Make the Most Out of One Day at the Grand Canyon
One of the most exciting Las Vegas day trips available to tourists is a visit to the Grand Canyon! This massive feat of nature hosts over 6 million visitors annually, made up of families and explorers from around the world. Even if you have just one extra day in your Las Vegas vacation, you have time for a Grand Canyon helicopter tour, airplane tour, and a number of other exciting sightseeing adventures.
However, if your time is limited, you'll want to plan your Grand Canyon tour from Las Vegas in advance to ensure that you can experience as much as possible. Here are our top tips and advice to maximize your time at the Grand Canyon.
Determine Which Grand Canyon Rim to Visit
The Grand Canyon is divided into four "rims": The North Rim, South Rim, East Rim, and West Rim. The South Rim, also known as the Grand Canyon National Park, and the West Rim are the most popular destinations to visit from Las Vegas, as they are the most accessible and offer the most variety in tour opportunities and activities like shopping and dining. The first step in planning your day trip to the Grand Canyon should be determining which rim you want to visit.
Grand Canyon National Park
The Grand Canyon National Park, or the South Rim, is where you'll find some of the world's most recognizable viewpoints of the canyon's expanse. It is also the most developed region of the canyon, offering plentiful eateries, shops, hotels, and an array of historic buildings to visit.
Many visitors opt to spend several days exploring the canyon and retiring to the historic hotels at night, you can enjoy a full day of sightseeing over the course of several hours on a day trip from Las Vegas.
Grand Canyon West
The Grand Canyon West Rim's most high-demand attraction is the Skywalk, a U-shaped glass-bottomed bridge that allows visitors to walk out 70 feet past the canyon's edge. Other notable areas of the West Rim are Eagle Point, a massive rock formation that resembles an eagle taking flight, and Guano Point, a stone peninsula that offers a 360-degree view of the canyon scenery. The West Rim is also the only region of the park where Grand Canyon helicopter tours can land all the way on the very bottom.
Fastest Way to Get to the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon South Rim is about 280 miles from Las Vegas - a little over a 4-hour drive. Skip the road trip and opt for an airplane tour from Las Vegas instead. You'll save 3 hours each way that you can spend exploring and sightseeing instead! Flights from Las Vegas to the South Rim can also include a helicopter tour over the park or a Hummer ground excursion to multiple lookout points.
The Grand Canyon West is the region nearest to Las Vegas at just under a 3-hour drive. This region is actually accessible via helicopter, which cuts the travel time to about 45 minutes each way. The flight also includes incredible sights of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the desert scenery along the way. An early morning Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas will have you at the West Rim in no time, with a whole day ahead of you. You can even enjoy a helicopter landing on the bottom of the Grand Canyon!
Understand the Size of the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon National Park stretches 1,900 square miles, quite a distance for tourists on foot! Within this massive space, visitors will find dazzling canyon lookout points.
If you plan to fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim for the day, the most efficient way to visit the most viewpoints along the canyon's edge aboard a Hummer ground excursion. These modified military-style vehicles feature a convertible roof, bench seating, and are operated by a professional guide who can answer all your questions about the Grand Canyon National Park. Best of all, flights from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon can be combined with a Hummer tour for the best deal!
Visitors to the Grand Canyon West can easily visit top attractions like Eagle Point, where the Skywalk Bridge is located, Guano Point, and Hualapai Point, which is a Native American Cultural Center, in just one day. Fortunately for visitors with a time limit, the West Rim offers free shuttle service to each of these locations for faster transport.
The most comprehensive and best Grand Canyon West tour for visitors from Las Vegas includes a helicopter landing on the canyon floor, a pontoon boat along the Colorado River, and entry onto the Skywalk Bridge, so you can explore as much of the area as possible in just one day!
Plan for the Grand Canyon Weather
Although located in the desert, the Grand Canyon experiences a variety of weather patterns - including snow. The weather can also vary greatly from that in Las Vegas, as well. Be sure to check the forecast before leaving for your Grand Canyon tour. You don't want to be trapped indoors trying to escape the cold or blazing heat for your entire day! It's always advised to dress in layers and pack sunscreen and sunglasses.
Visit the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas with Papillon
Like any trip, planning in advance is the key to ensuring a smooth day of activity and no wasted time. Fortunately for visitors in Las Vegas, Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters does all the planning for you! We offer daily departures to the Grand Canyon National Park and the Grand Canyon West aboard state-of-the-art airplanes and helicopters. Our Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas are the most comprehensive, with plenty of upgrade options and even the ability to privatize your flight.
Don't leave Las Vegas without experiencing the majesty of the Grand Canyon - book your tour with Papillon today!