国内音箱排名第一 How to Drive From Las Vegas to West Rim Grand Canyon by Car

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Are you thinking about driving from Las Vegas to the West Rim? I’ve been four times since moving to Vegas, so I pretty much know the drive by heart!

I he some tips to help you he a stress-free and enjoyable drive. This guide includes directions and my recommendations for fun stops along the way.

I’ll also share road hazards to watch out for. And I’ll give you trip itineraries to help you make the most of your Grand Canyon experience.

Ready? Let’s roll!

FALL TICKET DEALS Table of Contents[Hide][Show]Distance: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim+−Driving DirectionsWhat to See Between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon West+−First Stop: Lake Mead OverlookSecond Stop: Joshua Tree ForestOptional: Hoover Dam ToursGas StationsFood & Snacks+−Coffee Shops at the West RimHazardsParking at Grand CanyonTrel Itineraries: Las Vegas to Grand CanyonFAQs+−Is the road to Grand Canyon West ped?Can you drive your own car?Is it easy to drive to the Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas? Distance: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim

The Grand Canyon West Rim is only about 130 miles from Las Vegas. So it’ll take roughly two hours and 15 minutes (without stops) if you’re leing from Las Vegas Blvd.

But it ends up being around two hours and 45 minutes if you need to stop for gas. Or if you’d like to visit any scenic viewpoints along the way.

Driving Directions

Assuming you’re using a phone GPS for directions, you’ll want to input “Grand Canyon West” or “Grand Canyon Skywalk” into the search bar.

The Grand Canyon West Rim does NOT he a postal address. So it’s important to input a location term instead. Otherwise, you may end up going to the wrong location.

Starting from Las Vegas Blvd:

Follow signs to merge onto I-15 South Take exit 34 to merge onto I-215 East toward Henderson Keep left to merge onto I-215 E (11.5 mi) Take exit 1 to merge onto I-11S/US 93 S toward Boulder City (keep right) Continue to follow I-11S/US 93S (23.3 mi) Continue onto US-93 S (40.5 mi) Turn left onto Pierce Ferry Rd (28.8 mi) Turn right onto E Diamond Bar Rd (16.7 mi) At the roundabout, continue straight (2.9 mi)

The entrance to the Western Rim will be just ahead on the right.

What to See Between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon West

If you he extra time in your day, there are some great stops on the way to the rim. The first one is a scenic overlook. And the second is the largest Joshua Tree Forest in the world!

Avoid the line and get tickets before you go:

SEE TICKET SPECIALS First Stop: Lake Mead Overlook

You’ll find the Robert L. Mendenhall overlook off the right side of the road – about 35 miles outside Las Vegas. There’s also a sign for it on the highway, so you’ll he some notice before you exit.

The scenic overlook offers an excellent view of Lake Mead. And you can read historical information about Hoover Dam there, too.

You’ll also learn about the formation of the lake and its shrinking water levels today. And you’ll even be able to see how the water level has changed by looking out over the terrain.

Second Stop: Joshua Tree Forest

About 25 minutes before you reach the rim, you’ll find the Grapevine Mesa Joshua Tree Forest. It’ll be on the right-hand side of the road near the corner of Pierce Ferry Rd and Diamond Bar Rd.

This forest is a National Natural Landmark. And it’s the largest and densest of its kind in the world, spanning almost 45,000 acres. There’s also a trail if you want to see some of the Joshua trees up close.

Be sure to check out the information board before you enter the trail. You’ll read some interesting facts about the trees – including their erage life span. And how they can reach a height of almost 50 feet.

Optional: Hoover Dam Tours

Although some visitors try to visit Hoover Dam on the same day as the West Rim, I don’t recommend it. To fully experience the Grand Canyon, it’s best to allocate a day to it.

That said, if you want to try to do both, the exit to Hoover Dam is on the way. You’ll find exit 2 just after the Robert L. Mendenhall Scenic Overlook.

Gas Stations

If you fill your tank before leing Las Vegas, you may not need to stop for gas again on the drive. But if you end up needing more or want a great place to rest, I recommend Last Stop on US-93.

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It’s just about an hour outside of Vegas on the right side of the highway. And although there are a few more gas stations on your way to the Grand Canyon West Rim, the name sure is memorable!

There are over 40 pumps, so you won’t wait to fill your car. But the last time we went, the prices were about $0.20 higher per gallon than at other nearby stations.

The restrooms are clean, though, and there’s an excellent food and beverage selection. So even if it is a few cents more, I still think it’s worth going here.

The entrance to Last Stop is a little tricky. You’ll want to look for the big red stop sign with “Last Stop Trel Center” on it. This is where you’ll turn right into the parking lot.

But if you miss it, don’t worry. There are a couple of gas stations like Texaco and Chevron right after it. And then there’s another one on the corner of US-93 and Pierce Ferry Rd.

You can also stop at Last Stop again when heading back to Vegas. All you need to do is turn left from the highway to enter the parking lot.

Food & Snacks

Last Stop Trel Center is also home to the “World Famous Last Stop Kitchen,” where you can grab a meal. There’s Steel’s Hot Dogs & Sausages, Last Stop Burger, Brooklyn’s Best Pizza, and Arizona Hot Wings. And for dessert, there’s ice cream.

Last Stop has tons of cool and unusual souvenirs, too. And it offers the most extensive beverage and snack selection I’ve ever seen. They even he alkaline water – which is hard to find on road trips!

Prefer a sandwich instead? You’ll find Subway a mile or two after Last Stop.

Coffee Shops at the West Rim

Unfortunately, there aren’t any coffee shops on the route to the West Rim. So if you want an iced latte or other made-to-order coffee drink, it’s best to get it before leing Las Vegas.

Of course, there’s drip coffee at gas stations. And Last Stop also sells Starbucks Frappuccino bottles in the refrigerated section.

You may see a neon sign in a restaurant advertising “espresso” on N Pierce Ferry Rd. But I stopped here on a previous trip, and they only sold espresso in a can. So if you don’t want that, it’s best to wait until you get to the West Rim.

Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon, you can buy espresso drinks inside the Skywalk Building. Just head to the Skywalk Café on the first floor. All drinks are custom-made, and there are even flors.

Hazards

There are a few hazards to be aware of on your trip. You’ll find these once you turn off the highway and continue onto N Pierce Ferry Rd and E Diamond Bar Rd.

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First, the most important hazard to know about is cattle crossings. Whenever I’ve gone to the West Rim, I’ve seen many cattle crossing the road and walking along the sides.

I was told the fine for hitting one is in the thousands of dollars. So please be on the lookout for these beautiful animals.❤️

Secondly, the speed limit changes between 25 and 55 mph – often fluctuating within a short distance. Typically, you’ll find slower speeds near residential and commercial buildings.

Additionally, both roads are two lanes and he lots of curves, making passing difficult. And some cars go fast, especially on E Diamond Bar Rd. It’s often better to pull over and let them go by to oid being tailgated.

Lastly, there are grates in the pement – if you hit these at too high of a speed, they’ll give you quite a jolt! So, I like to slow down before reaching them. You can spot their locations by looking for the yellow warning signs on the right side of the road.

Parking at Grand Canyon

You’ll know you’ve arrived at the West Rim when you see the Main Terminal (also called the Pillow Building) on the right. It’s easy to spot because it looks like a big white tent.

If you’re coming on the weekends or during peak times, there may be a backup of cars turning into the parking lot. That’s because an attendant stops each vehicle to ask if anyone has drones, weapons, or alcohol.

Don’t worry; this process doesn’t take long. Once you’ve confirmed that you do not he these items, you can park your car anywhere in the ped lot. There’s no fee for parking either, which is fantastic.

If you need to buy tickets, you can do so inside the Pillow Building. Or, if you already he them, you can head straight to the hop-on, hop-off shuttle.

Trel Itineraries: Las Vegas to Grand Canyon

Below are some trip itineraries I’ve put together to help you plan your day at the Grand Canyon.

Remember that whatever you decide to do, everyone must buy an all-access ticket.

I recommend buying tickets in advance, especially if you’re interested in a package. That way, you can reserve your preferred time slot and won’t risk them selling out. You also won’t he to wait in the long ticket line when you arrive.

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Itinerary #1: All-Access Only

With all-access, you’ll go on a self-guided canyon tour, take a walk on the Skywalk, visit the zipline experience (pending ailability), and get a meal credit to dine at one of the West Rim restaurants.

For your self-guided canyon tour, you’ll he access to the hop-on, hop-off bus service that will take you to the viewpoints at Eagle Point and Guano Point. You can also get off the bus at Hualapai Point, which is an old Western town – and the home of the zipline.

I’d hop on the shuttle to Eagle Point first and then get in line for the Skywalk. Afterward, you can grab a bite to eat at the Sky View Restaurant. Or head to Guano Point for some outdoor BBQ.

Next, take the trail at Guano Point to the remnants of the tramway.

And then, if you he some time left in the day, you can get on the bus to Hualapai Point to see the cowboy town and check the zipline ailability. But it’s faster if you drive to Hualapai Point on your way out.

Time spent at GCW: 4-5 hours Suggested departure: 8-9 am Estimated return to Las Vegas: 6-7 pm

Itinerary #2: Helicopter Pontoon Package (includes All-Access)

With itinerary #2, I like heading to the Zipline first (9-10 am), followed by the Helicopter tour at noon. You can drive straight to Hualapai Point for the Grand Canyon Zipline. And then drive to the Main Terminal for the Helicopter and Colorado River tour.

After that, hop on the bus to Eagle Point to walk the Skywalk or get lunch at Sky View Restaurant. Finish up the day at Guano Point.

Time spent at GCW: 8-9 hours Recommended departure: 6:30-6:45 am Estimated return to Las Vegas: 7:30-8:30 pm FAQs

Below are some of the questions I often get asked about driving from Vegas to the West Rim.

Is the road to Grand Canyon West ped?

The roads to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas are all ped. The first part of the trip is on highways, and then a couple of two-lane roads take you into the West Rim.

Can you drive your own car?

Unfortunately, you can’t drive your car through the West Rim. But there’s complimentary parking outside the main entrance on the Hualapai Reservation.

From there, you can take the free shuttle service to the viewpoints and experiences.

Multiple shuttles are also running daily. And the shuttles are big buses with air conditioning, so you’ll stay cool as you trel to each stop. Or warm if you’re visiting during the winter.

Is it easy to drive to the Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas?

It’s an easy drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West Rim. The only annoying part to me is the fluctuating speed limit on the last half of the trip.

Also, it’s hot on the drive there if you’re going during the summer. So ensure you he good air conditioning and bring lots of water so you don’t get heat stroke.

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Thanks so much for checking out my Las Vegas road trip guide! I hope you’ve found it helpful. If you’d like to help support my website, the button below is my link where you can get tickets. Buying through me is at no extra cost to you, so thank you if you do! 🤍 Jenna

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My Final Thoughts

Driving to the Grand Canyon West Rim from Las Vegas is a fun and exciting day trip. It’s also a nice change of pace from all the noise on The Strip.

But I recommend buying your tickets before you head out. Speaking from experience, the last thing you’ll want to do after driving from Vegas is stand in a long ticket line!

So, it’s much better to hop on the shuttle and start your adventure right away. Plus, I’ve found that you’ll usually get a better deal if you buy online.