Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon: Your Ultimate Road Trip Guide
The Grand Canyon is baked into America’s identity and pride – it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World – and it is both GRAND and WONDERful!
Las Vegas is the ideal start for your visit to Grand Canyon National Park, since it’s the closest major city and airport to all Grand Canyon entrances.
Travel time from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon:
West Rim: Under two hours
Popular South Rim: A little over four hours
Rugged North Rim: Five hours
If you want to fully explore and take in the Grand Canyon’s dramatic beauty, plan a RV road trip to all three rims. This guide will help plan your itinerary for the Grand Canyon and share fun things to see and do in and around each rim.
Your Grand Canyon RV Road Trip Checklist
Select the best season for your trip
Reserve your RV at Blacksord RV Las Vegas
Reserve campgrounds and tours along your route
Plan your itinerary for the Grand Canyon and other destinations
Fly or drive into Las Vegas - we’ll pick you up!
Pick up and receive training on your RV rental
Grab groceries in Las Vegas or give us a list of what you need. All linens, kitchenware, camp chairs and even a coffee pot are included with every Blacksford RV rental – plus unlimited mileage!
Depart for your Grand Canyon vacation and have fun!
Decide When to Visit The Grand Canyon
Choosing the right season for your Grand Canyon road trip is crucial. Summer, being the busiest season, is also the hottest time of the year with temperatures soaring into the 90s.
Spring and fall have milder weather and fewer crowds. The South and West Rims are open year-round, while the North Rim closes for vehicles in winter months due to harsh weather conditions.
Rent Your RV In Las Vegas
When you rent an RV from Blacksford in Las Vegas, you’ll select the vehicle that suits your needs: choose from more rugged RVs or luxurious RVs with most comforts of home.
Blacksford RV rents top-of-the-line Winnebagosthat are less than a year old (typically under six months Renting your RV from Blacksford is easy, fast, and high quality.
Because Las Vegas is so close to the Grand Canyon, it’s the ideal starting point for your road trip.
We’ll pick you up at the airport or hotel and explain how to properly use your RV. Then you’re off—head to the market to pick up supplies (or Blacksford can pre-stock groceries for your trip).
Ready to ride?
Reserve Campgrounds and Tours on Your Route
Since campgrounds can fill up quickly, we highly recommend reserving your campground as far in advance as you are able. Blacksford can provide recommendations on campgrounds and route planning.
Grand Canyon Itineraries and Travel Times
The West Rim (also known as Grand Canyon West) is the closest entrance to Las Vegas at about 2 hours, but its views and activities are not as extensive as the other rims.
Travelers with more time should also visit the popular, amenity-rich South Rim. Grand Canyon West has its own RV park as well as several restaurants, shops and cultural amenities.
There are two different route options for your Grand Canyon trip—the West/South Rim route and the North Rim route.
West Rim and South Rim Route
Drive to the West Rim and Grand Canyon West, which is run by the Hualapai Tribe. Explore cultural learning opportunities and experience the exhilarating steel and glass Grand Canyon Skywalk.
Top activities at the West Rim: Skywalk over Grand Canyon, Colorado River rafting, a zipline, helicopter tours, pontoon tours, hiking, dining, Hualapai artist and vendor shopping, cultural presentations and performances, and a Native American village.
Then head to the busy South Rim for the most activities, amenities, and views.
Ways to Extend Your Trip:
Consider visiting Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona, located 1.5 hours south
Drive along the historic Route 66 section from Kingsman, Arizona to Seligman, Arizona, before or after visiting the South Rim.
North Rim Route
The North Rim’s higher elevation means cooler weather—good in the warmer months, but leads to road closures in the colder months. This entrance has fewer amenities and also far fewer crowds, making for a more rugged camping experience.
Two stops to consider on this route are Valley of Fire State Park (whose beauty rivals any national park), bustling St. George, Utah, and nearby Zion National Park.
Ways to Extend Your Trip:
Tour Utah’s Mighty 5 national parks after exploring the North Rim
West Rim Campgrounds
Grand Canyon West Campground is the only in-park campground for the West Rim.
Other campgrounds outside the park include:
RV Park
Meadowview RV Park & Cozy Cabins
Happy Trails Campground & Mini Motel
Temple Bar Marina RV Park
Pierce Ferry Road Dispersed
22 Vikings Campground & Cabins
South Cove RV Resort & Motel
West Rim Dining & Shopping
Grand Canyon West (inside the Hualapai Reservation) offers several restaurants:
Sky View Restaurant
Skywalk Cafe
Guano Point Restaurant
Gwe M’Jo Restaurant
Outside the reservation, consider these dining spots:
Diamond Bar Restaurant at Grand Canyon Ranch
The Boathouse Cafe & Grille
Anchor Smokehouse
Diamond Creek Restaurant
South Rim Highlights
When you arrive at the Grand Canyon Village Visitor Center (the central area for amenities in the Grand Canyon), gather information, get trail maps, plan your adventures, learn about ranger-led programs, and see the 20-minute orientation film on the history of the Grand Canyon.
South Rim Sites and Activities
Hermit Road Drive (via bus, foot or bike only)
Desert View Drive
South Rim Trail
Bright Angel Trail
South Kaibab Trail
Havasu Falls
Whitmore Canyon Overlook
Also stop at the Yavapai Museum of Geology and walk the Trail of Time, a 2.8 mile paved path that displays the canyon’s geological timeline. Fun activities include: hiking, biking, guided mule trips (reserve many months in advance), rafting on the Colorado River, helicopter tours, and ride the Grand Canyon Railway.
South Rim Campgrounds
Grand Canyon National Park operates four campgrounds for the South Rim:
Mather
Trailer Village
Desert View
Ten-X
The most highly-rated are Mather and Trailer Village but all provide adequate RV campgrounds and being in the heart of the park is worth any trade-offs.
These campgrounds fill up months in advance, so book early.
Want to stay outside the park? Try these public and private options:
688 Dispersed Camping (USFS),
Coconino Rim Road Dispersed Camping (USFS)
Canyon Gateway RV Park
Havasupai Garden Campground, Raptor Ranch Campground
I-40 Grand Canyon RV Park
South Rim dining and shopping
There are many dining and shopping options at the South Rim. Some of the most popular restaurants at the South Rim are:
Phantom Ranch
Bright Angel Bicycles & Cafe, Desert View Trading Post
Grand Canyon Village Market & Deli.
Looking for restaurants outside the Grand Canyon? Here are dining options outside the park.
North Rim highlights
Many consider the North Rim to have the most beautiful and dramatic views of the Grand Canyon. The faster erosion in the area means more dramatic scenery, sheerer cliffs, and more vibrant colors.
The North Rim is at a higher elevation which means it is closed during winter months (December–May) and it is a little cooler during hot summer months.
Camping around this rim is limited, but there are several campgrounds outside the park. You’ll need to drive a fair amount to reach amenities, but you may prefer this in order to have a quieter and more remote experience.
Top things to see and do at the North Rim include hiking, mule rides, a 23-mile scenic drive, photography, star-gazing, the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, a visitor center, scenic overlooks.
5 must-see North Rim sites and activities
North Rim Visitor Center and Bright Angel Point
Grand Canyon Lodge and X viewpoint
Cape Royal Scenic Drive and viewpoints
Hike or take a mule ride on the North Kaibab Trail
Star gazing
North Rim Campgrounds
North Rim Campground is the only campground inside the entrance, with only 12 sites.
Campgrounds outside the North Rim include:
Kaibab Camper Village
Demotte Campground
Jacob Lake Campground
Dining at North Rim
Most restaurants in and outside the North Rim are closed seasonally, according to the park’s schedule.
North Rim In-park dining options
Grand Canyon Lodge Dining Room
Roughrider Saloon
Deli in the Pines
General Store
Dining options outside the North Rim
Kaibab Lodge Restaurant
North Rim Country Store
Jacob Lake Inn
Ways To Extend Your Grand Canyon Road Trip
Consider extending your trip by visiting these nearby attractions:
Valley of Fire State Park
St. George, Utah
Zion National Park
Hoover Dam
Lake Mead
Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman, Arizona
Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona
Book your Grand Canyon road trip today!
Blacksford RV Rentals’ Las Vegas location makes it simple and easy to rent a new, high-end Winnebago RV or campervan to explore the Grand Canyon.
