Grand Canyon via Vegas

[EagleKeeper]

Come back in May.

That 4 hr drive to the South rim may not get you to the tourist spots. It takes 45 min to get to the dam alone. If the bypass has been completed, the four hours is stretching it.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you want to see a baby Grand Canyon up close and personal, go up I15 to the Virgin River Canyon. Take one of the exits inside the canyon and start walking and see what the canyon can look like when one can see side to side. One can actually appreciate the big brother a lot more then.

 

[blurredvision]

My wife and I honeymooned in Vegas in 2006. We rented a car and drove to the south rim, was definitely 3.5-4 hours each way. But we'd never been to the west before and enjoyed stopping for a bit at the Hoover Dam, then seeing the scenery during the drive over, then seeing the clear night sky on the way back all the small lights up in the hills from houses strewn about. Was quite the scene change from what we've grown up around, so we enjoyed it.

If I had to do it again, I'd do the same thing.

 

[vailr]

If you have the time, there's a Grand Canyon Railway train ride available between Williams, AZ and the Grand Canyon South Rim. Connections at Williams for Amtrak service between Los Angeles and Flagstaff, AZ & on to Chicago. Las Vegas is not served by Amtrak.
I recommend seeing the movie "Koyaaniqatsi" prior to going to the Grand Canyon. Part of the movie was filmed in Horseshoe Canyon, Utah.