Simple John

It is with great apprehension that I post this question in fear of the fodorites who lurk about looking for every chance to find fault.

Yes, it's true that there are fodorites that scan these threads looking for redundant posts and they then take great joy in pointing out that the question has been asked numerous times before. I therefore have thoroughly checked for the answer to my question and since I have not found it I am posting my question.

My family and would like to take a one day trip to the Grand Canyon while vacationing in Las Vegas in 3 weeks. We will be driving a rental car. I know that it's about 5 hours to the south rim in GCNP and that north rim is closed. However, are there not hiking trails and viewing areas closer to Las Vegas? Are there access points west of the National Park or is that my only option? I'm guessing it's not since tour busses offer day trips out of Las Vegas. Where do they go? Yes I understand that I have asked more the question but I figured that I should give the non-helpful fodorites a chance to reply as well. If you look closely you might fine, eh-hem, a few grammatical errors as well. Bombs away!

JohnQ

x

John, there are only a couple of roads that go to the Grand Canyon. Even if there was a closer place, you would still have to drive 5 or six hours. The North and South rim are the closest areas to you.

x

Reread and it sounds confusing. The closest areas to Vegas are the North and South Rims.

Paul Rabe

Your choices for getting to the Canyon by car are as follows:

South Rim
North Rim
"West" Rim www.hualapaitours.com
Tuweep (not recommended)
www.nps.gov/grca/grandcanyon/trip_planner/tuweep.htm

The West Rim is not on National Park land, but on the Hualapai Reservation. The URL gives all the info you'll need. It is SLIGHTLY less time to get there than to the South Rim.

I strongly recommend you plan your trip to spend at least one night at the Canyon. I've been to both Vegas and GC over six times each; and just the thought of anyone spending three weeks in Vegas but only a day trip to the Canyon makes me ill!

x

Thank you Paul, I was having trouble trying to say the same thing.

teacher

Paul and x,
Nice try, but John didn't write that he's spending three weeks in LV. He'll be there three weeks from now.

John

Three weeks from now is the end of January, and the reason the North Rim is closed (and why you need to think carefully about a day trip to the South Rim) is that the elevation of the rim is over 7000 feet and the (current) forecast is for snow showers this week. Short daylight, a 10 hour road trip, and potential snow/ice driving conditions doesn't strike me as a relaxing day trip. Your opinion may vary.

Blenroth

If weather, time, or a long drive make a rim job out of the question, you could always do one of those helicopter tours... they leave out of Vegas, and are a thrilling and unique way to take a gander at the ol' crack...

GOL

I'd agree with Paul ("on target") Rabe. Three weeks or whatever, if you can swing the south rim, go for it.

Even if you can find some closer local road that takes you to the 'edge' - the south rim is worth the trip - at least once in a lifetime.

Bruce

did someone really say "rim job"?????? *WG*

Simple John

Thank you. We have decided to head out to the South Rim about mid-day, stay over night (where?) and spend all of the next day takiking in teh sights of the GC.

Any thoughts on cheap and close hotels for the South Rim. We found a Days Inn on route 66 in Flagstaff for $39. Is there a better choice?

Joe

TO Simple John: Flagstaff is almost 2 hours from the south rim. I recommend staying in one of the cabins at Bright Angel Lodge in the park. They're about $80, but worth it. You're only 30 seconds from the door of the cabin to the rim.

xxx

Find some place closer than Flagstaff to stay. There are a several chain motels right outside GCNP. Have a nice trip.

shannon

We went to Vegas (for 8 days) 2 years ago in the first week of February...we did the 1 day COACH tour bus thing to the Grand Canyon.

It was chilly but didn't require a heavy winter coat. My husband was fine in a polar fleece pullover. Other than it being windy it would have been quite tolerable. There was still a bit of snow on the ground in places hidden from the sun. The bus ride was long but there were a few stops at the tourist food/snack/shop places that the driver's use to help boost their pockets but we still enjoyed our time.

I can't remember exactly where we went.... It was great for an initial view of the canyon. I would definitely go back in warmer weather and would love to see other areas perhaps off the beaten typical tourist trail.

BUT if you don't plan to spend more than 1 day there....I would just ride the bus...you can relax and nap as you like...we even got to watch Dances with Wolves on the way home. YES the ride is LONG enough for that movie!

The weather could be hit or miss however so you are taking a chance. BUT if you have a lot of time to spend in Vegas then giving up 1 day to see the Canyon is worth it.

I did a search on Grand Canyon Tours on the internet and booked mine that way...simple and easy.

lcuy

The LV day trips DO go to the real south rim...They leave at dawn and get back about 13 hours later. If you don't want to do a marathon drive on your own , you might overnight is in Williams, AZ. It just a few miles outside the entrance and there are several Days Inn type places.
(And yes this was discussed once before...but no need to apologize!)