South Rim day trip from Las Vegas with lunch
Coach day trip from Las Vegas · 14 hours
✓ Free cancellation
from $124
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Grand Canyon South Rim
Mather Point at sunrise, the Desert View Watchtower and the trails that drop below the rim. Compare the helicopter flights, Jeep tours, the railway and the day trips from Las Vegas, Sedona and Phoenix, and book the one that fits your day.
Grand Canyon National Park · Open all year · About 7,000 feet above sea level
Three ways to start
A long coach day from Las Vegas with lunch at the rim, a helicopter flight from Grand Canyon Airport near the park entrance, and a full-day tour from Sedona with stops along Desert View Drive.
30-minute helicopter flight from Tusayan towards the North Rim
Helicopter flight, 25–30 min, from Tusayan · 30 minutes
✓ Free cancellation
from $269
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Grand Canyon Classic from Sedona via Desert View
Guided day trip from Sedona · 11 hours
✓ Free cancellation
from $191
Book on GetYourGuideThe busy side of the national park
The South Rim is the part of Grand Canyon National Park that most visitors see. It stays open all year, sits at about 7,000 feet and has the viewpoints, shuttle buses and trails that the guidebooks describe: Mather Point and Yavapai Point near the visitor centre, Hermit Road to the west, Desert View to the east, and the Rim Trail along the edge between them. Free shuttle buses link the village and the viewpoints, and Hermit Road is closed to private cars for most of the year.
Most international visitors arrive on a day trip from Las Vegas, a tour from Sedona or Flagstaff, the train from Williams or by car. Plan the budget with the park fees in mind: since 2026, visitors from abroad aged 16 and over pay a fee of 100 US dollars on top of the entrance fee.
As of November 2026 the park is open for day visits, but lodging inside the park has been suspended since the end of August 2026 because of flood damage to the water supply, and several restaurants are closed. Arizona does not use daylight saving time, so in winter the rim is one hour ahead of Las Vegas.
Questions travellers ask
Is the South Rim open all year?
Yes. The National Park Service keeps the South Rim open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The North Rim is a different place with a short season, and the drive between the two rims takes most of a day.
What does it cost to enter?
As of November 2026 the park charges 35 US dollars per private vehicle, valid for seven days. Since 2026 visitors who are not US residents and are 16 or older also pay a fee of 100 US dollars per person, unless they hold the nonresident annual pass. Children aged 15 and under do not pay it. Many tours list the park entrance as included but the fee for international visitors as extra.
How far is the South Rim from Las Vegas?
The National Park Service gives 278 miles (447 km) by road, via Kingman, Williams and Highway 64. Day tours from Las Vegas therefore spend most of the day on the road. If you are short of time, Grand Canyon West is much closer to Las Vegas, but it is not part of the national park.
Can I stay overnight in the park right now?
Not as of November 2026. After flood damage to the park’s water pipeline in late August 2026, the National Park Service suspended lodging inside the park and put the South Rim under water restrictions. Day visits, tours and the viewpoints remain open. Check the park’s current alerts before you travel.
Which time zone does the South Rim use?
Mountain Standard Time all year, because Arizona does not change its clocks. In winter the rim is one hour ahead of Las Vegas; in summer both show the same time. The Navajo Nation, which you cross on the way to Antelope Canyon or from Cameron, does use daylight saving time.
Is this the official website of Grand Canyon National Park?
No. Visit Grand Canyon South Rim is an independent guide. The park’s official information is at nps.gov/grca.
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