Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas: the day trip
The South Rim is about 278 miles (447 km) from Las Vegas, by US 93, I-40, Williams and AZ 64. A day trip is possible, but it is long. On a typical bus tour with lunch, the bus leaves at about 5:15 a.m., reaches the canyon after about 5.5 hours including a stop, and gives you about 3 hours at the rim. The whole day takes around 13 hours and costs from $129 in 2026.
The tour visits Mather Point and the area around Bright Angel Lodge and Kolb Studio. Return transport, lunch and regular park entry are included. The fee for visitors who do not live in the US is not included. You can cancel free up to 24 hours before the start.
Our picks: South Rim from Las Vegas
The bus day with lunch is the budget way; the sunrise tour gets you to Mather Point at dawn. The plane cuts the travel time to a few hours.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
South Rim by plane from Las Vegas with a Hummer tour
- Return flights to the South Rim
- Open Hummer in the park
- Lunch box
Return flights to the South Rim, an open Hummer in the park and a lunch box, with hotel transfers in Las Vegas. International guests pay the park entry at check-in.
Check availability →
Sunrise at Mather Point and Route 66 from Las Vegas
- Sunrise at Mather Point
- Rim Trail to Yavapai Point
- Regular park fee
Sunrise at Mather Point, a walk on the Rim Trail to Yavapai Point, the Bright Angel area and Williams on Route 66, with the regular park fee. The $100 non-US surcharge is extra.
Check availability →
South Rim day trip from Las Vegas with lunch
- Return transport with Wi-Fi
- Lunch
- Water and a snack
Fourteen hours with return transport and Wi-Fi, lunch, a snack bar and water. Non-US residents pay the park surcharge on top.
Check availability →Grand Canyon South Rim day tours from Las Vegas
Bus and small-group tours to the South Rim of the national park, with live prices and availability. Check that the tour goes to the South Rim and whether park entry is included.
Bus day tour or driving yourself
Two ways to cover the same 278 miles.
| Bus day tour with lunch | Driving yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Time at the canyon | About 3 hours | As long as you stay |
| Cost | From $129 per adult, lunch and regular park entry included | $35 per vehicle, plus fuel |
| Surcharge for visitors who do not live in the US | $100 per person aged 16 and over, not included | $100 per person aged 16 and over |
| Driving | None | You drive the full distance both ways |
| Stops | Mather Point, Bright Angel Lodge and Kolb Studio area | Any viewpoint, including Hermit Road and Desert View Drive |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before the start | Not applicable |
For most visitors without a rental car, or with a single day in Las Vegas, the bus tour is the simpler choice. If you can add a night in Tusayan, Williams or Flagstaff, driving gives you far more time at the rim. The getting there page has drive times from Williams and Flagstaff, and the lodging page explains the bases.
South Rim, West Rim or Skywalk?
Many Las Vegas tours go to Grand Canyon West instead. The Skywalk lies there, on tribal land outside the national park, and it is not a South Rim sight. Before you book, check that the tour names the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. A tour to Grand Canyon West is a different trip with a different route.
For tours to Grand Canyon West and for combinations with other Arizona sights, see Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas. If you want to see Hoover Dam on the way, Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon combinations covers the combinations.
What a day trip includes
What a bus tour with lunch typically covers, 2026.
Transport and lunch
Return transport by bus and a lunch are part of the price. The tour is long, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
Park entry
Regular park entry is included. Visitors aged 16 and over who do not live in the US still pay $100 each, unless a valid pass covers them.
Entrance fee and passes →Viewpoints
Mather Point and the area around Bright Angel Lodge and Kolb Studio. With about 3 hours in total, there is no time for a hike below the rim.
Mather Point →Cancellation
Free cancellation is possible up to 24 hours before the start. Terms differ by operator, so read them before you pay.
Making the most of about 3 hours at the rim
Mather Point is a walk of about 5 minutes from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, which is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in autumn. Kolb Studio is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the village shuttles are free with your park entry. On a tight schedule, pick one or two places and leave the rest. If you want sunrise, sunset or a hike on the Rim Trail, a night in the area gives you the time that a day trip does not.
Check the status page before you go. Park lodging is suspended and some trails are limited, but the rim viewpoints used on a day tour stay open.
Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas: frequently asked questions
How far is the Grand Canyon South Rim from Las Vegas?
About 278 miles (447 km) by road, via US 93, I-40, Williams and AZ 64. A day tour with a bus covers this in a long day of about 13 hours.
How long does a day tour from Las Vegas take?
A typical tour with lunch takes about 13 hours. It leaves at about 5:15 a.m., arrives after about 5.5 hours including a stop, and allows about 3 hours at the canyon.
Does the tour price include park entry?
On a typical tour, regular park entry is included, but the fee for visitors who do not live in the US is excluded. That fee is $100 per person aged 16 and over, unless a pass covers it.
Does the tour go to the Skywalk?
Not if it goes to the South Rim. The Skywalk is at Grand Canyon West, outside the national park. Check the tour page for the destination before you book.
Can I cancel a Las Vegas day tour?
A typical product allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. Terms differ by operator.
Is this site a tour operator?
No. grandcanyonsouthrim.org is a travel guide, not a tour operator. You book with the operator named on each offer.