Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon From Vegas

[Playmaker]

I'm headed to Vegas in about a month and I haven't seem the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon. Is it feasible to rent a car for the day and see both? Or is the distance/time involved too much do that round-trip from Vegas in a day?

 

[DAGTA]

Hoover Dam is about 30 minutes from Vegas. Grand Canyon runs from about that point to well into Arizona so that could be anywhere from an hour to 5 hour drive depending on what points you wish to see.

Definitely possible to see both in a day.

 

[bctbct]

If you want to go to the GC you might check into the flight tours. That would be a long day and not much time to stop for anything in 1 day.

 

[kyparrish]

My wife's parents just got back from Vegas and did the helicopter tour where you fly to the GC, land, have a picnic, then fly to the Hoover Dam (don't land), then fly home. Said it was AWESOME. Kind of pricey.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You can do both in 1 day.

See the Dam and then see the Grand Canyon from the Nevada side (North Rim). Exit I-15 at the Vallye of Fire. (Exit is about 30 minutes north of the Vegas valley).

Less touristy but better view.

Attempting to go from Vegas to the AZ side of the canyon is a big strain if you want to sightsee along the way. It is (as others stated) 5 hours at least to the South rim tourist areas.

Helo & plane tours start at around $50/person and up. Discount coupons and such are at most hotels.

There is a casino past Boulder City (on the ways to the dam) that has Helo tours.
I do not know the length of the tour.

 

[KnickNut3]

That helicopter tour is probably $1k/person if I had to guess, considering 5 minute ones are like $50.

Hoover Dam is a great afternoon out (make sure to stop at Railroad Pass casino out in the middle of nowhere, the whole family can have a large breakfast for $5, hah). The Grand Canyon is at least 2 or 3 hours each way, probably longer to see anything decent.

Also, the south rim is apparently more scenic than the north rim, and you'd be on the north rim.

 

[isasir]

I suppose it's doable in a day if you really wanted to push it. When I went to GC from Vegas, we spent the night (was able to catch sunset and sunrise at the Canyon which was awesome).

 

[ManSnake]

Don't do the helicopter tour. Those helicopters are unsafe. They crash quite often.

 

[kyparrish]

Originally posted by: KnickNut3
That helicopter tour is probably $1k/person if I had to guess, considering 5 minute ones are like $50.

Hoover Dam is a great afternoon out (make sure to stop at Railroad Pass casino out in the middle of nowhere, the whole family can have a large breakfast for $5, hah). The Grand Canyon is at least 2 or 3 hours each way, probably longer to see anything decent.

Also, the south rim is apparently more scenic than the north rim, and you'd be on the north rim.

Think wife's stepdad said it was ~$425/person. Might have been discounted, too.

Yeah, he's a baller.

 

[KnickNut3]

That's pretty decent for a whole day (unless they condense the whole thing into like an hour).

 

[alien42]

i was in vegas a couple of years ago and we drove a rental to the hoover damn and then north to the valley of fire state park and then back to vegas and i would do it again.

 

[skyking]

IMO, the lake and the dam are a good day. I'd end the day driving down to Laughlin, it is a fun town with boats on the river between casinos.
I'd leave a complete second day for the Grand Canyon.

 

[Playmaker]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe we'll go with the dam and the north rim. Definitely don't have time to devote another day, but I'd like to see it.

This is all assuming I can get myself and three or four of the other people in my group up early enough on one of the days we're there, heh.

 

[teddyv]

My last time in Vegas I took a week and a rented convertible and made a big loop through all the parks, from Zion & Bryce Canyon east on Rt. 12 to Torrey, south down the Mokie Dugway and through Monument Valley (hint - NEVER stay at the Anisazi Inn!) then west through the GC and Rt. 66, north over the Dam to Vegas. If you've ever seen koyaanisqatsi you'll be right in the middle of it all.

I took over 1,000 photos and 5 hours of video (windshield mount) and have to say it was one of the best road trips I've ever taken. If you can, consider taking a few more days to really see the whole area.

EDIT - if you really cannot take the time skip touring the dam and see the GC. If you're like me you'll ignore the folks who will say you'll sit there for 30 minutes with your mouth agape when you first see it. Well after even Zion and Bryce it took me a good 45 minutes before I could pull myself away from it - it is that amazing.

 

[foolish501]

beware, was in vegas this week, went to hoover damn, and a lot of construction happening, and because of this, very little water, so there's not a great deal to see

 

[JinLien]

I been to the dam & there is nothing to write home about. The canyon is great if you have a day or 2 to spend, but I found it hot & dry (bring lots of water).

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
You can do both in 1 day.

See the Dam and then see the Grand Canyon from the Nevada side (North Rim). Exit I-15 at the Vallye of Fire. (Exit is about 30 minutes north of the Vegas valley).

Less touristy but better view.

Attempting to go from Vegas to the AZ side of the canyon is a big strain if you want to sightsee along the way. It is (as others stated) 5 hours at least to the South rim tourist areas.

Helo & plane tours start at around $50/person and up. Discount coupons and such are at most hotels.

There is a casino past Boulder City (on the ways to the dam) that has Helo tours.
I do not know the length of the tour.

It's called the Hacienda. I stayed there back in February. They advertise a helo tour for like 29.95, but that's only for like 4-5 minutes. For 75, that gets you like 10 minutes.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: foolish501
beware, was in vegas this week, went to hoover damn, and a lot of construction happening, and because of this, very little water, so there's not a great deal to see

That's right. The'yre building a bridge across the colorado river, so people will not be able to drive across the dam.

 

[RossMAN]

Drive past the grand canyon and visit Sedona, Arizona instead

 

[RedCOMET]

Definately do a tour of the Hoover Dam so you can appreciate its sheer size and awesomness.

Two years ago i saw the Grand Canyon South Rim with my parents. It was a great trip. We did a flying Tour of the Grand Canyon during the morning/early afternoon. Aftwards we drove up into the park from our hotel and went to the different lookout points. We also saw the sunset. Absolutely amazing.

Seeing the grand canyon is something every one should do. Just Its sheer size and beauty is awe inspiring and humbling.