Arizona Day Trips to the Grand Canyon
Whether you’re visiting Arizona or locals planning a fun family getaway, you can enjoy a trip to the Grand Canyon National Park or the Grand Canyon West! Just a few short hours away from major cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona, both regions of the Grand Canyon offer a variety of activities and tours to elevate your sightseeing experience.
Visit Grand Canyon While in Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s most incredible natural landforms, and one of the most visited national parks in the United States. A Grand Canyon road trip is a popular activity when visiting Arizona, and there is no shortage of sightseeing opportunities upon arrival. Whether you plan to visit the Grand Canyon National Park or the Grand Canyon West, you’ll enjoy a full day of exploration and memories to last a lifetime.
Driving to the Grand Canyon National Park
Located in the northwest region of Arizona, The Grand Canyon National Park is an easy day trip from cities like Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, and even Las Vegas. Visitors in vehicles are charged a small entry fee before gaining access to the park. Ample parking is available across several nearby parking lots, including those surrounding the Visitor Center just past the entrance.
From Phoenix/Scottsdale:
- Approximate Distance: 244 miles (360.5 km)
- Approximate Drive Time: 3 hours 20 minutes
- Detours En Route:
- Bearizona Wildlife Park
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
- Museum of Northern Arizona
- Cathedral Rock
- Walnut Canyon National Monument
From Sedona:
- Approximate Distance: 113 miles (182 km)
- Approximate Drive Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Detours En Route:
- Bearizona Wildlife Park
- Bill Williams Mountain
- Grand Canyon Deer Farm
Grand Canyon National Park Tours
You’ll find nearly limitless scenic viewpoints along the canyon’s edge (particularly when walking the Rim Trail), but you can explore from completely unique vantage points aboard a Grand Canyon National Park tour.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour: Soar over the deepest and widest canyon gorges, find aerial views of incredible rock formations, the Colorado River, and the Kaibab Forest. Our state-of-the-art helicopters are equipped with climate control, plush seating, oversized windows for photos, and headset communications between the passengers and the pilot.
Hummer Ground Excursion: Board a military-style Hummer vehicle operated by a professional driver/guide and set off on a sightseeing adventure along the canyon’s edge. Your driver will select some of the most impressive lookout points, and passengers will have time to explore and take photos at each. Hummer tours can also include a guided hike on Grandview Trail, or book at sunset for an even more magical experience.
Driving to the Grand Canyon West
The Grand Canyon West is located within Hualapai Tribe territory and is the nearest region of the park to Las Vegas. Here, visitors will find the world-famous Skywalk bridge, built with a glass floor that extends over 70 feet past the canyon’s edge. There are also several unique vantage points including Eagle Point and Guano Point, a Native American cultural center, and plentiful shopping and dining options. This is also the only part of the Grand Canyon where helicopter tours can land all the way on the bottom!
From Phoenix/Scottsdale:
- Approximate Distance: 260 miles (418 km)
- Approximate Drive Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Detours En Route:
- Sigler Western Museum
- Arizona Route 66 Museum
- Kingman Railroad Museum
From Sedona:
- Approximate Distance: 242 miles (389 km)
- Approximate Drive Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Detours En Route:
- Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
- Grand Canyon Deer Farm
- Bonelli House
- Arizona Route 66 Museum
Grand Canyon West Tours
Helicopter Landing Tours: Fly to the very bottom of the Grand Canyon and land on the canyon floor in a helicopter! Grand Canyon West helicopter tours offer incredible aerial views of the magnificent canyon scenery, as well as the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand between the massive rock walls. You’ll also enjoy a pontoon boat ride along the Colorado River before flying back to the canyon’s surface to visit various lookout points via shuttle bus.
Skywalk Entry: The most impressive attraction at the Grand Canyon West is the Skywalk – a massive cantilever bridge featuring a glass bottom that allows visitors to see the canyon floor beneath their feet. Entry onto the Skywalk can be included in your Grand Canyon West helicopter tour or can be separately purchased upon arrival at the park.
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Home to the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Coyotes and Arizona Diamondbacks, this major metropolitan city is sure to impress sports fans. For vacationers seeking outdoor activities, horseback riding, hiking mountain trails and bird-watching are all available within city boundaries.
A bird’s eye view of Phoenix will enhance your desert vacation immeasurably. Cruising over Phoenix’s bustling down town you will be impressed by American West Arena, host to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. Neighboring this impressive sports complex is Bank One Ballpark, home to the championship baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Heading east, you will fly over the scenic area of Papago Park, punctuated by two sandstone buttes which have long impressed visitors with their intriguing shape and texture.
The Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens near Papago Park form an oasis in this modern desert community. Two of Phoenix’s most enticing attractions are even more awe-inspiring from the sky.
You can’t miss Camelback Mountain standing like a compass point within city limits. This mountain, actually shaped like a resting camel provides residents of Phoenix and its surrounding communities with the most elegant of sunrises and sunsets. Hiking enthusiasts find its rocky terrain and steep paths challenging, but each day hundreds of climbers make the trek to the top to see the view of the Valley of the Sun below.
The Salt River, whose water was once harnessed by the Hohokam people centuries ago, flows through the city of Scottsdale, highlighting a green belt of golf courses, public parks and other recreational areas for all to enjoy.
Visitors will be busy in Phoenix with year round events, sites and attractions. One flight above the city will give travelers an idea of just how much there is to see!
South Rim Tours
The city of Phoenix attracts a diversity of tourists due to its fusion of athletic, metropolitan, and nature-based activities. The mild weather throughout fall, winter, and spring makes for a perfect extended golf season, and the city even boasts several PGA courses. The Phoenix metro area also hosts the spring training for 15 MLB teams. The city also features the Phoenix Zoo as well as the Desert Botanical Gardens, a sort of environmental oasis amidst the bustling city life.
Surrounding the energetic city is a wealth of desert wildlife and nature waiting to be explored. It's impossible to miss Camelback Mountain, aptly named for its massive hump that resembles a resting camel. However, just North of the city lies some of the most profound nature ever to be seen: the Grand Canyon. Our mission at Papillon is to take you and your family to this splendid landmark and show you aerial views of the desert scenery along the way.
Whether you want to enjoy a peaceful ground tour of the canyon or soar over its rim in a helicopter, we can give you the experience you're looking for! We will meet you bright and early at your Phoenix hotel, where you'll climb aboard one of our comfortable Sprinter vans, customized to enhance your sightseeing experience. Your first stop will be the Double Eagle Trading Post, an old-fashioned Western town where you can shop and explore.
Guests who choose to experience a helicopter ride will be taken through the scenic Central Arizona to the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Here, a state-of-the-art helicopter will be awaiting your arrival. Upon boarding, you will be lifted up into the air and flown over both the South and North Rims of the Grand Canyon. You'll see stunning aerial views of the forested canyon valleys, the deepest and widest rock gorges in the entire park, and the Colorado River below you.
If you'd rather explore the South Rim on foot, you can opt for our luxury Sprinter transport to the Grand Canyon National Park entrance. Upon arrival, the splendor of the landscape will begin to unfold before you. You will have ample time to explore various lookout points and take photos of the scenery. Guests can also make a short hike to Grand Canyon Village to shop for memorabilia or grab a bite to eat.
Guests will also be driven through the majestic Oak Creek Canyon, where the lush forestry set against exquisite red rock formations is like a painting come to life. Famous for its many appearances in film and television, Oak Creek Canyon is a beautiful and lasting image on your journey to or from the Grand Canyon.
While the city of Phoenix and its surrounding metropolitan area can provide fun activities like sporting events, shopping, and zoo visits, make your vacation a timeless memory for you and your family by experiencing the most fantastic natural landform in the United States: the Grand Canyon.
