How To Get To Grand Canyon From Las Vegas

From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon: 4 Best Ways to Get There

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If you're looking for an escape or day trip from Las Vegas, a visit to the Grand Canyon can be the perfect destination. The incredible canyon, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is a four-hour drive or a 45-minute flight from Las Vegas.

The easiest way to do the trip is to take a tour. An organized tour makes it easy, as they handle everything from logistics to a scenic itinerary. Here are several options for you to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

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1. From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by Car

If you want to drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, it's an easy trip almost completely done on interstate highways. Although the canyon is only 100 miles away as the crow flies, the drive is much less direct and is almost 300 miles. It will take you between four and five hours from Las Vegas.

You start from the Las Vegas Strip near the airport, heading on the I-215 east towards Henderson. You then make your way to the I-11 southbound, which will take you to the border of Arizona. The road is also US-93, and there are some scenic viewpoints of Lake Mead as you leave Henderson and begin to get into the Mojave Desert. You can also make a detour here and visit Hoover Dam and/or the lake.

From here, it's an easy drive through the Arizona desert to the I-40, where you'll take that east for a few hours until Williams, Arizona. That's where you'll get off the big interstate and start on historic Route 66. It's fun to stop in the little town of Seligman, Arizona, which celebrates its location on the famous American route. After a while, you take AZ-64, which is a 50-mile road leading directly to the Grand Canyon National Park. In the winter months, there can be snow in the area (and on the roads) between Flagstaff and the Canyon.

For fun, you may want to drive to Williams, Arizona and then take the Grand Canyon Railway train from here to the canyon. There's free parking at the train depot, and you can use the park shuttle system to move around within the park — you don't need a car.

2. From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon on a Tour

If you want an easy, inexpensive way to make the trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, try an organized tour. The Grand Canyon National Park Bus Tour is an all-day experience that takes you via motor coach (with a restroom onboard) from the Las Vegas Strip area right to the Grand Canyon.

Most bus tours stop at Hoover Dam, just outside Las Vegas, and on Route 66 in the cool town of Seligman, Arizona. The tours take you to the canyon's South Rim for a stop at the Mather Point overlook and the iconic Bright Angel Lodge .

The experience starts with a 6am departure from Las Vegas and gets you back there around 10pm. The tours include a guide who provides commentary and answers questions during the trip. The tour also includes round-trip transportation from most major Las Vegas hotels.

3. From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by Helicopter

Helicopter parked at the bottom of the Grand Canyon

The fastest (and most expensive) way to get from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is by helicopter. The Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour with Optional Below-the-Rim Landing and Skywalk starts with free hotel pickup from your Las Vegas hotel.

After leaving Las Vegas, you pass over Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Fortification Hill, and the Colorado River and get a truly unique aerial perspective of these sites. You'll also see the natural beauty of the Mojave Desert on the way before arriving at the awe-inspiring location.

Once at the Grand Canyon, you land at the West Rim, where you can admire breathtaking views from the overlooks. From here, you visit Eagle Point. Purchase an upgrade, and you can enjoy views over the canyon from the Skywalk here, a glass walkway suspended 4,000 feet above the canyon floor. You also have the option to land on a bluff overlooking the Colorado River where you can see the many layers of the canyon and better appreciate this geological wonder.

Then it's back into the helicopter for the quick return trip to Las Vegas and drop-off at your hotel.

4. From Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by Bus and Train

It's possible to get to the Grand Canyon from Vegas via public transportation by taking two buses, or buses and a train. Start in Las Vegas at the Greyhound bus terminal and take the bus to Flagstaff, Arizona, which takes about five hours (there are only two stops made). This bus departs Las Vegas at 6:55am and gets you to Flagstaff about 1:30pm.

You can then take a shuttle bus from Flagstaff directly to the canyon. The shuttles take you from several locations in Flagstaff to Maswik Lodge or the Tusayan IMAX Theater, both inside the park.

Alternatively, you can add on train ride to make things interesting. From Flagstaff, you need to get to Williams, Arizona. The best option is another bus service. You could also take Uber or Lyft — it's only about 30 miles (48 kilometers).

Once in Williams, you take the iconic Grand Canyon Railway, which takes about two hours and brings you right to the South Rim. The train has different types of rail cars and six different classes of services and ticket prices. You have options from very basic cars with bench seats to riding in your own private parlor car. The trains depart Williams at 8:30 or 9:30am, depending on the month, and depart from the canyon to return to Williams at 2:30 or 3:30pm.