Self-Drive Grand Canyon Tours

Written by Viator, November 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Good Views / Viewpoint, Tip - Suggested Itineraries, Tip - Transport, Tip - What to See & Do

The seemingly limitless expanse of the Grand Canyon, red rock chasms yawning under a blazing sky: the very desert air here seems like an invitation to freedom and exploration. So why follow the herd? Discover this outstanding natural attraction at your own pace on a self-drive tour, leaving from Las Vegas.

Everything’s ready for you: a full tank of gas and GPS instructions in an SUV, if you choose to go for some off-road action. The neon, clamor and glitz of the Strip will seem a world away as you get behind the wheel and set out on the highway.

You’ll pass Hoover Dam and dramatic Joshua Tree forests before arriving at the western rim of the glorious Grand Canyon. What you see and do when you get there is entirely up to you. Optional add-ons include the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a helicopter ride to the canyon floor or a cruise along the Colorado River. Or if that’s too sedate, you can even tackle the river’s famous white-water rapids upstream in a heart-pounding rafting adventure.

To get more out of your visit, you can stay overnight at the Hualapai Ranch, an authentic Native American settlement at Grand Canyon West. That means you can head out up bright and early and see the canyon in its magnificent dawn finery, before the tour groups arrive.

And once you’ve lived life on the frontier for a day or two and experienced the best that this amazing natural wonder has to offer, hop back in the car and enjoy the scenic drive back to Las Vegas.

Latest Replies

Add review or reply

All Self-Drive Grand Canyon Tours Reviews

Reply by Viator, January 2013
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Self-Drive SUV Day Trip from Las Vegas

This was great. We loved traveling at our own pace and will do this trip again when we're back in Nevada. My only recommendation is making sure you have a full tank of gas before leaving Vegas. There aren't many options once you get into Arizona.

Report problem

Reply by Viator, November 2012
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Self-Drive SUV Day Trip from Las Vegas

Great tour! It was nice to be able to explore the canyon at our own pace. We were pick up from our hotel on time, driver was very very nice and shared helpful hints about speeding traps in boulder city. We got a chevrolet tranverse, nice and comfy. If u go pick the bigger SUV , u r going to need it.

Report problem

Reply by Viator, August 2012
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Self-Drive SUV Day Trip from Las Vegas

We had read a lot of reviews about organised trips to the Grand Canyon and decided on the self drive so that we could please ourselves and run to our own schedule. I'm so glad we did this as we had an amazing time without having to worry about getting to buses on time! The drive to the Canyon is a mini adventure in itself with some great points to stop off on the way for photographic opportunities. When we picked up the car, we were a bit disappointed that we didn't have sat nav but we were provided with a map and full detailed instructions on how to get there. We were offered a smaller car with sat nav but we refused, fortunately we did as a small car probably couldn't handle the dirt road that you need to drive on to get there! The Grand Canyon is a spectacular place. We did the full package - boat trip, helicopter and sky walk and I would wholeheartedly recommend it. We went in July so the canyon floor was HOT but we were provided with water after our boat trip. The views are fantastic from all vantage points but our highlight was Guano point where you can climb up some rocks for an even more fantastic view - slightly scary however! We had our meal at the ranch - basic food but tasty and plentiful. There was a cowboy shoot out on our arrival and you can have a go at axe throwing or horse riding if you fancy. All in all this was an amazing trip, not be be missed, made better by being able to please yourself all day.

Report problem