Last Updated on December 27, 2023 by Sammie
How to do Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by Car
Just over 2 hours and 130 miles away, Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by car is an easy day trip to bring some pazazz into your weekend.
Distance from Las Vegas to West Rim: Approximately 130 miles
Time: Approximately 2 hours (and 8 minutes)
My boyfriend came to visit me in Las Vegas while having a tour break from Cirque Du Soleil and I wanted to entertain him in the most Americana way possible. I researched Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by car and realized it was a completely doable day trip. Yippee! The Grand Canyon is known worldwide as a spectacle to see and a worthwhile bucket list item. So, I figured, it would suit my french fry of a boyfriend.
The night before presented us with some insanely intense wind in Vegas so my Frenchie politely suggested looking up the weather for our trip tomorrow. I thought “what a grand idea!” and quickly concluded that it would be a bit cloudy but shouldn’t be a problem. I didn’t realize until reaching the Grand Canyon that the weather I had looked up was the weather of Las Vegas. Not entirely helpful when you’re 130 miles away.
This picture was taken 12 minutes after the photo above.
It was a full-on snowstorm upon arriving to the Grand Canyon West Rim, couldn’t see a darn thing. I turned into Elsa. Not in a cute “let’s build a snowman” type of way but more as if a snowstorm swallowed her and coughed her up in a loogie sort of way. I was very cold.
Lesson Learned?
Look up the weather in Peach Springs, AZ, before driving there.
West Rim Grand Canyon FAQs:
What are the hours?
8 AM to sundown. Last entry 6 PM mid March-October & 5 PM November-March
How much is a ticket?
$49-$53 (prices change depending on season and ticket bundles)
Can you buy tickets there?
Yes.
Is there parking?
Yes.
Is there a shuttle between the viewpoints?
Yes, included in the price of your general admission ticket
Is there a restaurant?
Yes, there is one restaurant at every viewpoint.
Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by Car: DIRECTIONS
You might as well stop at the Hoover Dam because it’s on the way!
From Vegas, you’re going to head 30-45 minutes east on Tropicana Avenue or Flamingo Drive to U.S. 515 South which will eventually turn into I-93 South (maaaggiiiic).
Continue on 93 South for 20 miles to Boulder City.
If you want to stop at the Hoover Dam: Turn onto State Route 172, a two-mile access road to the Dam.
Stay on 93 South to go over the Hoover Dam Bypass on the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Keep going for 40 miles. Turn left on Pierce Ferry Road by the Grand Canyon Skywalk Sign (more on this little hotspot later).
Continue through Dolan Springs and after 31 miles turn right at the Diamond Bar Road Sign. You’ll be on Diamond Bar Road for 21 miles until you reach the parking area with the Visitor Centre. This is where you can buy your tickets (no need to purchase in advance).
At First, West Rim Grand Canyon felt a bit like a scam.
Grand Canyon West Rim overall is a worthwhile trip—however, I could do without parts of it.
To be honest, we were not in the greatest holly-jolly mood upon arrival to the West Rim. I realized my mistake of not properly checking the weather early on. It was sad to introduce this whitewashed spectacle to my boyfriend who had never seen it before. How can you appreciate the majesticness of America without seeing the Grand Canyon?!?
However, pouting about the bad weather wasn’t going to change anything so we decided to head inside the visitor center to see what’s what.
To be completely honest, I was a touch disappointed with the management at West Rim. It felt like they were trying to fool us from the beginning.
Let me explain.
We hadn’t eaten. Always a mistake. We figured it would be best to try to wait out the storm in the comfort of a restaurant before deciding how to tackle the rest of the day. My boyfriend and I were discussing lunch plans and he casually asked a woman working if there was a restaurant nearby. She happily explained that there were three restaurants available to visitors and we could access them by means of the viewpoints. I accepted what she said immediately. But my boyfriend wanted to clarify that we indeed had to buy a ticket to the viewpoint in order to eat. She said yes without hesitation.
West Rim Grand Canyon Ticket Bundle Price: $85 each
The woman working at the counter then asked us if we would like to buy tickets with the meal tickets included to save time. It seemed like an obvious yes because we needed to eat anyways. Then she asked if we were planning to do the skywalk and I enthusiastically said yes! She said great, and the deal was sealed. I had NO IDEA the skywalk was not included and was an extra cost.
$170 later, we had our tickets. Excuse me? I didn’t realize marveling at an American icon would set us back over $100.
In hindsight, I definitely could’ve asked for our money back but I felt that maybe since they were still letting people on the skywalk, we might be able to see the Grand Canyon a bit.
To make matters worse, she then mentioned that if we would like to go to the Native Indian Restaurant we could do this by taking our car down the road. Turns out you DO NOT need a ticket to the viewpoint in order to grab food at the West Rim. And you DO NOT need a meal ticket to eat at the Native Indian Restaurant, which had been my first choice for food from the get-go. Ugh.
My lunch at the Sky View Restaurant, still annoyed I didn’t get to try Gwe Ma’Jo Restaurant. There will have to be a next time!
So, if you’re following, not super duper pleased with how this day was starting. I will accept that maybe I wasn’t in the best headspace about accidentally overpaying for tickets. But all in all, I still wanted to see the view from the skywalk and was optimistic it would be decent.
Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by Car: SKYWALK REVIEW
Extra $26-$28 on top of the general admission ticket.
Not worth it. And we did it twice.
The first time was upon arrival to Eagle Point. It was a complete white out and we couldn’t see anything. But we stuck around long enough to see a break in the clouds and convinced the guy working the counter to let us back for round two. Luckily, our man at the front let us by and we were able to experience the skywalk how it ought to be experienced.
It was fine. But you can’t see very well down to the bottom and the glass is a bit too opaque to give you that “oh good golly I’m floating!” feeling. I kept noticing I would look above the glass to see into the canyon. The view is good of course but I still don’t think it was worth the money.
You can tell that this is a money suck for them. They were VERY strict about not allowing phones onto the skywalk. I was caught red-handed taking a picture and a man came over and escorted me off the bridge to delete my photos. He even made me go into my deleted folder and genuinely delete them!! He was so intense, I thought I was going to Grand Canyon Jail or something. I was shook to the bone. I really, REALLY hate confrontation.
The West Rim FBI or whatever he was made me delete all my photos so this is the only photo I have left with a sliver of the skywalk on it. What a view, am I right?
Eagle Point/the Skywalk made me giggle. It was a very well-run business.
They told me they don’t allow phones because people drop them but I’m convinced the real reason is so their professional photographers can take your photo and charge you for it. I think it was another $25 or $30 dollars if you wanted a photo, but don’t quote me on the price.
And they make it difficult to appreciate the canyon by roping off far from the edge so you can’t see too well into the bottom. I figured this was for safety until I went to the following viewpoint (Guano Point) and there were no ropes. Go as close to the edge as possible, they don’t need your money anymore so have at it.
Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by Car: ITINERARY
1st Stop: Hualapai Point
If you’re arriving around lunchtime, head to the Native Indian Restaurant at Hualapai Point before going to the visitor center. When you’re heading there by car, look for signs for the zipline and you’ll arrive right there.
*You do not need a general admission ticket to access the little “town” at Hualapei Point.
Imagine a tiny “town” of sorts. At Hualapai Point, you can grab lunch at the Indian Restaurant, Gwa Ma’Jo, where they offer native Indian recipes which I wish we could’ve tried! After that you can grab a drink at the saloon, shop handcrafted goods from tribial vendors, or try out the biking/hiking trails nearby. This is also where the zipline is located if you’re feeling cray cray. It was closed because of the ridiculous snowstorm we walked headfirst into, but I imagine it’s usually open.
Accommodation: You are able to stay at the cabins at Hualapai Point, making it easier to enjoy a weekend of outdoor goodness.
2nd Stop: Eagle Point/Skywalk
I put this on here because I imagine most people are traveling a way to reach the West Rim Grand Canyon and want to get the most bang for their buck. However, if you’re short on time or tired, I would only stop here to wander through their authentic Native American Village and listen to the song and dance being performed by a member of the Hualapai tribe.
Performances every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM.
Personally, I would skip the skywalk.
3rd Stop: Guano Point
My favorite view of the West Rim Grand Canyon
This felt like such a treat after the hassle of not being allowed to take pictures on the Skywalk and not having a good view from behind the roped-off edge at Eagle Point. Guano Point is enormous and the view is INCREDIBLE. We had insane luck. With a 12-minute break in the snowstorm, the clouds parted and we saw crystal clear views into the canyon. It was exactly what I wanted.
The view: This viewpoint gives you panoramic 360-degree views of the Grand Canyon West Rim. You will be able to see the Colorado River below and be able to hike a railingless trail. STAY SAFE! This does reward you with the best possible pictures in my opinion. And because there are no designated tourist areas, people are free to roam and not crowd.
Check out the old aerial tramway system, which they used to use to mine Guano (bat droppings rich in nitrogen) from the mine below. It’s quite a unique sight and gives your imagination a fun story of what this location was used for during the 1930s.
By far my favorite viewpoint of Grand Canyon West Rim.
Weather aside, I still think the day trip was a success.
Driving from Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by car is an easy day trip and fun weekend activity. It can be a tad confusing to navigate where to go and how to spend your hours at the rim but with a little planning you will undoubtedly have an amazing time.
If you enjoyed what you read, please feel free to share!
Thanks so much! So I don’t need to do Skywalk, since I am afraid of heights and so is my son.
I flew over the Grand Canyon and stayed on one of its ridges in 1986.
I may be taking my son to Vegas in early November and thought it would be great to also see
Hoover Dam and the GC.
So are Eagle and Guano Point part of the National Park system? So they are visibly marked and you can GPS them? Will I have to pay general admission to enter the Park? Don’t mind, but trying to envision the setup.
I want to skip the 11 hour bus tour, save time and drive there myself. I read 2.5 hour ride from Vegas and you could do Hoover dam and GC in a 7 or 8 hour day instead of 11, do you agree?
Are their gas stations on the route?
Regards,
Jane
Hi Jane! That’ll be a great time to go see the GC and Hoover Dam! So, to answer your question, Eagle Point and Guano Point are part of the West Rim GC, and the West Rim is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. This is not part of the National Park System and their updated price is $49 for general admission. The money goes toward supporting the Indian Reservation.
If you pop in “West Rim Grand Canyon”, google maps will take you to the visitor center where you can purchase your general admission tickets. This is where you will park your car. Then you will have to take a shuttle bus (which they provide) to move from point to point. The buses come often so don’t worry about being stuck at a certain point for too long.
Personally, I drove and I thought the drive was very doable. And you can definitely do this trip in under 11 hours, because the Hoover Dam is perfectly on the way to the West Rim coming from Vegas.
And finally, don’t worry, there are plenty of gas stations along the route from Las Vegas, to the West Rim Grand Canyon :).
Good luck! And if you have any other questions, feel free to drop me another note! 🙂
Hi Sammie, is it possible to see the milky way from West rim
Just want to make sure I understand. The 3 stops are before you go to the visitor center where you must buy a ticket and take their bus to other points, correct?
Hi Michelle! The three points; Guano Point, Eagle Point, and Hualapai Ranch will be after going to the visitor center. You will go to the visitor center, park your car, then purchase a ticket. After you have purchased your ticket you can take the free shuttle to any of the stops. Enjoy your trip!
Can you explain the costs again? If I just wanted to see the sites and not do the skywalk nor eat, how much would I pay?
Hello Diane!
If you would just like to see the sites and not do the skywalk or pay for any food, the cost of general admission would be $49-$53. That will include the major sites and the hop on/hop off bus to get between the points.
Enjoy your trip!
Sammie
where do I catch the hop on/hop off cus the get between the points?
Hi Debbie! Great question, the hop on/hop off circulates from the Welcome center (this shuttle stop is through the welcome center out back), to each of the three main attraction points, approximately every 15 minutes. At each point, Guano Point, Eagle Point, and Hualapai Ranch the shuttle stop is in the front just off to the side where you are dropped off. They are not clearly marked but you will see plenty of people standing in line for a shuttle to leave each attraction point. And when in doubt, you can always ask the bus driver upon exiting the bus where the bus pick up spot is to leave. Good luck and have fun!!
Thank you, Sammie! Really enjoyed reading, very helpful
Thank you so much for this info! We are going in February while staying in Las Vegas. This has helped so much!
Thank you so much for this! We are planning this exact trip mid-February and your experience has provided great insight.
I hope you enjoyed your trip!!
Websites are saying not to drive rental vehicles to the west rim because the road is poor? Is that accurate?
Hey Kelly! We took a rental and the roads are paved (not the best i’ve ever seen but they are paved). I remember it being manageable last year. However, if you have any issues, please let me know!
Planning on doing this trip at the end of July, Is the $49 entrance fee per person or per car?
Hey Geoffrey! The Entrance fee is per person. Also to note, the price adjusts depending on the season, so it may be a bit more during the high season of summer. As of July 2024 it is between $51-$57.
Does it cost you to get the shuttle bus from the ticket office to the canyon first viewpoint or is this included in the general admission price?
The shuttle bus is included in the general admission ticket :).
Thank you for this!!! taking my son to Vegas for his 17th birthday and driving to Grand Canyon west rim:) Hoover Dam is on our list also
Great idea! I hope you will or have enjoyed it!
Hi, your blog is indeed very helpful. Wanted to know if we do get a chance to see the milky way from the west rim? We are planning to do star gazing at west rim in June end.
Hi Pooja! It is absolutley possible! Of course with any natural phenomenon, timing is everything. But if you go to the West Rim in the summer months, there’s a good chance you will see the milky way. The Grand Canyon is a designated International dark sky park which means conditions are clear from pollution and wonderful dark here. Giving you a good chance to see the Milky Way ;). I personally will have to go back as we went in the winter and they were not visible!
Hey! I came across this blog and it seems very helpful. We are renting a car a driving from Vegas next week to see the West Rim. However, I didn’t want to pay for the Skywalk! So after reading this, we plan to skip it all together. But there is still admission to get to into the little town to shop and eat? Can you tell me what to put in my GPS to go straight here and not the Skywalk?
Hey Nicki! There is no extra admission to get into Hualapai Point (the little “town” with shops and food). This point is included in a general admission ticket. The website is a bit misleading, click on “BUY TICKETS” to find the updated general admission ticket price without the skywalk included. Plug in GRAND CANYON WEST, this should pull up at the address of 5001 E. Diamond Bar Rd, Peach Springs, AZ 86434, United States. This will take you to the visitor center where you can park, and take the free shuttle to all of the attraction points. No private vehicle are allowed at West Rim Grand Canyon. IMPT NOTE: When I visited a few years ago the bus included Hualapai Point, however it is no longer listed as a point on the hop on hop off shuttle on their website. I would suggest checking on arrival if it is included. It is possible to drive to this point yourself, plug in HUALAPAI RANCH RESTAURANT @ 606 Quartermaster Point Rd, Peach Springs, AZ 86434, US.
Hope this helps! Enjoy!
Hi Sammie. Thanks so much for the amazing blog. We are taking my mom to the West Rim from Vegas for her 80th birthday (it’s a bucket list for her) in early November. Are the three points you wrote about easily accessible for an 80 year old who isn’t the best walker? She mainly wants really good views to take it all in. Aka, to get a good view is there much hiking or climbing or basically flat ground? Thanks for the help.
Hi Mick! To be 100% transparent, I don’t remember how many stairs were involved in getting to the viewpoints but it does not involve proper hiking. That being said, for Eagle Point you can get off the bus and walk over to the rim. The Rim is blocked off by rope so you can’t see AMAZING views but it is still a sight to see. As for Guano Point, there is a bit more walking along a foot path that is not paved but it is relatively flat with some “hilly” bits (not hiking but is a small walk). Guano Point might be a bit more of a challenge but I think it could be doable if she goes slowly and has some help from family :). And the views at this point are much more WOW. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!