Travelers can go to two rims of the Grand Canyon: the South Rim or the West. You can actually see either one if you’ll be based in Vegas, but here I’ll just talk about motor coach trips to the West Rim and the Skywalk.
Not everyone realizes that the West Rim of the Grand Canyon is only 120 miles east of Las Vegas. It takes around 2.5 hours to get there by bus. There are several adventures that await at the West Rim, and walking on the Glass Bridge, or Grand Canyon Skywalk, is one of the most popular.
Book Ahead
Millions of people visit Vegas each year and many of them choose to take a side trip to the Grand Canyon while they are so close by. The fact that the West Rim is so close means that coach trips are likely to sell out even though they run daily. For that reason, you want to book your bus tour ahead of time. I usually suggest doing that at least a week ahead. You might get away with booking within 48 hours, but why take the risk of paying more, getting a subpar tour or being closed out altogether.
Most of the Grand Canyon buses leave Vegas early in the morning, around 7 am, every day of the year. The tours take about 12 hours and they offer fantastic value for the price. The tours come with all charges included such as shuttle service, lunch, taxes, and Park fees.
Hoover Dam Photo Op
On the way to the canyon, the bus goes by Lake Mead and Hoover Dam where you get the opportunity to shoot some great photos. Buses stop at the Dam for just a few minutes – staying any longer would detract from your time at the Canyon and make it tough to get the full experience.
There is not enough time to fully tour the canyon and the Hoover Dam on the same day. If you want to see both, you’ll need to do them on different days.
The Glass Bridge
When the bus lets you out at the West Rim, you can walk right over to the Skywalk, and if your tour comes with VIP Skywalk access, you can go to the head of the line. Your bus tour includes up to 3 hours for West Rim explorations, so you’ll have all the time you want on the Glass Bridge.
You’ll want to save plenty of time to hop a free shuttle to go see Guano Point and shop for souvenirs in the gift shops. The view is beautiful from the lookout point, you can even see the Colorado River wending along the canyon floor. Other things to do include visiting Hualapai Ranch that looks like an old western town complete with mock gunfight show, Eagle Point, and the Hualapai Cultural Center.
Wrapping Up
The West Rim is jam-packed with things to see and do, and a bus trip is a great way to get there. I urge you to buy a tour package that includes Skywalk access because it’s so expensive to add after you arrive there. Buy your tour one week in advance so you don’t get shut out and you get the best price.
