Best Vegas road trip? Try a bus tour to the Grand Canyon. These coaches offer travelers the lap of luxury and go to the most popular parts of the canyon every day of the year. Oh, and they also come with an incredibly low price tag!
Grand Canyon Bus Tours
Bus tours from Vegas go to the West Rim and the South Rim. Both are wonderful full-day excursions. But as far as destinations go, the difference is night and day.
West Rim
Located 120 miles east of Vegas. Bus ride is about 2.5 hours. Route meanders through several Las Vegas suburbs before skirting Lake Mead and crossing Hoover Dam where most trips pause for a photo stop. The last ten miles is over a rough dirt road. No worries: Today’s motor coaches navigate this stretch like it’s nothing.
There are several kinds of West Rim bus tour:
- West Rim bus. Includes all Park fees. Use the hop-and-go shuttle and visit Eagle Point, Guano Point, and the Indian Cultural village.
- West Rim bus, helicopter, and boat. My personal favorite comes with a 4,000-foot descent to bottom, Champagne picnic, and a smooth-water rafting trip (kids 4 years of age + are welcome).
- West Rim bus and Grand Canyon Skywalk. Includes the basic ground tour plus VIP tickets to the glass bridge, which suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River.
South Rim
The king of bus trips. South Rim is located 277 miles from Las Vegas. Same route as West Rim bus then it’s onward to Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. It’s a 5.5-hour drive to the Park. Expect to spend 15 hours total on this trip. Here are tour offerings:
- South Rim Bus. Transport from LV to the National Park. Stops at the destinations most important lookouts like Mather Point, Yaki Point, and Yavapai Observation Station. Concludes at Grand Canyon Village, home to some great restaurants, gift shops, and museums.
- South Rim Bus with helicopter ride. Same as the classic SR bus trip but comes with a rim-to-rim helicopter tour. Departs Grand Canyon Airport and goes through the Dragoon Corridor to the North Rim before turning back. Bus awaits to rejoin you with the rest of the group inside the Park.
All-Inclusive Bus Tours
Grand Canyon bus tours from Vegas come with everything including a lite breakfast, box lunch, all Park fees, and a professional driver-guide. The only thing you need to bring is:
- Sunblock
- ChapStick
- Brimmed Hat
- Running shoes
- Lightweight long-sleeved shirt
- Windbreaker
- Water
Please remember to charge your digital camera the night before you tour. It’s also a good idea to bring up an extra battery. And get a wake-up call for 5a.m. as these trips leave around 7 a.m.
Buying a Grand Canyon Bus Tour
The obvious answer is pull out the plastic and pay what they tell you. Don’t. You’ll be overcharged. These bus trips are very popular and tour operators will do what they can to make extra money. Protect your wallet. Follow these 2 steps:
- Book in advance. I suggest a week or two before you travel. You’ll get gouged doing a same-day booking. I also recommend staying away from hotel concierges.
- Purchase on the Internet. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. The best deals are always online. Tour operators reward smart travelers with big price cuts if they book on the Web.
Click Here for Grand Canyon Bus Tour Deals!
Road Trip!
Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas are fun and affordable. Trips run to the West Rim and the South Rim. Plenty of upgrades to choose from as well like river rafting, helicopter rides, and Skywalk tickets. Time to get on the bus folks. It’s the Grand Canyon or bust!
