Talk about the most popular tourist destinations in the States, and no mention of the Gigantic Grand Canyon. It’s not possible at all! Las Vegas is one of the major cities that provide the Grand Canyon with a good number of tourists every year!
But the conversation of the Grand Canyon starts to get a little complicated when the rims are mentioned, and this is something that we will address in detail for sure.
Anyways, if you’re wondering if it will be a straightforward trip or if it will have interesting stops, then you should have zero worries because the routes will be filled with fascinating stops!
Not just only fascinating but some popular stops as well, such as the Coconino National Forest, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and Valley of Fire State Park, etc. So let’s take no more time and jump into the nitty-gritty stuff!
Available Routes
Before we jump into the available routes, let’s first learn about the Rims of the Grand Canyon. There are a total of three rims in the Grand Canyon that are mostly visited from Las Vegas, the South Rim, the West Rim, and the North Rim.
Even though the South Rim is preferred over the North and West Rim for several reasons, we will still guide you with one route for each of these rims with some special guidelines to consider. We will be going through each of these routes one by one in a detailed way!
The South Rim’s Route
This route is taken from Interstates 515 and 11. The distance that would need to be covered in this route is approximately 451 kilometers or 280 miles, which consumes almost 5 hours of driving.
The South Rim is the most popular tourist spot due to a lot of factors. The first one is its easy accessibility; the South Rim is open for visitors all year and is closer to major cities; Las Vegas is one of them.
Other than its accessibility, the South Rim has comparatively more facilities for visitors, such as hostels and restaurants, and offers a more extensive view of the Grand Canyon.
Navigation
Although using a digital map for navigation would be the best choice to travel on this route; nonetheless, here is the complete guide:
Take I-515 and I-11 to Hoover Dam, and continue on Route 93 to Kingman. Take Route 66 to Route 40
Stop at Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (optional).
Continue on Route 40 to Williams. Take Route 180 to Route 89A through Ashford and Sedona; you can stop to explore Sedona for a while if you want.
Continue on Route 89A to Route 64 and turn right at Cameron. Stop at Coconino National Forest (optional). Continue on Route 64 to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
Places To Stop By
Here are a few places that you could give visit during your journey:
- Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
The Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is a top destination for nature lovers. Located in California and Arizona, this 24,000-acre protected area is a home for various wildlife. This diverse landscape is home to over 250 bird species and other wildlife like coyotes and desert bighorn sheep.
Visitors to the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including birdwatching, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and canoeing on the Colorado River. Just keep in mind that access to the refuge may be limited during certain times of the year to protect sensitive habitats and wildlife.
- Sedona
Sedona, located in northern Arizona, is a must-visit destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. With its breathtaking red rock formations, vibrant art scene, and spiritual and wellness offerings, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful desert town.
Some of the most popular activities in Sedona include hiking on scenic trails, taking scenic drives along the Red Rock Scenic Byway, hot air balloon rides, spa and wellness treatments, art gallery hopping, and jeep tours.
- Coconino National Forest
Coconino National Forest is a super cool and huge Arizona national forest covering over 1.8 million acres. It has a mix of forests, deserts, and canyons and is home to many cool plants and animals, like ponderosa pine trees, elk, and deer.
There are plenty of fun things to do there, like hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and even off-roading. Plus, you can also check out some historic and cultural sites while you’re at it.
The North Rim’s Route
This route is taken from US-95 N, so the total distance required to cover it is approximately 435 kilometers or 270 miles; thus, it would easily consume somewhere around 5 to 6 hours of driving time.
The North Rim might not be as popular as the South Rim, but it certainly has its fair share of advantages, which under some conditions, make it more suitable than the South Rim.
The first advantage among them is the less congestion compared to the South Rim, which always seems crowded with visitors. Moreover, The North Rim has its own vistas that are as beautiful as the ones in the South Rim.
The North Rim is comparatively higher in elevation than the South Rim; therefore, it is colder and thus more suitable to visit during the hot summers, but due to its higher elevation, it is closed during the winters, unlike the South Rim.
Navigation
Once again, using a digital map for navigation would be the best choice to travel on this route, but anyways, here’s the guide:
Head north on US-95 N out of Las Vegas.
After approximately 40 miles, take exit 75 for State Route 159 toward Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Follow State Route 159 for about 13 miles to reach Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. After exploring Red Rock Canyon, head back to State Route 159 and continue north until you reach US-89.
Turn right onto US-89 and follow it for approximately 75 miles to Page, Arizona. In Page, take a left onto AZ-98 and follow it to Horseshoe Bend Overlook, about 7 miles from the center of town.
After visiting Horseshoe Bend, continue on AZ-98 for about 9 miles until you reach US-89 again. Turn right onto US-89 and follow it for about 50 miles until you reach AZ-67.
Turn left onto AZ-67 and follow it for about 43 miles until you reach the entrance to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.
Places To Stop By
Here are a few places that you could give visit during your journey:
- Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a stunning desert landscape located just a short drive from Las Vegas. It’s a great spot for outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a break from the city.
It features a 13-mile scenic drive that winds through the canyon, offering visitors stunning views of the surrounding red sandstone cliffs and formations.
Visitors can enjoy a range of activities in Red Rock Canyon, including hiking, rock climbing, picnicking, scenic drives, and wildlife viewing.
- Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend is a breathtaking and unique geological formation located in Page, Arizona. It’s a bend in the Colorado River that forms a horseshoe shape and is a popular destination for photography enthusiasts.
In addition to taking in the breathtaking views, visitors can also enjoy picnicking, bird watching, and stargazing. With so many things to see and do, Horseshoe Bend is definitely worth a visit!
The West Rim’s Route
This route will be taken from US-93, so the total distance required to cover it is approximately 491 kilometers or 305 miles; therefore, covering it would easily consume somewhere around 5 to 6 hours of driving time.
Like the North Rim, the West Rim is comparatively much less congested than the South Rim. Additionally, it has some unique features, such as the Skywalk Glass Bridge, which is 10-foot wide and horseshoe-shaped, something you’ll only find in the West Rim.
Kindly note that there is only one stop out of the two mentioned ones that will lie within the route to the West Rim, which is the Valley of Fire State Park, the Bryce Canyon National Park is a little ahead of the West Rim and is only mentioned in case you want to make your journey a little lengthy.
Navigation
For the third time in a row, using a digital map for navigation would be the best choice to travel on this route, but anyways, here’s the guide:
Head northeast on US-93 from Las Vegas.
After about 30 miles, take exit 75 for State Route 169 toward Valley of Fire State Park. Follow State Route 169 for about 15 miles until you reach Valley of Fire State Park.
Spend some time exploring the park, which features unique red sandstone formations and provides opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and photography. After leaving Valley of Fire, head back out on US-93 and continue north.
After approximately 70 miles, take exit 1 for AZ-64 toward Grand Canyon National Park. Follow AZ-64 for about 60 miles until you reach the entrance to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim.
After leaving the Grand Canyon’s West Rim, continue on AZ-64 for approximately 70 miles until you reach the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park. Stop at Bryce Canyon National Park to explore the unique hoodoo formations, scenic viewpoints, and hiking trails.
Places To Stop By
Here are a few places that you could give visit during your journey:
- Valley of Fire State Park
Valley of Fire State Park is a scenic public recreation area located in the Mojave Desert of Nevada. The park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, offering a range of recreational activities for them.
These activities include hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and photography. The park also offers campgrounds for those who want to spend the night, as well as picnic areas for visitors to enjoy a meal.
- Bryce Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park is a scenic wonder located in southwestern Utah which is famous for its unique hoodoos. Whether one is a nature lover, hiker, or simply looking to admire the beauty of the park, this park has it all!
It offers a variety of activities, such as hiking, scenic drives, stargazing, wildlife watching, and rock climbing. There is something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s exploring nature or admiring scenic views.
The Best Time And Day To Start Your Journey
If you want to avoid the traffic as much as possible, starting your itinerary in the night, morning, or afternoon would be a good call. But there is more to it; if you’re traveling on a hot day, then the best time would be early morning or night but not the afternoon.
In case you’re traveling in Winter, then firstly, you’ll need to make your mind clear about the Rim that you would want to visit because, just like we mentioned above, the North Rim is closed during the Winter; secondly, you will then have to travel in the day to avoid the peak cold weather.
Regarding the day of the week that you should plan, the journey depends on your schedule. If you can travel on a weekday, you can easily avoid the weekend traffic and the congestion at the destination. Otherwise, traveling on the weekend is usually more feasible for many people as it provides more flexibility in time.
Summer is when the Grand Canyon is as crowded as it can be, so if you want no part of it, it’s better to visit in the Spring, Fall, or Winter seasons.
Particularly Spring and Fall are considered the best time to visit the Grand Canyon due to the scenic routes in the fall foliage and the colorful look of the Grand Canyon in Spring, but Winter gives its own unique look to the place as well.
Things To Consider
Here are a few things that we suggest for any road trip that need to be taken into consideration for the ride (If any of these tips do not suit your route, feel free to turn a blind a towards them!):
- If you’re driving on a road that is wide open, speeding up in such a situation makes a lot of sense, but watch out for the patrol because they might end up finding you a speed ticket.
- Avoid using the air conditioner whenever you’re driving in a sunbaked area, as it can cause your vehicle to overheat, ultimately causing it to stall out. Get some fresh air instead by opening the door windows.
- Make sure that your car is filled with sufficient fuel, as there might be some places in your route where there won’t be any gas stations for up to many miles.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s the South Rim, the North Rim, or the West Rim, they are all a subject of debate regarding the best Rim of the Grand Canyon, but guess what’s not a subject of debate? It’s Tripvac because there are no two opinions about who produces the best Road-Trip guides!
Just like this one, we’re certain that you would definitely want to see some more road trip guides from our side. If that’s indeed the case, how about letting us know through that comment section? We might be back sooner than you expect us to be! Until next time, have a nice trip!