As you may know, I have a moderately unhealthy obsession with Las Vegas. What you may not know is that I have yet to see one of the city's most famous neighbor: the Grand Canyon. (Photo "On a Ledge" by jimrhoda)Anyone who has been to Las Vegas will tell you that the signs for tours to the Grand Canyon and other west coast tours are plenty. Everything from day trips, helicopter tours, or even mutli-day excursions are offered while using Las Vegas as a base. What the tours do not tell you upfront is that the Grand Canyon is quite far away from Las Vegas and is not even in the same state (hint: Arizona). So while the signs may make it seem like a short day trip is actually a pretty modest adventure.
In contemplating doing this myself on every outing to Las Vegas, I've found out some of the more popular ways to do it without paying for the high priced helicopter tours all while actually getting time to enjoy the scenery for more than a few minutes.
Renting a Car- Good for a Few
If you do not have a car, heading to the Grand Canyon can be difficult. At 4 hours away from the city, the round-trip takes you near the Hoover Dam which is likely another spot on the list you must see while in the region. Couple a stop and the 8 hour total drive and you may only be able to see just the South Rim for an hour or two unless you decide to stay for the night. (Photo "Grand Canyon" by StudioTO)Even with staying one extra night seeing a lot is incredibly difficult as the 4 hour drive back to Las Vegas still has to be completed on the following day. Don't bother thinking of hiking down to the base and back, as this is a difficult task for even the most fit to do in a single day and it is even recommended to camp one night at the bottom to accommodate!
Total Cost: $145 for two days of car rental and gas, excluding extra hotel nights you may want.
Organized Bus Tours
The Grand Canyon tours offered from Las Vegas are a more attractive option for those not wanting to be driving for 8 hours in a small stretch and still get back in the same day. Going with an organized group and set schedule is the only bus option for those in Las Vegas, as public bus routes do not exist going in to the park or back. (Photo "Californian Condor" by beekh001)What is the trade off for an increased cost of an organized tour is the luxury of not having to drive at all, leaving it all up to your bus driver and tour guide. This lets a 12 hour day be stretched much further with most tours to the South Rim can be a15 hour day or longer! But for as much as an organized tour may be attractive, be sure to do your research. You would never want to end up on the tour that only spends 45 minutes at the South Rim and has you back in town before dark, so definitely check out the reviews.
Total Cost: $100-$150 per person on up for multi-day trips.
What about those helicopter tours you may be thinking? Well those prices range several hundred dollars and up depending on if you want just a fly-over, stop in the canyon, or a more in-depth adventure package. If you made a killing at the casinos and want to drop all your winnings on extravagance, this would definitely be your choice, but not up my alley for the cost associated.
Whatever your choices of seeing the Grand Canyon are, just remember, Grand Canyon National Park is huge. To put it in perspective, it is over 1 million acres total, which is slightly smaller than the state of Delaware. A short trip from Las Vegas may not do the entire canyon justice, however if you are absolutely dying to get out there and on limited time, there are many options at your disposal for a great day trip.
