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Daytrips from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - which one do you recommend?

Daytrips from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - which one do you recommend?

Old Aug 19th, 2010, 05:23 AM
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gpm
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Daytrips from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon - which one do you recommend?

Hello,
I will be in Las Vegas from Sept 23rd to Sept 26th, with a friend. Both in early 30's and interested in doing a daytrip to see the Grand Canyon (we have never been to Vegas or to GC before).
Which trip would you recommend? Is it better to take a helicopter or airplane trip?
Main interests: overlooking the Grand Canyon and, if possible, do a rafting and visit the Skywalk.
Price range: up to 300 USD.
Thank you,
gpm
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 02:58 PM
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Most here do not recommend the Skywalk. It is considered a waste of money and it is not at the Grand Canyon-south rim, which is the most scenic part of the Canyon and in the National Park. Skywalk is NOT in the National Park.

With only one day, a raft trip is probably not an option. If you do fly, go to the South Rim for the best experience for the money.
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 03:43 PM
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If you are arriving in Las Vegas Sept 23rd and departing Sept 26th, you only have two full days to see these two places. Depending on when you are arriving and departing you can probably squeeze both places in but you're not going to see much.

You can do Las Vegas in one night and one day if you are not into gambling. However while in Las Vegas I would recommend a Hoover Dam tour - very interesting. Won't leave much time for a visit to the Grand Canyon Nat'l Pk unless you charter an airplane out of Las Vegas fly over the canyon and return to Las Vegas which would be a pricey venture.

I agree with Michelle forget the raft trip and the Skywalk.

My recommendation is to do either Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon Nat'l Park on this trip and make a second trip to do the other unless you can add an extra day or two. Then you could rent a vehicle drive to the canyon to visit the south rim entirely and maybe even do your helicopter ride.
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 04:51 PM
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If you decide on a helicopter or airplane or bus tour, make sure they are actually going to be over the National Park or going to the National Park and not just near it or on Indian land. The Skywalk is NOT in the National Park. I haven't been but by the pictures, it's not anywhere as beautiful or "GRAND" as the Grand Canyon National Park.

You probably already know this, but you really don't have the time to drive to the South Rim. It's 280 miles from Las Vegas and will take approx 5 hours..and this is JUST ONE WAY.

Utahtea
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 05:58 PM
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I will have 3 full days in Vegas. We were thinking in taking the helicopter tour for a day. Do you still think we should stay in Vegas, instead of doing it?
Tks
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 06:10 PM
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The Skywalk is indeed in the Grand Canyon, just not on national park land. But this itinerary is simply not feasible in a single-day or perhaps even an overnight trip. I'm not sure what short float trips are offered, but you certainly coudln't do it in a single day. The Skywalk would be possible if you could get there, and you can certainly take an additional helicopter down into the canyon for a short raft ride on the West Rim (the Indian land, not in the NP). But I'm fairly certain this would cost more than $300. I think this kind of budget would get you little more than a short flyover, and perhaps not even a landing.
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Old Aug 19th, 2010, 11:16 PM
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gpm how are you going to get to the Grand Canyon to do the helicopter ride? If you have 3 full days in Las Vegas how much time do you have left to get to the canyon at what cost. The helicopter ride I suspect will only be for no more than an hour, maybe only minutes - is it worth it.

I still say pick one and do the other at a later date. With just the time you have I don't think you can do justice to the canyon but it's up to you.
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Old Aug 20th, 2010, 04:06 AM
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Several years ago we did our first trip to Grand Canyon from Vegas by plane. We were picked up in Vegas, driven to the small airport in North LV flew over Lake Meade and GC, landed on the south rim, had a cheezy lunch then bussed to the National Park, stopped at Bright Angel area and out to Hermit's Rest. Were back to Vegas for supper.

It was an ok way to see the park for the first time and we found the trip in one of the magazines with ads that they leave in the hotels. It made us want to go back and we have now five or six times. In a perfect world I would drive there on my own and spend the night, but with very limited time I would go however I could.
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Old Aug 20th, 2010, 06:33 AM
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If you only have 3 days, stay in Vegas. If you have never been to Vegas there is plenty to see and do even if you don't gamble. Save the Grand Canyon for a second trip to Vegas or do it on its own.

Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire or Red Rock are better options as they can be done in 3 or 4 hours.
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Old Aug 21st, 2010, 12:03 AM
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roy2moira I think gpm is asking about the helicopter tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon.

Utahtea
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Old Aug 23rd, 2010, 07:52 AM
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I say if you want to go to the Grand Canyon - GO. We did it in one day. Yes it is a long drive - 5 hours each way BUT we knew we didn't have much time so we did it and enjoyed it. Second, the Hoover Dam is a great idea. It isn't that far from LV. Think of doing Vegas a day, Hoover Dam a day and maybe Red Rock country and Grand Canyon a day (flying would probably be wiser but I hate planes so do what you think is best). Enjoy!
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