Different Ways To Visit the Grand Canyon
Every year, millions of visitors from around the world travel to witness the Grand Canyon for themselves, either on Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas or from other nearby cities like Phoenix or Scottsdale, Arizona. There are a variety of modes of transportation to both reach the Grand Canyon and to explore the area once you've arrived. Whether you plan to visit the Grand Canyon National Park (also known as the South Rim), the Grand Canyon West Rim, or less-trafficked areas like the North Rim or the East Rim, your travel experience can be an equally exciting aspect to your Grand Canyon vacation.
Check out our list of the most efficient, the most exciting, and the most memorable ways to reach the Grand Canyon.
About the Grand Canyon Regions
The Grand Canyon is actually divided into four regions, called "rim": The South Rim (officially the Grand Canyon National Park), the West Rim, the North Rim, and the East Rim. When you begin planning a Grand Canyon vacation, you must first determine which area to visit, then how you'd like to reach there, and what you'd like to do once you've arrived. Learn what differentiates each canyon rim and decide which offers the most for your Grand Canyon trip.
South Rim
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At the South Rim, the Grand Canyon Village houses many of the park's most iconic buildings and attractions, including historic hotels, guided ranger programs, restaurants, and shopping. There are also a range of trails for all skill levels and multiple world-famous looking points lining the canyon's edge.
Some of the most popular Grand Canyon activities at the South Rim include helicopter tours over the canyon's expanse and Hummer ground tours to some of the most beautiful viewpoints.
Distance from Las Vegas: about 252 miles (405km)
Distance from Phoenix/Scottsdale: about 231 miles (372km)
West Rim
Many visitors coming from Las Vegas visit the West Rim, known as Grand Canyon West, which is the closest part of the park to the Strip. Here, you enter the lands of the Hualapai tribe, a sovereign Indian nation federally recognized since 1883. Famous lookout points at the West Rim include Guano Point and Eagle Point, but the most notable feature of this rim is the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This horseshoe shaped, glass-bottomed bridge extends over the canyon, making visitors feel as if they are walking on air above the canyon floor.
Guests at the West Rim have the opportunity to land on the bottom of the canyon in a helicopter, float on the Colorado River, and enjoy complimentary shuttle service to the various lookout points. Many tours also include entry onto the Skywalk.
Distance from Las Vegas: about 127 miles (204 km)
Distance from Phoenix/Scottsdale: about 261 miles (420 km)
North Rim
If you are looking for solitude and raw beauty, head to the less accessible North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. Cooler, forested, and offering some of the best stargazing in the world (it's an International Dark Sky Park), the North Rim sees 90% fewer visitors than the busy South Rim.
The North Rim is located at more than 8,000 foot elevation, there is only one lodge, one campground, and, in the winter, all roads are closed. Be sure to check with the National Park for current conditions and closures before you embark on your trip.
Distance from Las Vegas: about 264 miles (425 km)
Distance from Phoenix/Scottsdale: about 351 miles (566 km)
East Rim
The Grand Canyon's East Rim might not be a world-famous travel destination, but it is surrounded by some of the most high-demand natural locations for both vacationers and sightseers. Visitors to the East Rim will be near the town of Page, Arizona - where guests can fly over Horseshoe Bend, make the hike to Rainbow Bridge, land on top of Tower Butte in a helicopter, and enjoy a guided tour through Antelope Canyon.
Distance from Las Vegas: about 293 miles (471 km)
Distance from Phoenix/Scottsdale: about 233 miles (375 km)
Explore the Grand Canyon by Car
Driving to the Grand Canyon is the ideal option for visitors who plan to stay overnight or for several days. It's possible to drive to the Grand Canyon and back in one day, but your sightseeing time will be cut short due to the long distance. It's also a convenient option for camping at the Grand Canyon or for visitors who plan to stop at multiple destinations en route. Ensure that your car is prepared for a long drive - there are long stretches of highway between Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon where cell phone service may be unavailable.
Fly to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas
If you have just one spare day in your Las Vegas vacation, then you have time to experience the Grand Canyon National Park. Depart from Papillon's nearby Boulder City air terminal aboard a state-of-the-art airplane designed for comfort and aerial photography. Flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon include views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Mojave Desert along the way. Airplane tour packages also include helicopter tours over the South Rim or ground excursions aboard a customized military-style Hummer.
Experience the Grand Canyon West on a Helicopter
Because it is the nearest rim to Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon West is actually accessible via helicopter. Grand Canyon West helicopter tours depart daily from our Boulder City, Nevada air terminal and soars over the Mojave Desert to the West Rim. You'll also see Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River from your helicopter window.
If you'd like to visit the West Rim, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West on a helicopter tour and actually land on the very bottom of the canyon!
Ride the Grand Canyon Train
For a true wild west experience, arrive at the canyon on the historic Grand Canyon Railway!
In operation since 1901, the train still offers daily departures from Williams, Arizona. There are six car options ranging from simple bench seating to a first-class luxury parlor, as well as an observation dome for a 360-degree view of the desert scenery passing you by. Enjoy snacks, cocktails, and live music from cowboy-style performers en route to the Grand Canyon National Park!
Visit the Grand Canyon with Papillon!
Papillon Helicopters offers daily departures to the Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon West, and destinations like Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. We operate a state-of-the-art fleet of aircraft including luxury helicopters, airplanes built specifically for sightseeing, and modified military-style Hummer vehicles. Every year, we proudly take over 300,000 passengers from around the world to the Grand Canyon and beyond. Experience the beauty of the Grand Canyon with us - book your Papillon tour from Las Vegas today!
What is the Best Way to See the Grand Canyon?
Both the South Rim and the West Rim of the Grand Canyon offer beautiful and unique vantage points from the canyon's edge, but undoubtedly the best way to experience the Grand Canyon is either from the sky aboard a helicopter tour or airplane flight or from the very bottom of the canyon floor after landing in a helicopter. Aerial views or seeing the canyon walls from below are not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but a viewpoint you simply can't replicate from standing on the edge.
How do Tourists Get to the Grand Canyon?
International tourists and visitors from the United States can fly to nearby airports in Arizona (PHX, FLG, SLC, LAS), then drive to the Grand Canyon. Visitors to Las Vegas can receive a faster and more scenic journey aboard a sightseeing airplane or helicopter tour operated by Papillon Grand Canyon helicopters, who provide daily flights to both the Grand Canyon West and the Grand Canyon National Park.
How Many Days do you Need to See the Grand Canyon?
The Grand Canyon South Rim offers a variety of shops, historic buildings, dining options, and hiking trails that you can enjoy at your own pace. Some visitors enjoy as much as they can on a day trip from Las Vegas, and others will spend up to a week or longer taking their time exploring the trails or even camping.
The West Rim offers many beautiful viewpoints and activities - like the Skywalk - that can be enjoyed during a day trip or even an afternoon helicopter tour from Las Vegas.
Can You Just Drive and See the Grand Canyon?
Yes! You can transport yourself to the Grand Canyon and pay the entry fee to explore on your own. As of 2023, the entry into the West Rim is $49 USD and the South Rim is $20 USD.
From the Las Vegas Strip, the Grand Canyon West is about a 2 hour drive and National Park is about a 4 hour drive.
From the Phoenix airport, the Grand Canyon West is about a 4.5 hour drive and National Park is about a 3.5 hour drive.
From the airport in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Grand Canyon West is about a 3.5 hour drive and National Park is about a 1 hour 20 minute drive.