For many adventurers coming from Las Vegas, the choice between the Grand Canyon South Rim and Grand Canyon West Rim is a toughie.
If you’ve never visited Nevada or the Grand Canyon before, here’s a quick and easy breakdown of the two main areas you can easily visit by coach bus tours.
At the end of this guide, we’ll also throw another variable in the mix — the North Rim — just so you’re aware of all your options when it comes to exploring the Grand Canyon area.
In A Nutshell
The West Rim is great for quick daytrips from Vegas and highlights like the Skywalk glass bridge. Many of the tours based in Las Vegas will take you here because it’s closer to Vegas.
On the other hand (and a bit further away from Vegas), is the South Rim. This area offers a more traditional “national park” experience, with expansive canyon views and more diverse landscapes. We like visiting this part of the Grand Canyon on our own (with a car).
Both are great for their own reasons, so your choice might depend on how much time you have and what kind of adventure you’re looking for!
GRAND CANYON: WEST RIM
The West Rim is the closest part of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas, about a 2.5-hour drive from the city. With only two million visitors a year, Grand Canyon West is quieter than the South Rim. One thing to call out is that the West Rim is actually located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, and is NOT considered part of the National Park.
Things To Do: The famous Skywalk is here, a glass bridge that extends out over the canyon (you’ll feel like you’re walking on air above the canyon floor). Other popular spots are Eagle Point and Guano Point, which many tours will take you to.
Because the West Rim is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, you can learn and experience Native American culture through various exhibits and performances. Experience Hualapai culture at the Hualapai Ranch, learn how to rope and quick draw, or even take in some cowboy entertainment.
The Scenic Experience: The West Rim has dramatically rugged views of the canyon, with steep cliffs and a more desert-like landscape. It’s less forested compared to the South Rim but still incredibly beautiful.
Who Is This Best For: If you have less time to visit the Grand Canyon, the West Rim is your best bet. It’s much closer to Las Vegas, which means less driving time / more time to explore and experience the landscapes. This is where you’ll wanna go if the Skywalk is a must for you.
Our Favorite West Rim Tour
From Las Vegas: Grand Canyon West and Hoover Dam Tour
This 10-hour full-day trip combines standup comedy and scenic wonders!
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: SOUTH RIM
The South Rim is further away, about a 4.5 to 5-hour drive from Las Vegas. It’s located within the “Grand Canyon National Park” (managed by the National Park Service), so while it does take longer to get there, you’ll actually be on national park lands. This area welcomes a whopping 5 million visitors every year.
Since this part of the canyon is part of the national park, you’ll find more developed facilities like hotels, restaurants, visitor centers, museums, and trails for hiking.
Things To Do: The South Rim has lots of iconic viewpoints like Mather Point, Desert View Watchtower, Yaki Point, and Yavapai Point. There are historic buildings to explore, such as the El Tovar Hotel, Hopi House, and Kolb Studio. You can also partake in a Ranger demonstration, go biking or hiking along the Rim, or even take a mule ride down into the Canyon.
The Bright Angel Trail is a super popular hike, which also happens to be perfect for beginners.
The Scenic Experience: The South Rim offers some of the most classic views of the Grand Canyon. The landscape is more varied with lush forests, 100-foot tall pines, and diverse wildlife like elk and mule deer. The elevation is higher too, giving you cooler temperatures and different flora and fauna compared to the West Rim.
Who Is This Best For: Personally, we think the South Rim is best done with your own car or rental car. You’ll be able to do things at your own pace and more importantly, stay the night in the area since it is so far away from Vegas.
Having said that, if you don’t have your own car, some tour operators will take you to the South Rim in just one day!
Our Favorite South Rim Tour
From Las Vegas: Grand Canyon National Park Tour (South Rim)
This 14-hour full-day trip takes you to all the iconic national park spots like Mather Point, El Tovar, Hopi House, Kolb Photo Studio, and the Bright Angel Trail.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK: NORTH RIM
If you’re looking for an even more unique Grand Canyon experience, the North Rim is another fantastic option to consider. You’ll definitely need your own car for this adventure, though!
The North Rim is the most remote part of the Grand Canyon, located about a 5.5-hour drive from Las Vegas. Because it’s farther away, it receives fewer visitors, making it a perfect spot for those seeking a quieter experience. There are fewer facilities and amenities, but this adds to its laidback charm!
The North Rim sits at a higher elevation than both the West and South Rims, about 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim. At this elevation, you’ll actually get cooler weather and an environment where green trees exist. There are pine/aspen forests and even wildflower meadows if you can believe it!
Things To Do: The North Rim offers stunning viewpoints like Bright Angel Point, Point Imperial, and Cape Royal. These spots provide some of the prettiest (and not crowded!) views of the canyon. Hiking trails are everywhere, with trails ranging from easy walks to challenging backcountry routes.
Seasonal Access: One important thing to note is that the North Rim is only open from mid-May to mid-October due to heavy snowfall in the winter months.
Who Is This Best For: Personally, we think the North Rim is best done with your own car or rental car. The distance is way too far to want to day trip to — you’ll want to stay in the area for at least one night. And since it’s just a 2.5-hour drive from the unbelievably gorgeous Antelope Canyon, we’d recommend pairing the two areas on your North Rim desert road trip.
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