HOW TO GET FROM LAS VEGAS TO GRAND CANYON BY CAR – FANTASTIC ROAD TRIP GUIDE

Planning to take an epic road trip from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car?
Searching ideas on what to include in your Las Vegas to Grand Canyon itinerary?

You’re in for a road trip treat!

Inside this fantastic road trip guide, you’ll be able to find plenty of attractions between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. You can add those exciting stops to your Las Vegas Grand Canyon trip itinerary. Or use them to make 280 mi (450 km), or 4 to 5 hours, long drive to Grand Canyon from Vegas even more scenic.

Drive to Grand Canyon from Vegas takes between 4 to 5 hours. Distance between Las Vegas to Grand Canyon is 280 mi (450 km).

Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon is epic! I know because we included the stops mentioned below in our itinerary from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon. We were visiting Grand Canyon in April, with a rented Discover car, as part of our Southwest road trip, composing 17-day West cost Road trip.  

If you don’t plan to Rent a Car, you can still see this natural masterpiece by going on a bus tour from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon. They pick you up at your Las Vegas hotel, offer different stops, and take you to Grand Canyon for one day. And if you are short on time join the Grand Canyon helicopter tour and see the Grand Canyon from a bird’s eye view.

Let’s discover what is waiting for you inside this road trip guide if you decide to travel from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car.

Want more Grand Canyon travel content?
ALSO READ:
• HOW TO SPEND A HALF DAY AT GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM
• WHICH GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER TOUR IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOU
• 217 AMAZING ARIZONA CAPTIONS FOR INSTAGRAM – SUNNY AND UNIQUE
• 187 FASCINATING GRAND CANYON CAPTIONS AND QUOTES FOR INSTAGRAM
• BEST PLACES TO STAY NEAR GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM – 31 AWESOME AND UNIQUE HOTELS

Interested in travel itinerary ideas?
ALSO READ:
• HOW TO SPEND FIVE DAYS IN DUBAI: RELAXED TRAVEL ITINERARY
• HOW TO SPEND TWELVE DAYS IN ZANZIBAR: PERFECT ITINERARY
• HOW TO SPEND SEVENTEEN DAYS IN JAPAN: FIRST TIME ITINERARY

Disclosure (being transparent and honest should be fun): You know the way I run this blog. I only recommend products, experiences, hotels, etc. that I personally tried and actually own and use. And some that I am positive will be helpful for you. On this site, you will see pretty colorful links which are known as ”affiliate links”. If you click on this link and buy something you like, I’ll earn some money. I’m talking huge bucks here, like a new Tesla, yacht, and 7-bedroom mansion. Ok, honestly, most of the time it will be enough to help me buy treats for my dog and parrot, eco-friendly travel products or to help me build the time machine, and travel back in time to see the dinosaurs, do an interview of stone crafters on Easter island and have a serious chat with masterminds who ‘invented’ Maths. Thank you! Read more in Disclaimer.

Don’t have time to read now? Pin it for later!

1. Things to know before going from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car

1.1. Distance between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon

Drive from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon South Rim, is almost completely done on interstate highways. You will need 4 to 5 hours to conquer 280 mi (450 km), without stops. Add more driving time, if you plan to stop along the way and if you choose to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim via Route 66. In that case, 105 mi (169 km), from Kingsman to Williams, will be on a historic Route 66, and the distance from Vegas to Grand Canyon will be 17 mi (27 km) longer.

Download Google maps, before every road trip, so they will work offline. Some places along the way and inside US National parks don’t have a signal. Like Grand Canyon and Death Valley. If you don’t carry a GPS mobile phone, having an offline map will be a great asset to have.

Distance from Grand Canyon North Rim to Las Vegas is 270 mi (434,5 km), and you will need from 4,5 to 5 hours to get there. Do note, that North Rim is open from mid-May to mid-October and is closed during winter.

The closest part of Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon West, is 127 mi (204 km) or a bit more than 2 hours away from Las Vegas. It is open throughout the year but opening times vary between winter and summer months. 

Here is how Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car itinerary looks on a map!

1.2. Tips for renting a car in Las Vegas airport

You will most probably rent a car for your Vegas to Grand Canyon drive close to Las Vegas Airport. Here you will find a lot of car rental companies, like Budget, Avis, Hertz, and other suppliers. You can book any of them through Discover Cars.

There are free shuttle buses connecting the airport and rental car building. If you are coming from the Strip, you can get here with local buses 217 and DEUCE.

We rented our car in Las Vegas, with Discover cars. And proved to be very reliable, even when our car broke down (not our fault). Their assistance was extremely helpful and caring, and we got a better car without surcharge.

Before hitting the road, make sure you;
• photograph the car for possible marks and scratches;
• have full insurance;
• have unlimited mileage;
• check if you are allowed to drive the vehicle out of the state (Las Vegas is in Nevada and Grand Canyon is in the neighboring state Arizona, plus possibly Utah);
• stock up on gas, water, and road trip snacks!

Before driving your car out of the garage and starting with a road trip, walk to the ‘return car’ area. You will find plenty of unopened water bottles, that people coming back and catching their flights, left behind. Take a few and save some money. It is sad to see how much water is going to waste, especially knowing how many people don’t have access to drinking water. Take a few, save some money, and don’t let drinking water go to waste.

2. Drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim

2.1. Directions from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim

You will start your Las Vegas to Grand Canyon drive from McCarran rental car close to the airport and Las Vegas Strip. After a short drive on Gilespie St, turn to E-Warm Springs Rd. After a short 1.6 mi (2.5 km) merge into I-215 E highway toward Henderson.

After that, you proceed to the right, to I-11 southbound, which will lead you to the border between Nevada and Arizona. The road I-11 is also US-93 and will take you to Kingman. Along the way, you can stop at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. We did.

From Kingman, you have an option between two routes.
You can choose highway I-40 which will take you East and in a few hours you will arrive in Williams, Arizona. You can stop in Seligman to see how this little Arizona town celebrates the Route 66.
Another option is to take Route 66 and drive on one of the world’s famous roads. Route 66 only has two lanes and driving here is slower than on I-40. In Seligman, return to the I-40. Driving on Route 66 from Seligman to Williams in harder to follow and I don’t recommend it.

In Williams, at Exit 165 take the road AZ-64. This is a two-lane, 50-mile-long road leading directly to the Grand Canyon National park. Don’t be surprised to see snow on the road since you are climbing up to the altitude of 7000 ft (2133 m).

Pin those for a later read!

2.2. Planning a Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Road Trip

When planning your Las Vegas to Grand Canyon drive there is a couple of things you should consider. From travel time, time of the day, local time, season and road you will be driving on.

We have already estimated that the driving time from Vegas to Grand Canyon is around 4 – 5 hours. Then add in extra time for stops, roads you will be choosing for a road trip, possible time differences, and weather conditions.

You will be driving for a long time and conquering big distances, without gas stations, phone service, hotels and restaurants and shops. Make sure to fill up your gas tank when you stop (Kingman, Seligman, Williams), and stock up on water and snacks.

2.2.1. Does time change between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon?

Check local time and time zones of the town where you are going.

This was a surprise for me, but check your time for your whole Southwest itinerary. Some states observe Daylight Saving Time, while others don’t. Las Vegas, Nevada does utilize Daylight Saving Time. Grand Canyon, Arizona doesn’t.

But do know, that Arizona is in multiple time zones! So you might be in Arizona but have a different time. Navajo Nation in the NorthEastern part of Arizona DOES utilize Daylight Saving Time.

Time difference will also depend on the time of the year you will be there. If visiting Grand Canyon in April, Las Vegas and Grand Canyon South Rim will be in the same time zone. If visiting during winter months, there will be 1 hour time difference between the two.

2.2.2. Can you drive at night? Should you drive at night?

Yes, you can drive at night. But NO, even if you can, you shouldn’t drive at night.

Why? Because it is dark! And because at dawn and dusk, all the animals come alive and roam on the roads. And because you will miss all the beautiful scenery.

You might think that it is the same dark as you are used to at home. It’s not. There are no street lights and no light pollution. Wildlife is common, from smaller squirrels to coyotes, to bigger deer and elk. It is so dark we couldn’t even see a huge elk in the middle of the road. Seriously, don’t drive in the darkness. 

If for some reason you HAVE to drive at night, like we did because our car broke down, be extremely careful and drive slowly. Pay attention to anything. A car just in front of us hit a deer. While the damage was not huge, it was hard to tell the road service what is your exact location. You literally can not see anything. Mobile coverage is nonexistent and … Just don’t!

2.2.3. Learn about the roads you will be driving on

Highway US 93 from Las Vegas and Hoover Dam to Kingman is a very popular route to take when driving from Hoover dam to Grand Canyon. But you should know this is also very dangerous, with long medical service times (in case anything happens). We saw 3 accidents, there were random rocks on a road multiple times, ice on the road alerts, plus countless shredded truck tires on the road.

Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman, Williams or even Flagstaff is a simple two lanes road. It is not maintained to highway standards. You will need at least 40 minutes to drive it, without any stops in between. If you want the feeling of the old Route 66, without driving the whole section, take a detour to Seligman or Williams. Both are just off I-40.

Highway I-40, compared to Route 66, is a faster option on your Vegas to Grand Canyon drive. It has similar scenery to Route 66 but allows faster driving in good conditions. If you are driving in this area, make sure to check beforehand for driving conditions and possible snow on the road. Detour to Seligman to stretch your legs and get a taste of the historic Route 66.

Highway 64, is a two-lane road taking you from Williams directly to the Grand Canyon South Rim. It is well maintained but pay attention to driving conditions and be prepared for anything. Altitude is getting closer to 7000 ft (2133 m) so you can expect snow even in summer. If possible, don’t drive at night.

Pin the one you like more.

3. Attractions between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon South Rim

Las Vegas to Hoover Dam

Distance between Las Vegas and Hoover Dam is 40 miles (64 km) or 45 minute drive.

HOOVER DAM

Hoover Dam is a magnificent structure on the border between Arizona and Nevada. It is a 725 ft (221 m) tall, man-made dam, built between 1931 and 1936, during the times of the Great Depression. It took almost 5 years to be built and it represented a symbol of technological progress and was considered an architectural marvel.

On September 30, 1935, it was dedicated by, 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt. At the time it was the largest concrete dam in the world. It doesn’t hold the world record but it is an impressive dam to see.

We loved our Hoover Dam Audio Tour Guide. When you download the app, self-guided tour will begin in Las Vegas and tell you all about the history of the area, the Colorado River, and the Dam. It is great! You learn a lot and is like having a guide with you.

Your first stop should be the The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Park your car on Boulder Dam Bridge parking and walk to the bridge. There is a marked and secured path on the bridge, with stops for you to take pictures of the dam. Then drive further down to the Hoover Dam, and park your can in a garage. It is close to the visitor center, where you can take a guided tour of the Hoover Dam. There are different tour options. We opted for the one also visiting power generators inside the dam.

I highly recommend the Hoover Dam tour. You will learn a lot about the construction, great Depression, History, naming of the Dam. You will see the generators inside, learn how they work and safety measures they have in place. If you would like to see Hoover Dam, but don’t have a car, visit this bus tour, which also includes Grand Canyon West. To see it from the air or enjoy in water activities, have a look at other amazing Hoover Dam tours.

Pin the one you like more.

LAKE MEAD

Lake Mead is a result of the Hoover dam and was created at the same time as Boulder Dam, in 1930s. This is now a large water reservoir in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River, providing water for millions of people in Arizona, Nevada, California and also Mexico.

Only a short 10 minutes drive from the Hoover Dam, there is Lake Mead Overlook, where you can take stunning photos. If you ever get the chance to return to this place, you will be able to see the differences in water levels over the time. If you want to see Hoover dam and Lake mead from the air, this is the tour for you. You can select any of the other helicopter tours of Grand Canyon or Hoover dam tours.

Hoover Dam to Kingman

Distance between Hoover Dam and Kingman is 75 miles (120 km) or 1 hour and 15 minutes drive.

KINGMAN

A historic city in the heart of Route 66. Its history is tightly connected to the historic Route 66 and is worth stopping by. It is a great place to visit, not just because of the “Mother Road,” but also because of the hikes.

Assuming you will arrive here at lunch time, there is no better stop than Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner. This is famous 1950s diner serving delicious burgers and milkshakes. When you are done with lunch and if you want to stretch you legs a bit more, visit Route 66 sign across the street, Arizona Route 66 museum, and/or Kingman Railroad Museum.

Before hitting the road again, you might want to consider topping off the gas tank, and stock up on your roadtrip snacks and water. Prices of the snacks, water and gas will be increasing when continuing your Southwest roadtrip.

Kingman to Seligman via Route 66

Distance between Kingman and Seligman via Route 66 is 87 miles (140 km) or around 1 hour and 40 minutes drive.

Driving on a historic Route 66 will take you back in time. If you are having enough time, I would add it to your Las Vegas to Grand Canyon itinerary. This is an easy drive and perfect for your Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by car journey where you will be able to get a glimpse of what the Mother Road was at her prime!

Route 66 will take you through Hulapai Valley and Aubrey Valley with smaller towns Hackberry, Peach Springs and Grand Canyon Caverns along the way.

Take a quick stop at Hackberry General Store with a red Corvette in front of it. It is worth it to go inside! Buy snacks, drinks and Route 66 souvenirs.

Short drive from Hackkberry, there is an interesting and unexpected stop. It is not really related to Route 66. Keepers of the Wild Nature Park is an accredited, nonprofit wildlife sanctuary. Here you can go on an 1 hour and 15 minutes long safari, where you will see lions, tigers, bears, leopards, primates, and various southwest wildlife. https://www.keepersofthewild.org/

Further towards Seligman, there is Grand Canyon Caverns. Here you can take a tour of the largest dry cavern in the US, which lie 210 feet (64 m) below the earth’s surface. Grand Canyon Caverns are from limestone and were created 65 million years ago.

Kingman to Seligman via I-40

Distance between Kingman and Seligman via I-40 is 74 miles (119 km) or around 1 hour and 10 minutes drive.

Taking a Highway will help you to beat the distance between the two towns faster. The views will be similar to Route 66, but the road itself is better maintained. If you wish you can stop on Alpacas of the Southwest ranch. To get to the Alpaca ranch, turn South on Blake Ranch Road and take 1st left. Ranch is 18 mi (29 km), 22 min drive, outside of Kingman. The entry fee is $15 per car but call in advance to make sure they are open.

Sharing is caring!

SELIGMAN

Seligman is one of the attractions between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon, that you must include in your Vegas to Grand Canyon drive.

The birthplace of Route 66, or how Seligman is also called, has the charm you saw in Disney movie Cars. This small dusty desert town will take you back to 1950s era. If you are hungry, go to Westside Lilo’s. They have the best burgers, but make sure to leave some room for dessert. You can not leave Seligman without stopping at Delgadillo’s Snow Cap.

If you opted out of driving Route 66, and choose I-40 instead, take Exit 121. Then drive through Seligman and stop at Delgadillo’s Snow Cap.

Seligman to Williams

Distance between Seligman to Williams is 42 mi (68 km) 45 minutes drive.

WILLIAMS

Williams is one of the best places to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim. It is a great getaway to the Grand Canyon and a small mountain town located on Route 66.

Despite the fact that you are coming from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car, here in Williams, you also have the option to visit Grand Canyon by train. The historic Grand Canyon Railway train ride from Williams takes a bit more than 2 hours. Then you will have around 3 hours to explore Grand Canyon before returning back to Williams.

In Williams, you will also find shops and museums dedicated to historic Mother road. From Pete’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum, Route 66 Zipline, shops and cafes, like Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe.

Williams to Tusayan

Distance between Williams and Tusayan is 53 mi (85 km) a bit less than 1 hour drive.

Depending on your time, make your way to hotel. You don’t want to be driving at night because of the wildlife. You also don’t want to be the fastest car on this route. There are speed traps.

You can stay in Valle area or Grand Canyon Junction, which is the second best place to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim. This is where we stayed. But you can go for more unique places to stay near Grand Canyon, like Sky Dome. Or, if you booked your accommodation around Grand Canyon way in advance, drive further down the road and spend the night at one of the hotels in Tusayan.

Sharing is caring! And pinning is winning!

KAIBAB NATIONAL FOREST

On your way to Tusayan, and really if you have time, stop at Kaibab National Forest.

This is 1,6 million acres big forest in Arizona, and the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the United States. As a fun fact you should know that it borders both the North and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

TUSAYAN

Tusayan is the closest town to the Grand Canyon South Rim, where The Grand Hotel at the Grand Canyon is located. It is a small town, with around 600 inhabitants. This is the best place to stay near Grand Canyon South Rim, after coming from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car.

It is also a prefect starting point if you only have a half day at Grand Canyon. Close to it is also an airport where you can book a helicopter tour, if you want to see Grand Canyon from bird’s-eye view with phenomenal vistas.

Just in case, so you won’t forget! Pin those.

How to get from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car, in a nutshell

This Las Vegas To The Grand Canyon By Car Fantastic Roat Trip Guide is perfect for anyone planning to drive from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon. Following this moderately paced Las Vegas Grand Canyon tip itinerary, you will know which roads to take, know about the distance Between las Vegas and Hoover dam,  learn about the things you should be careful of, and stops to include in your Vegas to Grand Canyon drive.

If you are thinking about visiting the Grand Canyon in April, there will be no time difference between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon. There is 1 hour time difference in winter months since Grand Canyon MST – Mountain Standard Time) does not observe daylight saving time. Make sure to include this (possible time difference) in your Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim itinerary.

Following the suggested Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim via Route 66, you will come across some of the attractions between Las Vegas and Grand Canyon that you should visit. The first one is, of course, the Hoover Dam. Second one is Kingman, where you should spend your lunch time. Then drive on Historic Route 66 with other possible stops. If time doesn’t permit more stops, make a short one in Seligman, and get a milkshake from Delgadillo’s Snow Cap.

Driving from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon South Rim will be a great start to your USA West coast itinerary and Southwest road trip. It will be filled with stunning stops, architectural marvels, historic towns, Disney towns and a feeling that you have traveled back in time.

Hopefully, this post helped you to answer a dilemma on how to get from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car or at least give you a couple of ideas for your drive to Grand Canyon from Vegas.

If you have any questions about driving from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car, ask them in the comments.

Shine on,
Anja

Have you traveled from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car?
What route did you take?
Let me know in the comments!

Pinning is winning and sharing is caring!

Want more Grand Canyon travel content?
ALSO READ:
• HOW TO SPEND A HALF DAY AT GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM
• WHICH GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER TOUR IS THE BEST FIT FOR YOU
• 217 AMAZING ARIZONA CAPTIONS FOR INSTAGRAM – SUNNY AND UNIQUE
• 187 FASCINATING GRAND CANYON CAPTIONS AND QUOTES FOR INSTAGRAM
• BEST PLACES TO STAY NEAR GRAND CANYON SOUTH RIM – 31 AWESOME AND UNIQUE HOTELS

Interested in travel itinerary ideas?
ALSO READ:
• HOW TO SPEND FIVE DAYS IN DUBAI: RELAXED TRAVEL ITINERARY
• HOW TO SPEND TWELVE DAYS IN ZANZIBAR: PERFECT ITINERARY
• HOW TO SPEND SEVENTEEN DAYS IN JAPAN: FIRST TIME ITINERARY

Do you want to travel like me?
Here are some of my favorite travel tips and resources;

FLIGHTS: I use Google Flights to find the best flight deals. The destination everywhere feature is perfect to find some cheap deals!

ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com is my favorite site for finding great hotel deals.

RENTAL CARS: When planning an epic road trip, I travel with Discover Cars.

TOURS & ACTIVITIES: I like to wander around on my own, but when I want to explore with a group I book a tour with GetYourGuide.

Skipped to the good part? Here is the gist

I hope this helped you to plan Las Vegas to Grand Canyon by car road trip itinerary.

If you found this blog helpful, follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. Here you will find a lot of travel tips, itineraries, and packing hacks completely for free. If you want to see more of it and would like to encourage me to post even more, you can say thanks and buy me a coffee.

You May Also Like

About Anja On Adventure

Anja On Adventure is a travel blog, a collection of insider tips and information on destinations, that I visited as a solo female traveler, tour guide, teacher, yacht stewardess, and Survivor challenge tester.

Anja, is a thirty-something adventure-seeking, sun chasing, beach hopping, gin-loving, tropics enthusiast with a creative mind and sarcastic spirit, who loves coconut and mango but doesn’t like chocolate and sweets. I am passionate about all things travel, maps, and puzzles. Click here to learn more About me.