Las Vegas to Grand Canyon – Guru Travel Guide for 2023

Traveling from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon

Las Vegas is one of the top destinations for visitors traveling to Grand Canyon National Park. Once a sleepy Nevada town, Las Vegas is a major city with casinos, shows and close proximity to the Grand Canyon. Modern day Las Vegas not only target party goers and newlyweds, but also increasingly caters to families. Although all the slot machines and high stakes poker games haven't gone anywhere, there are an increasing number of shows, entertainment, amazing restaurants and attractions for people of all ages and backgrounds. Before heading over to the National Park, Vegas offers an experience very different from the Grand Canyon leg of your trip.

Las Vegas is a desert town and the weather is hot much of the year. Late fall to early spring can have great weather and give you a chance to beat the summer heat and crowds. For those of you who tire quickly of the Strip, there are other activities close by. Red Rocks is a popular area for rock climbing and hiking and is only a short drive from town. Boulder, Nevada is about a half hour from downtown, and offers some great mountain biking, as well as Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and Black Canyon (Colorado River) right in its backyard. Read the guide below to learn more about travel from Vegas to the Grand Canyon, or check out our Las Vegas map to see all the nearby destinations and attractions.

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Travel Information, Tours and Lodging

Driving Distance from Las Vegas, NV to Grand Canyon

Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West (Skywalk) is 126 miles, a 2 hour 23-minute drive.
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon North Rim is 265 miles, a 4 hour 30-minute drive.
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim is 280 miles, a 4 hour 20-minute drive.
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon East Rim is 263 miles, a 4 hour 30-minute drive.

Las Vegas Tours and Attractions

Las Vegas offers a large variety of tours to the Western Grand Canyon and other areas in Grand Canyon National Park. Many of these tours focus on Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk, including some of our recommended tours below. There are scenic flights and bus tours to the West Rim directly from Vegas. Once you arrive at the West Rim you can also enjoy horse rides, rafting, hummer rides and some real wild west events. A 4.5-hour drive from Las Vegas will bring you to one of the world’s most amazing destinations, the Grand Canyon's South Rim. From the South Rim, you can plan all kinds of Grand Canyon guided tours, or a number of self-guided activities to explore the Grand Canyon. Grand Canyon Village is also located along the South Rim and is where you'll find the majority of Hotels in the Park.

Las Vegas Hotels and Loding

Although Phoenix is much closer for people heading to the South Rim, the West Rim and the Grand Canyon Skywalk are closer to Las Vegas. The Las Vegas International Airport is a transportation hub, and the city and surrounding areas offer a huge array of hotels. From huge Casino Resorts like the Bellagio, to small hotels along the strip, Vegas has great lodging options for visitors before they head to the Grand Canyon. Check out some popular Las Vegas hotels or learn more about options for lodging at the Grand Canyon.

Area Car Rental Options

If you’re traveling from Vegas to the Grand Canyon a rental car is the best transportation option, especially if you’re going to the South Rim or North Rim. If you only plan on doing day tours to the West Rim and Grand Canyon Skywalk, there are several tour operators that include transportation directly from Las Vegas. Car Rental companies located right at the Las Vegas International Airport make picking up a rental vehicle to drive to the Grand Canyon quick and convenient.

Best Restaurants and Dining Options

Las Vegas has some of the best restaurants in the world and great local dives a short drive for the strip. The restaurants at the casinos on the strip have world class dining and the most amazing buffets you’ve ever seen. Venture away from the tourist areas and you’ll find some great local restaurants with prices that are much friendly on your wallet. Depending on what part of the Grand Canyon you visit, there’s also some good restaurants on the way in small towns like Seligman, AZ and Jacob Lake, or you can check out restaurants at the Grand Canyon.