Guide to Grand Canyon Trips from Las Vegas

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon is the most rewarding day trip. Planning a trip is easy, but there are a number of ways to get to this world famous destination and, as the name implies, it is absolutely massive!

The Grand Canyon is located in Northern Arizona. It is so large that it occupies an area (1,904 square miles in total) than the entire state of Rhode Island! This means there are different regions with different attractions. It's important to better understand the mighty Grand Canyon before taking the journey so let's get started!

Sightseeing travel to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas is pretty simple since it is just a short distance away from many of the national park's world-renowned destinations. Landmarks such as Eagle Point, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and the South Rim are within hours of Sin City.

With the immense amount of ground to cover in order to see the Grand Canyon the right way, most Las Vegas trips to the Grand Canyon focus on a particular rim of the canyon and guided tours are available at each rim location. Deciding on which rim of the Grand Canyon is the "best" to visit completely depends on your timeline, budget, and personal preferences.

Visited by more than 5 million people per year, the Grand Canyon National Park is one of the premier destinations in the world. The Grand Canyon is also, well, grand! At 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, it's important to know which sites you'd like to visit when planning Grand Canyon excursions from Las Vegas.

Did you know? The Grand Canyon has three rims to choose from: North Rim, South Rim, West Rim. Each rim boasts its own features that differ greatly from one another. Learn more about each Grand Canyon rim below and the best ways for Grand Canyon visitors to get there from Vegas.

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim features flights through the most famous and photographed areas of the canyon. Grand Canyon South Rim is by far the most popular spot and the hub to visit the National Park. Located in northern Arizona, South Rim is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Home of Grand Canyon Village, it is the activity, transportation, and accommodation hub of Grand Canyon National Park.

This is also where the park's historic buildings and attractions, such as Bright Angel Lodge, are located. This is also where you will find the majority of the Grand Canyon hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. It is also the terminus for the Grand Canyon Railway and where the Grand Canyon Visitors Center is located.

The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most popular destination within the National Park for watching sunsets. The Grand Canyon South Rim includes renowned viewpoints such as Bright Angel Point and Mather Point.

Discover trips of the Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas.

Only 10% of Grand Canyon visitors take the road less traveled to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon North Rim, the cooler, forested cousin of the more popular and warmer South Rim, is full of majestic lookout points and is also home to abundant wildlife.

Escape the crowds and explore the raw beauty of the Grand Canyon North Rim. Trips to the North Rim of the canyon can include airplane tours, ATV excursions, and hiking. You can even elevate your Southwestern adventure with a 2-day/1-night trip to Bar 10 Ranch in the Grand Canyon North. Tours from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon North are intimate and include a visit to the inner gorge of the canyon.

Discover trips to the Grand Canyon North from Las Vegas.

Experience the majesty of the Grand Canyon's West Rim from Las Vegas. The Grand Canyon West Rim, only 125 miles from Las Vegas, is the rugged, less-trafficked alternative to the Grand Canyon National Park. It is owned and operated by the Hualapai Indian Tribe.

This rim is the home of breathtaking lookout points such as Eagle Point and Guano Point, which offers 360-degree canyon views, and the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the Grand Canyon glass bridge, along with the other West Rim attractions.

On tours of this breathtaking section of the canyon, guests can book a VIP adventure on the Skywalk, float along the Colorado River, or even land a helicopter on a private plateau of the canyon floor.

Papillon offers daily helicopter, airplane,and adventure tours that run from Las Vegas to this section of the Grand Canyon.

Discover trips of the Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas.

While each Grand Canyon Rim has its own set of popular attractions, you'll have a difficult time visiting more than one location in a single day.

Remember the Grand Canyon is just that; grand! If you drove from the North Rim to the South Rim it would take you more than 200 miles. The only way to get from the North Rim to South Rim is a nearly five hour drive or an arduous 24-mile hike along the Bright Angel Trail that takes you from the North Rim Village to the South Rim Village.

The best option to cover these vast distances and pack in more time sightseeing rather than traveling is aboard a Grand Canyon helicopter tour or a scenic airplane tour. Papillon is the Grand Canyon tour leader and offers a host of ways to fly above the Grand Canyon.

The most adventurous way to see the canyon is aboard a helicopter on a Las Vegas trip to the Grand Canyon with Papillon!

Papillon helicopter trips from Las Vegas are backed with nearly 60 years of Grand Canyon flying experience! Papillon is the largest and most experienced helicopter tour operator in the world and our world-class helicopter rides to the Grand Canyon are sure to be an experience you'll never forget!

We offer daily helicopter flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim and operate a large helicopter base at Grand Canyon National Park that offers Grand Canyon South Rim helicopter tours.

Discover helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Papillon's airplane tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon offer the most luxurious way to see all the Grand Canyon sights on a relaxing timeline!

Experience magnificent aerial views of the Grand Canyon aboard one of Papillon's dedicated sightseeing airplane trips. From the air you can see across the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon and straight down to the canyon floor where the mighty Colorado River has flowed for millennia. Papillon's airplanes are specifically designed for sightseeing and are the perfect option for medium- to large-sized groups. Each aircraft comes equipped with climate control and headset narration for each passenger.

Airplane trips fly to all three of the Grand Canyon's impressive rims and provide amazing views of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Mojave Desert, and much more in the process.

Discover airplane tours flying to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.

With our full line up of exciting trips, you can also add an exhilarating adventure tour to your Las Vegas trip to the Grand Canyon!

Adventure trips are sure to get your adrenaline pumping while exploring the breathtaking landscapes.

Explore the North Canyon on an ATV ride or embark on a rafting trip down the Colorado River to the Grand Canyon West Rim. Thrillseekers, adventurers, and beginners alike are sure to enjoy these adventure trips to the Grand Canyon.

Discover adventure tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Which part of the Grand Canyon is closest to Las Vegas?

The West Rim is the closest section of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas. Visitors can arrive in about 45 minutes via a Grand Canyon helicopter tour to West Rim. If driving, it is approximately 130 miles from Las Vegas which is a two and a half hour drive.

What is the best way to visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas?

We may be a little biased, but we believe the best way to visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas is aboard one of Papillon's state-of-the-art helicopter or airplane tours.

Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters and our partners are proud to introduce the wonder of the Grand Canyon (and other incredible landmarks) to hundreds of thousands of guests each year. We also operate the largest fleet of sightseeing aircraft in the world, offer all-inclusive pricing, and have operated for nearly 60 years, providing superior service while transporting guests the Grand Canyon.

Discover how far Las Vegas is to the Grand Canyon.

Where do Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas pick up?

We pick up for Grand Canyon tours from most major Las Vegas hotels on the Strip and Downtown.

If you are not staying at one of the major Las Vegas hotels, simply travel to the nearest one. You do not have to be staying at a hotel to be picked up by one of our shuttles.

Las Vegas hotel shuttles will drop riders off at our VIP terminal located in Boulder City, Nevada. For departures from other cities and states, visit our locations page.

Can you do a day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon?

Absolutely! Papillon has been transporting guests to the Grand Canyon for decades. We offer multiple world-class helicopter and airplane tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon every day.

Discover the best tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.

What is the best Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas?

Papillon offers a number of incredible day trips from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. Helicopter tours, airplane tours, and adventure tours run daily from Las Vegas to the scenic destination.

A few of the most popular day tours include:

• West Rim Grand Canyon sunset helicopter tour with canyon landing
• Tours From Las Vegas To Grand Canyon Skywalk at the Grand Canyon West Rim

How much does it cost to go to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas?

It depends. The price of each trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is based on a number of factors. For example, a few of the choices that will impact the price of your trip include:

• The tour destination
• The length of your tour
• The tour vehicle that you choose
• Whether there are any additional experiences or upgrades

SeemsSeem complicated? Don't worry. The cost of each trip is conveniently located next to each individual tour listing. And with Papillon, the rate we quote online is the rate you'll pay. No guesswork required.

Learn more about fare information and rules.

Which side of the Grand Canyon is best for a day trip?

That depends on what you're looking for!

The Grand Canyon West Rim is the closest rim to Las Vegas. In addition to being closer, this rim features the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk and permits our helicopter tours to land on a private plateau on the canyon floor, something that is not allowed in Grand Canyon National Park.

However, if you're looking for a longer experience or want to visit the Grand Canyon National Park on your trip, the South Rim or North canyon are the ideal vacation destinations for you.

The South Rim features the Grand Canyon's most famous lookout points while the North side is the perfect chance to escape the crowds.

Learn more about the different rims with our Grand Canyon rim comparison guide.