Millions of people are drawn to the Grand Canyon National Park every year so they can see the fantastic natural landmark in person. A good portion of those visitors come from the Las Vegas area as part of a vacation to the region, but they don’t want to drive from Vegas to the canyon by car. The best option is to take a bus tour out of Vegas and let someone else drive the scenic route to the canyon.
The Spectacular Natural Landmark
The canyon has been part of the National Park system for about 100 years now. The canyon itself is 277 miles long, around one mile deep, and 18 miles across in places.
The Hualapai Native American tribe owns the land at the Canyon’s West Rim. This portion of the canyon includes some of the most spectacular vistas in the entire National Park. Guano Point, for example, provides 360-degree panoramic views of the area, including the canyon itself. The Grand Canyon Skywalk is located at the West Rim’s Eagle Point. From this fabulous “Glass Bridge,” visitors can walk out beyond the canyon’s rim and see the floor a stunning 4,000 feet below.
The South Rim of the canyon is home to Grand Canyon Village. At the Village, travelers can see the Train Depot that was constructed and used by the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Trains still use the depot to this day with daily departures and arrivals. The Yavapai Museum of Geology at the South Rim features fascinating exhibits illustrating how the canyon was created. And, the National Park’s Visitor Center is also located there. It shows an interesting, 20-minute film about the canyon titled “Journey of Wonder.”
Admission
The gate admission fee at the National Park is $25 and some of the attractions and activities require additional fees. Some activities and attractions are included in certain tour packages but they can also be purchased separately. Pets are not allowed inside the Grand Canyon National Park except for service animals.
The Park is about 220 miles from Las Vegas and the drive takes around five hours. That’s one of the reasons that seeing the Grand Canyon by bus has become so popular. The sightseeing buses are very comfortable and offer scenic windows for enjoying the view. Plus, most bus tours give a lot more than just simple transportation to the National Park and back. For one thing, you will be accompanied by an entertaining and informational tour guide that makes the drive a lot more enjoyable.
You’ll also be pleased to know most of the tour operators offer a free shuttle service to the hotels on the Strip so you don’t have to worry about getting to the tour departure point. For instance, some of the tours take off from the McCarran International Airport in Vegas and the tour operators run shuttles from there to the various hotels in Vegas. You can choose a transportation-only tour package or one that includes optional sightseeing and adventure experiences.
Convenience
Many travelers embark on their Grand Canyon adventure after flying into Las Vegas. A lot of them prefer seeing the Grand Canyon by bus because it eliminates all the aggravation of driving themselves. Whether you want to go to the South Rim or the West Rim, go by tour bus and enjoy the convenience and excitement of letting someone else drive while you soak up the scenic views.
