Las Vegas - Grand Canyon Help Please
Discussion
I thought I only had 2 options to visit the Grand Canyon when me and the Gf go to Vegas next year.
Helicopter from Vegas stip - Expensive
Coach to Canyon, the Helicopter to bottom - Cheaper option.
Is their anything stopping my from renting my own car and driving to the Grand Canyon myself? Always dreamed of driving a nice Mustang in the states for a bit.
Helicopter from Vegas stip - Expensive
Coach to Canyon, the Helicopter to bottom - Cheaper option.
Is their anything stopping my from renting my own car and driving to the Grand Canyon myself? Always dreamed of driving a nice Mustang in the states for a bit.
You'll get to the western side of the Grand Canyon in about 2 1/2 or 3 hours from Las Vegas - the whole Canyon is about 250miles long so it's a good days drive to get right over to the more tourist developed eastern side. I visited a viewpoint not too far from the Skywalk (it was closed when we were there) and, despite not being quite as good from the air, it's certainly one of the most stunning views I've ever seen.
In terms of logistics, Arizona is an hour ahead of Nevada, so watch your timings as last entrance is about 4pm local time. And visit the Hoover Dam on the way out, it'll be a bit uninspiring after seeing the Canyon. I rented a full size car from a Budget facility that was walking distance from New York New York for USD$55 for 24 hours, gas wasn't much, and regretfully had to turn down an upgrade to a Mustang Convertible as we were four blokes.
In terms of logistics, Arizona is an hour ahead of Nevada, so watch your timings as last entrance is about 4pm local time. And visit the Hoover Dam on the way out, it'll be a bit uninspiring after seeing the Canyon. I rented a full size car from a Budget facility that was walking distance from New York New York for USD$55 for 24 hours, gas wasn't much, and regretfully had to turn down an upgrade to a Mustang Convertible as we were four blokes.
For your car hire needs www.carhire3000.com - I used them for our road trip last month after hearing good things on here and money saving expert and they did a cracking one way deal.
Also I can recommend Sundance Helicopters if you want to do that - we booked through http://www.alllasvegastours.com/Body.asp?tour=LAS-...
Also I can recommend Sundance Helicopters if you want to do that - we booked through http://www.alllasvegastours.com/Body.asp?tour=LAS-...
There is one other option - but I am afraid it is a risk and may not happen!
When we went earlier this year for our wedding, we did the helicopter trip, as did a number of our guests. My wifes family were on a budget so they drove to the viewpoint and had a great day. Then on their way home their pilot said to them he had a suprise for them, and after obtaining clearance from air traffic control, the pilot took a detour up the length of the canyon, moving the plane from side to side so everyone got a view.
The photos looked brilliant.
God I would love to be in Vegas today....... what a place.
When we went earlier this year for our wedding, we did the helicopter trip, as did a number of our guests. My wifes family were on a budget so they drove to the viewpoint and had a great day. Then on their way home their pilot said to them he had a suprise for them, and after obtaining clearance from air traffic control, the pilot took a detour up the length of the canyon, moving the plane from side to side so everyone got a view.
The photos looked brilliant.
God I would love to be in Vegas today....... what a place.
I drove over there from Vegas.
I loved the drive although it was longer than anticipated and we ended up taking about 4.5 hours, faced with similar journey back-so all in all a bit of a toil.
However, you can rent a VIper in Vegas for a reasonable amount and I would have loved to have done had I known/afforded it.
I loved the drive although it was longer than anticipated and we ended up taking about 4.5 hours, faced with similar journey back-so all in all a bit of a toil.
However, you can rent a VIper in Vegas for a reasonable amount and I would have loved to have done had I known/afforded it.
Easily drivable there and back in a day....but it is a long drive and nothing terribly scenic of note once you're past [now bypassed] Hoover Dam until you get to the Canyon. Make sure you get a rental car with unlimited mileage - base Mustangs usually are, plus Chalengers/Camaros. Never found a Corvette on unlimited miles though so that would be an expensive trip.
If you're looking for 'driving roads' with stunning scenery then my favourite in the area is the road on the north short of Lake Mead to Valley of Fire. Mucho twisty with dips and crests galore.
If you're looking for 'driving roads' with stunning scenery then my favourite in the area is the road on the north short of Lake Mead to Valley of Fire. Mucho twisty with dips and crests galore.
To visit the main part of the Grand Canyon - the grandest part - you need to hire a car (which is cheap and easy) and drive the 5+ hours to the National Park on the South rim. About $20 for a week of entry in a car.
This has some good walks along the rim, walks down into the Canyon, Park Rangers, information stations, hotels etc.
Flights can be arranged at the small airport in the town just outside the gates if you want to do that.
Hoover Dam is on the way, and well worth a visit.
Grand Canyon West is apparently not worth driving to and costs a lot more than the National Park. The Skywalk is impressive, but costs extra and you can't take cameras on. General guidebook advice is that it is good to visit if you have a short time available and take a helicopter package from Vegas, but that the National Park is Grand Canyon proper.
I have been to the National park twice, the first time was as a weekend trip from Vegas when the Vegas hotel prices double.
This has some good walks along the rim, walks down into the Canyon, Park Rangers, information stations, hotels etc.
Flights can be arranged at the small airport in the town just outside the gates if you want to do that.
Hoover Dam is on the way, and well worth a visit.
Grand Canyon West is apparently not worth driving to and costs a lot more than the National Park. The Skywalk is impressive, but costs extra and you can't take cameras on. General guidebook advice is that it is good to visit if you have a short time available and take a helicopter package from Vegas, but that the National Park is Grand Canyon proper.
I have been to the National park twice, the first time was as a weekend trip from Vegas when the Vegas hotel prices double.
How about driving around to the North Rim? There is a great hotel there with little cabins in the woods. Then visit the other national parks there, including Dead Horse Point and Bryce Canyon (I think thats the one). All tres cool. South Rim is all desert-like. Takes a few days drive, but can break up the monotony of Las Vegas if you're there for more than 2-3 days straight.
Last year we did a loop from Vegas that included Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon South Rim, Page (Arizona, for some rafting), Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and back to Vegas. That would take just under 1 week...
The North rim could be visited as part of the loop, but otherwise is much further from Vegas.
The North rim could be visited as part of the loop, but otherwise is much further from Vegas.
When I went I rented a Mustang and drove to the Hoover dam. We hired from the airport and got a lovely blue one, only thing wrong was it was the V6! The problem with driving to the canyon from Vegas is the main tourist part and walkway etc. are furthest from Vegas. Because of this we called papilon, the helicopter tour company and managed to book a last minute helicopter tour taking in the dam, canyon and a lunch at the bottom. I'm pretty sure we got it for the two of us for less than £200 because we were happy to go whichever day papilon said they were available. It meant keeping most mornings free for a couple of days but it didn't cause problems as everything only a few minutes away in Vegas anyway but it did save a us a few hundred pounds and meant we could afford it. It's worth a try to just call them and ask.
ETA
They also have discounts on their website for last minute trips.
ETA
They also have discounts on their website for last minute trips.
theaxe said:
I did this (stop at the Hoover dam on the way!), it was a good trip but longer than you'd think due to 65 mph limit and loads of cops ($246 fine and a stern lecture for me).
Funny you say that, we were out there in June for our honeymoon and in the 2000miles of driving we didnt see one police car on the road. Cruise control set at 80mph most of the time - which was slow compared to some of the traffic.WRT the OP, we took a helicopter ride from the strip into the base (including champagne lunch) - well worth the money if im honest!
We did then drive round the canyon, but you dont get the same feel for the scale of it from up top. Where we landed was ~1 mile below the rim! truely amazing
Sevenman said:
Grand Canyon West is apparently not worth driving to and costs a lot more than the National Park. The Skywalk is impressive, but costs extra and you can't take cameras on. General guidebook advice is that it is good to visit if you have a short time available and take a helicopter package from Vegas, but that the National Park is Grand Canyon proper.
It's not, we hired a car and drove to the west rim, I wish we hadn't, you have to take a bus to see the canyon, and are fleeced by the people that run it at every opportunity.Also the hire cars are not insured on the gravel roads leading up to it apparently, although they were laying tarmac when we went in 2009 so it may be paved all the way there now.
Either do the flight by chopper or plane or drive the 5 hours to the canyon proper imo
Our honeymoon was Vegas, Bryce canyon, monument valley, grand canyon, back to Vegas.
Stay in Vegas mid week it is a lot cheaper.
The drive around that circuit can be done leisurely in about a week and you get loads of great stuff (grand wasn't the best of it by far). We stayed in Bryce for a couple of days, monument for 1 night, grand canyon for 3, back via Hoover dam. Amazing scenery pretty much the whole way round.
Stay in Vegas mid week it is a lot cheaper.
The drive around that circuit can be done leisurely in about a week and you get loads of great stuff (grand wasn't the best of it by far). We stayed in Bryce for a couple of days, monument for 1 night, grand canyon for 3, back via Hoover dam. Amazing scenery pretty much the whole way round.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff