Ultimate Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip Itinerary
Are you planning to visit the Grand Canyon from Vegas? If so, this article is for you.
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s seven natural wonders, spanning over a million acres in northern Arizona. It’s a place that everyone deserves to see once in their lifetime, and with it only being a 4 hour drive from Vegas, it’s well worth visiting to cross off of your bucket list!
This article will cover exactly how to visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, the best road trip stops, where to stay, and much more.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan a once in a lifetime Grand Canyon trip.
Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you book/buy something through one of these, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you).
Las Vegas To Grand Canyon Itinerary Overview
- Distance from South Rim (main entrance): 4 hours/275 miles
- Distance from West Rim: 2 hours/126 miles
- Ideal amount of time: 2-3 days
- Entrance fee: $35/vehicle or America the Beautiful Pass
From Las Vegas, it’s a 4 hour drive to the South Rim, or 2 hour drive to the West Rim.
The South Rim is the Grand Canyon’s main entrance, where the visitor center, and all of the popular overlooks are located.
Although the West Rim is the closest (2 hours) from Vegas, it’s located on Hualapai Tribal lands, so the entrance operates completely differently.
It has a few popular overlooks, a skywalk, zipline, and activities like helicopter and hiking tours. There’s an admission fee of $51/person to enter the park, and visit the overlooks
If you want the full Grand Canyon experience, I recommend making the 4 hour drive to the South Rim. The South Rim only charges an entrance fee of $35 per vehicle (up to 15 people), which is valid for 7 days, and America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
How To Get To The Grand Canyon South Rim
The drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon takes 4-4.5 hours one way, so it’s best to start the road trip as early as possible.
If you don’t plan on driving, there are a variety of tours that provide roundtrip transportation from hotels in Vegas. Many of these also include entrance fees in their price.
Here are the top-rated tour options available.
- South Rim Bus Tour: Bus tour from Vegas to the park’s main entrance with entrance fees included
- Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: 3 in 1 bus tour from Vegas with all entrance fees included
- West Rim Tour: Bus tour from Vegas to the West Rim with entrance fee included
- Helicopter Tour: Luxury helicopter tour into the base of the West Rim Grand Canyon with entrance fees included
If you’re driving there yourself, you can either take US 93 and I-40 E through Arizona, or I-15 through southern Utah.
The fastest and most popular route is US 93 and I-40 E, where you’ll pass by the Hoover Dam, and a variety of museums and historic route 66 attractions in Arizona.
However, if you take the I-15, you can stop at the Valley of Fire State Park, or even make a detour to Zion National Park.
Here are some of the best road trip stops along each route.
Road Trip Stops On Historic Route 66
Hoover Dam
Stop to stretch your legs for a half hour by visiting the Hoover Dam. This iconic 726 foot tall dam controls the flooding of the Colorado River, and has a visitor center, and overlook.
It only takes around a half hour to see the main overlook, which is located along a highway bridge that you’ll walk across. If you have more time, you can stop by the visitor center for a dam tour as well.
Kingman Arizona
A great place to stop around halfway into your drive is Kingman Arizona. This is a charming small town with cafes, restaurants, and the historic Route 66 museum that you can stop by to take memorable road trip photos!
Williams Arizona
Another good place to stop and refuel before arriving at the Grand Canyon is Williams Arizona. This is the last major city you’ll drive past, and it has a little Route 66 museum, and a variety of great restaurant options.
From here, you can make a detour to Sedona (~1 hour) or Flagstaff (~40 min) on your way back from the Grand Canyon as well.
Road Trip Stops On I-15 (Utah)
Valley of Fire State Park
If you’re taking the I-15 through Utah, stop at the Valley of Fire State Park. This is a gorgeous state park located around an hour into the drive, with towering red rock formations, swirling sandstone, slot canyons, and bighorn sheep.
It costs $15/vehicle ($10 for Nevada residents), and makes for great photo opportunities if you have the time. Check out our Valley of Fire State Park guide for more details on what to do in the park.
St George Utah
The best place to stop and refuel on this route is St George, a small city on Utah’s southern border with plenty of grocery store and restaurant options.
It’s the last major city you’ll pass by before you arrive at the Grand Canyon, and it’s only a half hour drive from Zion National Park!
Visiting The Grand Canyon South Rim
Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, you’ll drive through an entrance station, where you can purchase tickets ($35/vehicle, valid for 7 days).
The visitor center has a large parking lot, and it’s within walking distance to the Mather Point Overlook. This is the most popular overlook in the park, and it has a great expansive view of the canyon.
After checking out this overlook, you can hike along South Rim Trail to enjoy even more views of the canyon.
This trail stretches 13 miles along the rim, and has a variety of rock outcroppings and viewpoints. I hiked South Rim Trail during sunset when I visited and the views were breathtaking.
The other popular hiking trails, South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trail, both descend into the canyon, and are more challenging routes. If you plan on hiking these, stop by the visitor center to ensure they’re open, and use the shuttle to get to the trailheads.
Here are some of the best things to do on a day trip at the Grand Canyon:
- Visit the Mather Point Overlook by the visitor center
- Hike part of South Rim Trail
- Hop on the shuttle to see other viewpoints (Hopi Point, Mohave Point)
- Dine by the rim in Grand Canyon Village
- Drive the scenic 23 mile Desert View Drive
- Watch the sunset from the Desert View Watchtower
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip Map
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon FAQs
What part of the rim is closest to Vegas?
The Grand Canyon’s West Rim is the closest rim to Vegas, and only a 2 hour drive (126 mi) via US 93. This is the lesser visited rim, since it’s located on the Hualapai Tribe’s tribal lands, and not considered part of the national park.
However, it’s an excellent way to see just how vast the Grand Canyon is at the overlooks (Eagle Point, Guano Point), if you’re pinched on time.
Keep in mind that they charge an admission fee of $51/person (rather than per vehicle), and additional fees for the skywalk and zipline. No reservations are needed to purchase tickets, and you can view their official hours here.
How many days do you need at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim?
You only need a day at the South Rim to stop by the visitor center, see the popular overlooks (Mather Point), and hike part of South Rim trail.
I recommend spending a full two days at the park so you can watch the sunset over the canyon, dine out in Grand Canyon Village, and use the shuttle to see more of the viewpoints.
How do you get to the Grand Canyon without a car?
There are a variety of tours that provide full transportation from hotels in Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Many of these include entrance fee tickets in their price.
Here are the top-rated tour options.
- South Rim Bus Tour: Bus tour from Vegas to the park’s main entrance with entrance fees included
- Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend: 3 in 1 bus tour from Vegas with all entrance fees included
- West Rim Tour: Bus tour from Vegas to the West Rim with entrance fee included
How far is the Grand Canyon from Sedona?
The Grand Canyon is 2 hours from Sedona, and one of the most beautiful cities to stay at in Arizona. If you’re taking US 93 and I-40 East to get to the Grand Canyon, Sedona is only an hour detour on this route.
Check out our Sedona weekend itinerary for ideas on what to do in this gorgeous little city.
How far is the Grand Canyon from Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend?
The Grand Canyon is only a 2 hour drive from Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
If you plan on crossing both of these natural wonders off of your bucket list, make sure to see our Antelope Canyon to Grand Canyon guide for directions, and essential tips for visiting each!