Is Phoenix or Las Vegas closer to South Rim Grand Canyon?
Las Vegas is closer to the Grand Canyon at only 128 miles to the West Rim vs 222 miles from Phoenix to its closest rim, the South Rim.
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The West Rim is the closest rim to Las Vegas. It is located about 130 miles from the heart of Las Vegas. On average, the drive takes approximately two and a half hours.
The south rim of Grand Canyon National Park is a 3.5-hour drive from Phoenix. Take Interstate 17 north from Phoenix to Flagstaff. From Flagstaff take Route 180 northwest to the south entrance and the park's visitor center. Or take Highway 89 to Route 64 to the park's east entrance.
The views, along with the adventures in between, are certainly worth the drive. No matter where you start in Phoenix, Interstate 17 (I-17) is your road to the Grand Canyon — with one or two detours along the way. What is great about the 1-17 is it ends in Flagstaff, only an hour-and-half to the Grand Canyon.
For most South Rim visitors, one day is enough to take pictures, walk around the rim and even take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour or vehicle tour. But if you're planning on exploring the Grand Canyon a little more in-depth, staying in or near the park is a great idea.
Distance from Las Vegas to the South RimVisiting the South Rim is definitely worth it! Consider making an overnight stop on this trip (the best choice is at Williams, AZ), especially if you want to stop and see other attractions on the way to the canyon.
If you're starting from Las Vegas, it probably makes the most sense to see the West Rim. Just a 3.5 hour drive (122 miles) from the glittering desert oasis lies Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk and dozens and dozens of tour options.
For a Day and Go to Grand Canyon West. Did you know the Grand Canyon West Rim is about two hours from Las Vegas, Nevada? You can leave the city that never sleeps, travel to a world wonder and be back in time for dinner.
Yes, you can do a day trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon! This popular excursion allows visitors to experience some of the most stunning sights in the American Southwest. From Las Vegas, you can drive to the West Rim or Grand Canyon National Park along the picturesque Route 66.
Distance from Las Vegas to the Grand CanyonThe West Rim is the closest rim to Las Vegas. It is located about 130 miles from the heart of Las Vegas. On average, the drive takes approximately two and a half hours. Both the North Rim and South Rim are located over 270 miles from the Las Vegas Strip.
Even a Grand Canyon South Rim day trip is better than nothing at all, and 24 hours at the Grand Canyon is enough time for a hike, photos at the scenic lookouts, a walk along the rim, and a memorable sunrise or sunset.
The town of Tusayan, which is just 15-20 minutes away from the main Visitor Center on the south rim, has a great selection of places to stay. Grand Canyon Junction (formerly known as Valle) is further out (about 30 minutes to the rim), but is another good option. If you want a hotel, stay in Tusayan, which has plenty.
The best times to visit the Grand Canyon are March through May and September through November, when daytime temperatures are cool and crowds are thin. If you decide to visit during the summer (the park's peak season), be prepared for hordes of tourists and very limited lodging availability.
Groome Transportation (previously called Arizona Shuttle) provides scheduled daily van shuttle service on five routes traveling between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon area. Contact: groometransportation.com/arizona; advance purchase of tickets is recommended.
Driving is the cheapest way to get to the Grand Canyon since you can get there and back on less than two tanks of gas. A four-hour drive without any stops, it is also the fastest way to get there. From Phoenix, find the shortest route to I-17 North, take 1-17 North to 1-40, and head west on I-40 to Highway 64.
You have the flexibility to stay overnight at the Grand Canyon, which is often recommended for travellers driving themselves from Las Vegas because of the length of the drive and the number of things to see and do at the Canyon. You'll have more time to explore the Canyon, especially if you stay overnight.