it’s one of the 7 natural wonders of the world!

In this article:

• Tips for driving from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car
• The best stops between Vegas and Grand Canyon
• Alternative bus and helicopter tours
• Las Vegas to Grand Canyon road trip itinerary

Disclaimer: This article features some affiliate links. I only endorse things I’ve personally used or that come highly recommended by trusted peers. If you purchase anything I mention using my referral links from Amazon, REI or other retailers I may receive a small commission. However, there is never extra cost to you. You can read more here. Thank you for your support.

Las Vegas To Grand Canyon Road Trip

Vegas is the perfect launching pad for a Grand Canyon road trip! First, the flights are typically cheaper, and so are the rental cars. Plus, there are so many fun things to do in Vegas and along the route to the Grand Canyon.

TIP: I recommend booking your rental car with Discover Cars. As one of the largest rental car companies, they negotiate the best rates to save you money. They also let you cancel for free up to 48 hours before your pickup, so you can grab a good rate now without stressing if your plans change.

The Grand Canyon is massive (obviously 😉) so depending which part of it you want to see, your drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon may vary from 2-6+ hours.

There are 3 options for visiting Grand Canyon; West Rim, South Rim and North Rim. Most people choose to see the South Rim because it has the best views.

However, if you’re short on time then the West Rim will save you a few hours. The North Rim is much more remote, takes longer to get to, and is closed in the winter.

Distance from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

The distance from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car is 2 hours to the West Rim and 4.5 hours to the South Rim.

While it’s possible to take a day trip to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, it’ll be a long day of driving. Instead, I recommend booking a bus tour or a helicopter tour from Vegas to Grand Canyon.

Best Things To Do In Vegas

If you have an extra day at the start or end of your trip, I recommend spending it in Las Vegas!

There are so many things to do that aren’t gambling. Vegas has some of the most incredible shows, but even just walking around at night to see all the lights is a fun and cheap way to see the city.

Check out the fountains at the Bellagio hotel. The fountains are a choreographed show with water, music and lights. I think they’re especially beautiful at night.

The best part about this activity is that it’s free! It’s a quintessential Vegas experience so carve out an hour to stop by and people watch before heading to dinner.

There are so many shows to choose from in Vegas, but my favorite ones are Cirque Du Soleil and the Blue Man Group.

And of course, a magic show or checking out the iconic Sphere are also great options for things to do in Las Vegas!

If it’s your first time visiting Vegas, a tour is a great way to see the best spots in the city with a short amount of time. I think this open-top bus tour is the best one, especially to see the Vegas lights at night.

Where To Stay In Las Vegas

If you’re looking to be in the thick of it all, staying on the strip is convenient and walkable. My favorite hotel in Vegas is the Cosmopolitan, which has a swanky vibe. A very close second is Encore.

The Bellagio and The Venetian are also great options. The Venetian has very spacious rooms, and I like how close to everything it is.

Another popular place to stay in Vegas is Fremont Street – a 6-block, pedestrian only area in downtown Vegas.

There are a lot of things to do and see within walking distance, which makes it a perfect spot to spend the night. Downtown Grand Las Vegas and the Plaza Hotel are great options here.

Best Things To Do Between Las Vegas & Grand Canyon

It’s only 4.5 hours from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car, but there are several awesome stops along the way so I recommend planning for a full day.

During my road trip, I stopped at a few of these on the way to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, and did the others on the return trip. My absolute favorite was kayaking to Emerald Cave.

Tour The Hoover Dam

The route to Grand Canyon will take you right past the Hoover Dam. It’s about 30-minutes outside of Vegas and the first stop along your drive.

You can catch a glimpse from the car, or you can take a guided tour which brings you into the dam, lets you walk on top of it, and takes you through the hydroelectric power plant.

Hoover Dam was built in the 1930’s and is responsible for the formation of Lake Mead. It controls water levels, which is important because the Colorado River is known for unpredictable flooding. The dam is also responsible for powering much of the southwest.

Kayak To Emerald Cave

This was my favorite activity on this road trip! Emerald Cave is a short paddle down the Colorado River. This section is pretty calm, not like what you see inside the Grand Canyon, so it’s an easy activity.

The water looks exactly like it appears in photos and has a beautiful vibrant deep blue/green color! Certain times of the day are better for photographs due to the sunlight and angle of the sun.

There are guided tours that include a kayak and rental equipment, as well as a guide to navigate and point out wildlife.

This is the tour we took and I loved it! I would highly recommend putting this on your itinerary.

We saw many bighorn sheep, but if our guide hadn’t pointed them out I would never have noticed them! They blend in very well to the rocks along the riverbanks.

The river also separates Nevada and Arizona here, so depending on which side of the river you bank on you’ll be in a different state!

You launch from Willow Beach Marina, then have a short break along a beach before reaching Emerald Cave. In total, the trip takes about 3 hours but goes at a very leisurely pace.

Grand Canyon West Rim Skywalk

Grand Canyon West Rim is the closest view of the Grand Canyon you can get to from Las Vegas. If you’re short on time, it’s a great option as it’s only two hours from Las Vegas.

However, if you have more time I recommend skipping it and heading straight to the South Rim, where the views are better.

West Rim is part of the Hualapai Tribe Indian Reservation and is not part of Grand Canyon National Park.

Entrance to Grand Canyon West costs $51 per person. If you want to experience the Skywalk there’s an additional $28 per person charge. Tickets can be bought in advance, or on site.

Skywalk is a U-shaped bridge with a glass floor that hovers 4,000 feet above the canyon floor with unobstructed views.

NOTE: You cannot bring your phone or camera onto the skywalk with you. They’re very strict about this. Instead, you can purchase photos from their photographers ($17 per print, or $69 for the complete set of digital images.)

My personal opinion is that Skywalk is over-hyped and expensive. The views are better from the South Rim, admission only costs $35 for your entire group for a week, and you can take all the photos you want for free.

Explore RT 66 & Seligman

Historic Route 66 (also referred to as the Mother Road), was one of the longest roads across the United States when it was established in 1926.

Route 66 once connected Chicago to Southern California, serving as a key route for westward migration during the Dust Bowl era. After Interstate 40 was completed, Route 66 was officially decommissioned, but several stretches through Arizona remain preserved as historic highways.

Seligman is a short detour (less than 10 minutes) on the route from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon. There are classic shops and diners, and it’s a great option for lunch before heading into Grand Canyon National Park.

Many places in Seligman have been historically preserved, and it’s known as the birthplace of Route 66.

Stop by Angel & Vilma’s Gift Shop, then grab an ice cream cone at Snow Cap nextdoor.

Grand Canyon Highlights

If you’re short on time, a day trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas will allow you to see the highlights. On my most recent trip to the Grand Canyon, I spent a day exploring the park before starting a 5 day backpacking trip into the canyon!

Start At The Visitor Center

Stop by the Visitor Center to pick up paper maps and park guides. You can also speak to a ranger for customized recommendations and current trail conditions. I also like to stamp my National Park Passport book at each park I visit.

Walk Along Rim Trail

Next, walk a portion of Rim Trail. This is a mostly paved and flat trail along the perimeter of the South Rim with stunning views of Grand Canyon.

In total, it’s 12.8 miles long. However, most people complete shorter sections of it. Additionally, the shuttle runs along this trail so you can walk one direction and return on the shuttle to save time.

I recommend walking the 6 miles between South Kaibab trailhead and Bright Angel trailhead. For morning walks, start at South Kaibab and head west. For afternoon walks, do the opposite so the sun is behind you.

Explore Scenic Desert View Drive

Desert View Drive heads east from Grand Canyon Village. The shuttle doesn’t run along this part of the South Rim so it tends to be less crowded. You’ll also find some of the best views of the canyon along this road.

The drive is 23 miles long and ends at the east entrance to Grand Canyon. It’s an easy, paved two-lane road that’s mostly flat with wide shoulders. For the most part, you’ll just see trees from the road, even though it hugs the canyon rim. Be sure to stop at each of the viewpoints and spend some time taking in the views!

This is an ideal thing to do in Grand Canyon during the middle of the day when the crowds are heaviest near the village. It’s also a nice way to get out of the heat.

Most of the viewpoint parking lots are fairly large, but tend to stay relatively full throughout the day. Since most people are just stopping by to see the view, spots open up very frequently.

Things To Do In Grand Canyon With More Time

If you have more than one day in Grand Canyon, I highly recommend hiking below the rim. You don’t need to go all the way to the bottom of the canyon, but even a short walk below the rim will give you a whole new perspective you can’t see from above.

There are two hikes below the rim I recommend are Bright Angel (15.8 miles) and South Kaibab (14.3 miles).

Bright Angel is the more popular trail, and is less steep than South Kaibab. About 4.5 miles below the rim is Havasupai Gardens, which has restrooms, water, and an on duty ranger.

TIP: If you’re hiking Bright Angel in the winter it can be icy. The trail is mostly shaded so the sunlight cannot melt ice, which can be very dangerous without proper gear. I recommend you have microspikes and trekking poles.

The South Kaibab Trail is the sister trail to Bright Angel, but with less shade and is a bit steeper. Ooh-Ahh Point is 0.9 miles below the rim and around 600 feet in elevation change, which makes this a popular section to hike if you don’t want to do all 14+ miles.

NOTE: There is no water on South Kaibab Trail.

Best Place To Stay At Grand Canyon South Rim

Grand Canyon National Park is a bit unusual because it offers a lot of in-park accommodations and convenient places to stay just outside the park. Most National Parks have one or two in-park options, and staying outside the park means driving up to an hour or more.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the options on this list, but my personal recommendation is El Tovar Hotel (in the park) or this tiny home near Tusayan.

El Tovar Hotel sits right on the rim of the canyon and is convenient to most of the shops and restaurants in the village. It’s a Swiss chalet style lodge built in 1905 (for just $250,000!) and has a rustic, luxurious style interior you’d expect from an iconic Grand Canyon hotel.

Other options for where to stay inside Grand Canyon National Park include:

• Bright Angel Lodge – rustic-style lodge built in 1935
• Kachina Lodge – conveniently located in the center of the historic district, right on the rim
• Thunderbird Lodge – contemporary-style, family-focused hotel
• Maswik Lodge – larger, more modern lodging just past the village
• Yavapai Lodge – a modern lodge with plenty of on-site amenities and pet-friendly rooms

Outside the park there are several options in Tusayan, Arizona:

• Squire Resort, BW Signature Collection – upper mid-range and pet-friendly
• Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel – affordable mid-range with amenities
• The Grand Hotel – luxury hotel with indoor pool
• Red Feather Lodge – budget-friendly and highly rated

Tips For Visiting The Grand Canyon

Arrive early, if possible. Lines at the entrance station can get backed up, sometimes for hours (although that’s rare – and you can skip the lines if you already have an America The Beautiful park pass.)

Additionally, parking near the Visitor Center can fill by 10 am. There are several massive overflow lots, so you should still be able to find a spot with a little bit of effort.

Everything along the South Rim is connected by four shuttle routes, so once you’ve parked for the day plan to take the shuttle everywhere. It’s a better use of your time than struggling to re-park.

Grand Canyon National Park does not have timed-entry vehicle reservation requirements. The park entry fee is $35 per vehicle for 7 days (day tickets are not available at most National Parks.)

If you’re planning to visit other National Parks on your road trip, I recommend getting an America The Beautiful annual pass instead. It’ll pay for itself after 2 or 3 park visits.

The pass is $80 annually, covers everyone in your vehicle (so you only need one pass), and gets you free entry to all 63 National Parks and 400+ other federal recreation areas.

More Road Trip Ideas

There are a ton of great road trips in the southwest. If you have a few more days, consider extending your trip to one of these nearby destinations!:

• Grand Canyon to Page, Arizona
• Grand Canyon to Moab, Utah
• Grand Canyon to Zion National Park
• 14 Ideas For Road Trips From Las Vegas