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Closest Grand Canyon visitor area

Discussion in 'Getting There & Getting Around' started by bobwerner, Aug 9, 2014.

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  1. bobwerner

    bobwerner Tourist

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    As I'm staying at the Main Street Station Casino downtown, I'd love to visit the Grand Canyon. I was there once in 1977, so I know it hasn't changed much. What is the closest area I could drive to for a day trip? I see all the tours online, but most start around $100 and go up from there (although a helicopter flight would be cool). Any thoughts?
    <Sorry if this is the wrong thread to put this in>
     
  2. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Are you wanting to go to the actual park, or just want to see the canyon?
     
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  3. bobwerner

    bobwerner Tourist

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    I just want to see the canyon. I'd like to get there, maybe grab a bite to eat somewhere and get back to the hotel same day. It should be possible. I see an $80 south rim tour on a bus. This appears to be a 14 hour tour??? Can that be right?
     
  4. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Probably. The National Park south rim is four hours away. If you're doing it without a tour group, look into some of the tribal lands along the canyon. Some of those are closer to Vegas than the national park
     
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  5. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    Another thought would be the north rim. It's also at least a four hour drive but would give you a different view of the canyon. It's much less crowded and spectacular. We like it better than the south rim. Don't know when you're going but it closes in late Oct.
     
  6. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    The West Rim is the closest, but it's also not the most ideal place to view the canyon. My parents went out there and it's a long drive out there on some rough road. Once there, you need to pay quite a bit to get shuttled out to the edge of the canyon.

    I would think South Rim would be the best for the classic views and experience, but North Rim is my preference because of the smaller crowds.
     
  7. bobwerner

    bobwerner Tourist

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    I'll be in Vegas from Sept 7 - 11. So, this begs the question, how does one get to the north rim from downtown? Yes, I'll have a rental car.
     
  8. wernerw

    wernerw Low-Roller

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    Go to the South Rim. Do not go West Rim, its a ripoff (yes beat me for that).

    North Rim is beautiful, yes, there are less people, yes, it is beautiful. But for a first timer I think South Rim is more impressive.

    Park at the visitor Center when you enter the park, go ahead to Mather Point (5 minutes walk). And WOOOOOW.

    It is more than 4 hours one way and a hard day if you decide to do it in one day, but you CAN do it. Start early.

    (Mind, I did not recommend to do it in one day)
     
  9. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    North Rim is about a five hour drive. More than half of it is on I-15. You take tat all the way up into Utah before turning south toward the canyon. There are directions available online. My sister has done both drives and tells me the north rim is about an hour longer drive. Sonya may be able to speak to this too
     
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  10. salukidean

    salukidean High-Roller

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    I was disappointed by the Grand Canyon (went to south rim). It was a fairly large size ditch, but I was honestly expecting it to be much bigger. Take your day trip to Zion, Bryce, or even Valley of Fire. Any of those locations will provide you with much more enjoyment than the overhyped "Grand" Canyon.
     
  11. bobwerner

    bobwerner Tourist

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    Oh, now that sounds cool. The Valley of Fire. Where would I find information?
     
  12. NandJfrmNJ

    NandJfrmNJ VIP Whale

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    VOF is a beautiful park with great scenery but there's no comparison between it and the Grand canyon. However, it is much closer to LV. Bryce canyon, however, is spectacular. We actually like it better than the GC and you could do that in a long day.
     
  13. bobwerner

    bobwerner Tourist

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    So, since Google is your friend (R), I found that the VOF is an hour away. Looking at info on Bryce Canyon next.
     
  14. salukidean

    salukidean High-Roller

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    I disagree. Valley of Fire is much more interesting than the Grand Canyon. I've spent many of days at VOF and will do many more there in the years to come. Grand Canyon was boring after 15 minutes and is nothing but a big ditch.
     
  15. Ty

    Ty ?

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    bob,
    We went to Red Rock Canyon (30 minute drive) and Valley of Fire (1 hour drive) this summer, enjoyed them both. Probably liked Valley of Fire a little more. I have one big tip for VoF, research the roads and hiking before you go, maybe buy a map from Amazon. Some of the sites at VoF require walking but the signs don't tell you how far you have to walk, not that I could see. Also, some of the scenic roads are unpaved, again you don't know have far they go. I want to go again, when it's cooler than July and with a map.

    The entrance to VoF has a drop box for payment. It's looks like they gave out maps at one point since the exit has a place to return them, we did not get a map. They have a visitor's center but it's closer to the east entrance and from Vegas you will enter the west entrance.

    At VoF you drive through, turn around and drive back out on a two-way road. At Red Rock they have a manned toll booth, its a 13 mile one way scenic loop. The one-way loop was nice since I was driving I could look around and not worry about oncoming traffic.
     
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