Day Trip from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim

Thinking of heading to Grand Canyon West? If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, and what you can expect from visiting – then you’re in the right place.

The Grand Canyon West Rim is an incredible part of the Grand Canyon, and its the closest rim to Vegas.

The views and lookouts are amazing, and there tend to be fewer crowds than other rims.

A visit to Grand Canyon West looks pretty different from going to other parts of the Grand Canyon, especially the Grand Canyon National Park.

I just visited Grand Canyon West just this year, and am going to fill you in on:

• How to get from Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim
• What a visit there looks like
• What you can expect from each of the two stops at Grand Canyon West
• Which stop is the better of the two
• Whether the Skywalk is worth it
• Which place to eat your lunch at (there are three options at Grand Canyon West)
• Other useful tidbits that we wish we had known before visiting Grand Canyon West

So, let’s jump in!

How to Get to Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas

The first thing you need to know is that Grand Canyon West is completely owned and managed by the Hualapai Native American tribe.

When you visit, you book admission and packages with them. You can book it through their website if you’re driving, or you can book a tour out of Vegas that includes everything with them.

In terms of getting there from Vegas, you can either drive there in 2 hours (they have a huge parking lot) or book one of the many day tours that come here from Vegas.

Pro Tip: The famous Hoover Dam can be visited on the way from Vegas to Grand Canyon West, and I definitely recommend a stop there.

Is the Grand Canyon West Rim worth visiting?

Grand Canyon West is definitely worth a visit. It was my first time seeing the Grand Canyon, and my husband’s second time (he previously visited Grand Canyon National Park.)

We were both in awe of the views at Grand Canyon West – especially the 2nd stop on the tour, Guano Point.

The view and surroundings at Grand Canyon West all feel very natural and untouched.

My husband said he felt that the views were a bit more dramatic here at Grand Canyon West than at the Natioanl Park.

If you want to compare Grand Canyon West vs Grand Canyon National Park, then you should know that both have very stunning views. The one you choose should be the one that makes the most sense for your trip, rather than which views are the best. Because really, the views are comparable at each.

What You Need to Know About Grand Canyon West

Whether you’re doing a tour from Vegas, or showing up independently, you choose between different admission packages that the Hualapei tribe offers at Grand Canyon West.

We went with their Grandeur Package (about $100 per person) and this is what it offered:

• A hop-on hop-off shuttle that takes you from the entrance to the two different lookout areas, and then back again (the bus driver of the shuttle isn’t just a regular bus driver – they tell jokes and stories and teach you a bit about the area)
• Two different stops: Eagle Point and Guano Point
• Lunch is always included in admission, and there are three different places at Grand Canyon West to eat at

In addition, you can add on the Skywalk, and/or a helicopter ride, and even kayaking excursions to your admission. We did the Skywalk, and I’m going to tell you what you need to know about it below)

What to Expect from Each of the Two Stops at Grand Canyon West

Stop #1: Eagle Point

Eagle Point has a beautiful lookout and the ‘eagle’ rock formation that it’s known for. Our bus driver told us about the Hualapai legend behind the Eagle Rock.

Eagle Rock has:

• Two different restaurants: The Skywalk Restaurant and Skywalk Café
• The Skywalk Experience
• A huge gift shop, which honestly – is the best place to buy souvenirs at Grand Canyon West. I didn’t buy souvenirs here and I regretted it later, because the other gift shop (near the entrance) didn’t have as much selection

You can find the menus for the two restaurants at Eagle Point here.

Originally, I wanted to eat at the Skywalk Restaurant, but we did some reading online and saw some bad reviews about the food and the service being slow.

So we decided to hold out for Guano Point Café, and we’re really glad we did. The views and food there were very good – so I recommend saving your lunch voucher for Guano Point if possible.

I’ll talk about our experience with the Skywalk below, and whether we’d recommend it.

First, I want to tell you what you else can expect from the second stop – Guano Point.

Stop # 2: Guano Point

Guano Point is the best of of the two stops at Grand Canyon West. It’s a very quick, 5 minute drive from Eagle Point.

Eagle Point was really nice too, but everyone on our tour bus (including us) agreed that Guano Point was the better of the two.

So, our advice is – take your time at Eagle Point – but make sure you give yourself enough time for Guano Point.

At Guano Point, you will find:

• 360 views of the valleys and the river running through it
• Guano Café which, as I mentioned – had great food (two meat options and a vegetarian option.) The portions were generous and the food was delicious. We were both full by the end!
• A hiking/climbing area to the top point . It doesn’t take too long to get to the top, but it might be challenging if you don’t wear good walking/hiking shoes

• There’s a lot more room to just walk around, have a seat somewhere and relax at Guano Point, taking in the views. And from different angles, you can get very different viewpoints. This is why it’s the best stop at Grand Canyon West
• There are Hualapai traditional houses that you can check out
• There are some tables where you can buy locally made-Hualapai artisan jewelry, right near the shuttle stop that takes you back to the entrance

We had just over an hour at Guano Point, but I wished we’d had a bit longer. It’s a stunning area, and pretty expansive.

I would budget to have at least 1-2 hours there to look around and enjoy everything (especially if you’re planning to eat at the Guano Café.)

Is the Skywalk Worth It?

The Skywalk at Eagle Point was a cool experience, and we’re glad we did it. Honestly, though, we wouldn’t say that it’s a ‘must-do.’

It was nice to be able to do it, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if you don’t do it.

Here are the pros and cons of the Skywalk experience, to help you decide if it’s a worthwhile add-on for your trip to Grand Canyon West.

If you really, really want to bring your cellphone to take photos, then they will allow it if you pay $100 USD. (I would not try to sneak a phone in, there are many staff that would be able to easily see.)

So, the photos you see of us here are from the photo package that we bought from the Skywalk. We don’t have any other photos.

Overall, we’re glad we did the Skywalk. If we were to come back to Grand Canyon West with our kids, we’d probably do it again, just for nice family photos.

So if you have the time and extra money to add it on – I would. No other parts of the Grand Canyon have a skywalk, so this is unique to Grand Canyon West.

Ultimately though, if you’re short on time, or trying to save money – then you’re not missing too much if you skip it. There are so many incredible views at Grand Canyon West.

Best Tours from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West

• Grand Canyon West with Hoover Dam Stop (10.5 hours, $100 per person) Has over 10,000 reviews with a 5-star rating. Includes a hot breakfast on the way to the Grand Canyon. You can add on the Skywalk
• Grand Canyon Westy with Hoover Dam Stop + Optional Skywalk and Lunch (up to 12 hours, but we were back in Vegas after 10, $100 per person) This is the tour we did and highly recommend it, we had a great time. It’s almost identical to the tour above.

Both of these tours are very similar in price, experience, and reviews. So, I would choose based on which one has availability on the day you want to go. We did our tour in February on a Saturday, and it was a full bus – so I recommend booking in advance.

Best Places to Stay Near Grand Canyon West

Grand Canyon West is close to Vegas, so many visitors come on tour groups from there. However, there are also quite a few places to stay nearby

• Cabins at Grand Canyon West (around $200 per night) Has some food on-site, free parking and AC and coffee maker in each of the rooms
• Grand Canyon Western Ranch – slightly cheaper than the cabins, but also about 20 minutes further away. Choose between a family cottage, or glamping-style tents. Has great ratings.
• Hualapai Lodge (around $150 per night) quite a bit further from the Grand Canyon West, but has a swimming pool and a restaurant with good food.

What to Bring to Grand Canyon West

Be sure to pack these items on your trip to Grand Canyon West

• Hat and sunscreen (even in the winter)
• Water bottle
• Good walking shoes
• Cash in case the debit machines are down. We were told that sometimes the connection doesn’t work so well out there, so we brought plenty of cash
• Warm clothing, with lots of layers in the winter – it gets quite chilly out there. Sometimes the shuttle service can be slow, and you have to wait quite a bit for the next one to come. So, make sure you have a scarf and hat if you’re coming in winter

Is Grand Canyon West Family Friendly?

As a mom of 2, I’m always looking into whether places I visit are safe and welcoming for kids. Overall I’d say yes, Grand Canyon West is family-friendly.

It was just me and my husband on the tour to Grand Canyon West, but we saw a few families with kids there.

We would love to return to Grand Canyon West with our kids, but we’d probably wait until the youngest one (3 years old) is slightly older. The area is very rugged and rocky, so climbing and walking may be a challenge for younger kids and toddlers.

If you do head to Grand Canyon West with kids, then be sure to:

• Stay close to young children at ALL times. Some sections, especially at Guano Point, are very dangerous
• Have good walking shoes for all members of the family
• Dress for the weather. Look up the forecast, and be prepared. We went in winter, and it was surprisingly chilly, especially in the morning

If you’re visiting Vegas with kids, then I would recommend Grand Canyon West because its the closest part of the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas.

The other rims (including the National Park) would be over 4 hours of driving from Vegas.

The tours from Vegas to Grand Canyon West are for all ages, but just keep in mind it’s a long day for young kids. The tour we took makes two bathroom stops on the way there. While it would have been more challenging if our 3-year-old was with us – we would do it again with her.

Grand Canyon West FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Grand Canyon West

Why is Grand Canyon West so expensive?

The Grand Canyon West is pricey because all of the proceeds are a source of income for the Hualapai tribe. They have put a lot of effort and maintenance into the features of Grand Canyon West – including lunch, the Skywalk Experience, shuttles, gift shops, and friendly staff – and all of these things cost money.

What is the difference between Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon West?

The Grand Canyon West is the area of the Grand Canyon that refers to the whole western side of the canyon. Grand Canyon West is a specific area that is owned and run by the Hualapai tribe.

People are often trying to figure out which rim of the Grand Canyon offers the best views, but personally – I think the best part of the Grand Canyon to visit is probably the one that makes sense for your trip. The views at all rims are incredible!

Final Thoughts on Going from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim

Overall, a trip from Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim is definitely worth it. It’s the closest rim to Vegas, and the views are incredible.

I hope that you found this post helpful, and that you have as amazing of a time visiting Grand Canyon West as we did.

The trip is worth it – the views, experiences, food are all worth it. We enjoyed hearing stories from the shuttle drivers, and even learning a little bit about their culture and legends. Support the tribe and have an unforgettable day by visiting Grand Canyon West!