Grand Canyon West Rim Self-Drive SUV Day Trip from Las Vegas
Las Vegas, United States of America
See the Grand Canyon West Rim at your own pace when you hire a SUV for a self-drive day trip from Las Vegas. You will be supplied with a map, driving directions and a full tank of gas. Throw away the timetables and forget about other people's schedules as you explore the Grand Canyon your way. Please note, a minimum of 2 people per booking is required.
You will be picked up by complimentary shuttle and taken for assignment of your automatic SUV for the day. All passengers will receive a map and entry into the Grand Canyon.
When you hit the road you will pass Boulder City and Lake Mead to Hoover Dam. Drive through a 900-year-old Joshua Tree Forest before turning onto the road to the Grand Canyon West Rim and the lands of the Hualapai Tribe. You are free to explore Guano Point and Eagle Point at your leisure - no timetables, no schedules - its all up to you.
Optional Activities:
Grand Canyon Skywalk - Take a stroll on the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the newest attraction on the West Rim, for amazingly unobstructed views over the canyon
Helicopter/Boat - Take a helicopter ride to the bottom of the canyon, then enjoy a 15-minute pontoon boat ride on the Colorado River!
High Point Hike at Guano Point - a brief walk from the shuttle drop point, offers 340 degrees views of the Grand Canyon
The gran canyon is spectacular and well worth a visit. I would have preferred to spend longer in the Grand Canyon area and less time in Las Vegas, that's my fault. Our day started badly as the car was delivered late if at all. After waiting for over an hour I took myself to the airport to collect it, this cost more on top of a what is a very expensive day! After that it was amazing, however, you can look at all the elements and put it together easily yourself and save a small fortune. This is unusual as I found the trips on Viator very good value.
Review by: Helen E, August 2017
Amazing trip. The car hire company picked us up from the hotel which was a good start to the day. However they did not have a SUV available and we were given a 7 seater people carrier! Not what we had hoped for as there were only two of us! Once we had got used to the idea of our mini bus the rest of the trip was fabulous. The drive to the canyon was quite simple and once there the three stops on the tour were well organised with buses running every few minutes so we could spend as long as we liked at each stop. The lunch is very basic but welcome in the heat but the crows that join you at the restaurant are terrifying - swooping in at every opportunity - very scary!! The views are awesome and although the Skywalk is impressive on the third stop we walked around the edge and climbed higher. It was truly indescribable one of the most magnificent places on earth. A definite must if in Las Vegas.
Review by: angela.estreich, August 2016
Loved this trip we did the self drive to the Grand Canyon, The waiting time for the Helicopter was slow and the heat on the day was crazy. We enjoyed the helicopter experience and the boat ride, however, the bus tour part due to the heat made it uncomfortable. Can't control the weather though.
Review by: oscarsmith325, June 2016
The person at the car rental place was 15 minutes late and didnt even apologize for it. She practically gave no information. The gas tank was practically empty. All of Lwhich defeated the purpose of trying to leave early. The Grand Canyon was great, but the other aspects of the trip were not.
Review by: JamaicaRiu, October 2015
Great way to see the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam at your own pace. It was an simple process picking up and dropping off the SUV. The vehicle was in excellent condition and the tour staff was very friendly. They give you a map and the drive only about 2 1/2 hours from Vegas and so beautiful. We were able to stop whenever and wherever we wanted to. We would definitely recommend doing this self drive trip. And booking through Viator was fast and efficient.
Review by: Ellen R, August 2015
This trip was AWESOME!!!! The vehicle was beautiful- and practically brand new- and the tours from the airport on the reservation were indescribable! It's a total experience I recommend to everyone!
Review by: Mandi E, August 2015
Beautiful trip. Best way to see the Grand Canyon. The Suv was first rate and we were able to get it at 7am to get an early start which is a must. The directions were clear and concise. We were able to spend our time at each place as we wanted and not being pushed by a tour guide. Highly reccomend.
Review by: Alistair S, May 2015
This tour was brilliant. The car hire was great, easy to get to from Vegas. The west rim site is well run and the 3 different view points are great. Sky walk was fantastic. Well worth it!
Review by: Donald R K, April 2015
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Helena S, November 2014
Such a great day out! You can take it at your own pace and stop off wherever and whenever you like - great way to see the canyon
Review by: marie f, October 2014
This tour was amazing!
Review by: ron c, September 2014
we had much difficulty finding the shuttle pickup-later discovering we couldve picked up our rental car at our very own hotel harrahs!!! after all that stress every thing else worked out.we had a grand time at the grand canyon,but it was so hotttttttt-wonder when it cools off?we were relieved we left las vegas before the flood came
Review by: Joseph C, September 2014
Having been looking forward to this trip we arrived having been picked up and we were on our way to the Grand Canyon. On arrival we went to the nearest help desk to get things moving but after going back and forth between companies nobody seemed to know anything about our booking. Two and a half hours later we were no further forward with getting in a chopper... There seemed to be no organisation from the people who organise the paperwork for the helicopter tour companies. The whole experience would have been a complete shocker if it weren't for the stunning views when we eventually flew.
Review by: Lisa C, August 2014
So glad we took the self drive option however disappointed in the car we got (jeep)this car was for the off road part listed on the website however there is no off roading now as they have upgraded the road. The car was gas thirsty so cost a lot for the 2.5hr drive however canyon made up for it!!!!
Review by: Clive B, June 2014
Extremely well organised. I've been lucky enough to visit the Grand Canyon by helicopter, small plane and now self drive. The self drive was in my opinion the best experience.
Review by: Vicki F, April 2014
Very pleasant easy tour. Loved being in our own vehicle. We stopped by the Hoover Dam on the way back since we had time. Grand Canyon was breathtaking and Skywalk was really worth the trip.
Review by: William K, April 2014
Self guide is the only way to go! Got to see the Hoover dam. Would like to go back and take the inside dam tour when I have more time. The Grand Canyon was very nice. The gravel road was not bad at all. An SUV is not needed. A lot of work had been done and the road would only get rough after a rain. A standard car would be fine. The Indian village a shows are kind of cheesey but I understand they are there to make money not put on shows. A great time and a great trip. You should do it!!
Review by: William C, January 2014
The family liked this trip so very much. Driving ourselves allowed us to take our time walking around at the grand canyon. The lunch was hot and very good. Driving ourselves allowed us to stop where we wanted to. The only downside was trying to get out of town and then later returning the car.
Review by: Sam K, January 2014
Amazing place tour was great
Review by: Phil Morris, August 2013
We had a brilliant time on this tour. We travelled from the UK to Vegas in July and spent a day exploring the Hoover Dam and the Canyon which were both fantastic. Driving was easy and canyon is very well run. We did helicopter, boat and skywalk. Superb. Even drove down Route 66 on way home. 5 stars!!!!!
Review by: Tina B, August 2013
Enjoyed my day, pick up from hotel good and prompt, directions easy. Didnt enjoy not being able to take own camera onto skywalk just so that photographers wanted you to make stupid poses so that they could sell their own pictures. There was no consideration for those frightened of heights, the photos went on._br/_
The downside was not knowing that we would have to make our own way back to the hotel, another expense.
Review by: Zman, June 2013
This is the best option for doing a tour of the Grand Canyon West Rim. Taking the tour bus puts you on a defined schedule and you miss some of the great stops along the way. Booking - this was very simple and you receive all your information immediately. There were no hiccups or delays with the booking process. Rental - the driver who picked us up for the car rental was fantastic. He had great information on how to get out of Vegas and making sure to stick to the speed limit signs through Boulder City. He also recommended great places to see in Vegas with our remaining days. The driver was not only pleasant but also brought our coffee back to us as we left it in the vehicle when we went into pick up our rental. When we got to Hertz, the check in was relatively quick but we questioned what we were given as an "off-road SUV". We were assigned a Toyota RAV4??? I question whether this is really an off-road vehicle as it is a compact SUV set on a car frame. I called the tour operator and was told Hertz's response is that it is categorized as an SUV and would be fine. This is where I feel we were ripped off on this tour. We paid for an "off-raod SUV" only to be given a vehicle that has the same frame as a car. We could have rented a car in that case and saved some money. I really did expect a better SUV for the cost. Tour - Directions given were very easy to follow and it is really difficult to get lost. I know some commented on the dirt road you must take to get to the West Rim however; we did not think it was that bad. We did not do the Skywalk and did not see bad wait lines as indicated. The only wait line (45+ minutes) was for the bus from Eagle Point. I would say the only improvement that needs to be made is directions for getting back. We had a hard time finding which exit for the rental car return._br/_
The four star rating really is related to the rental. You pay a lot for this package and feel it is deceptive to give a RAV4 as an off-road SUV.
Review by: zuska.miller, June 2013
Driving to the Grand Canyon was great! A driver from Hertz picked us up at our hotel around 7 am and dropped us off at the Hertz location at the Hard Rock Hotel. We picked up a very nice SUV around 7:30 am along with our packet that included maps, literature about the Grand Canyon tour and vouchers for entrance to the Grand Canyon and lunch ticket. On our way we stopped in Boulder City at the Hacienda Hotel and Casino to get a nice big breakfast and then we were on our way. The drive was nicer than I had expected being in the desert and all. _br/_
We arrived at the Grand Canyon around 10:30 and exchanged our vouchers for tickets and boarded the shuttle bus to the 1st of 3 stops at the Canyon. Very, very organized staff. The canyon was breathtaking. You can take as long as you want on each stop since the shuttles come by every 15 minutes. WE had lunch at the last stop, an Indian ranch. We had chicken or ribs, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cornbread, cookies and a drink. Very nice atmosphere with a cowboy picking on the guitar while you eat in the air conditioned food hall. We headed back to our SUV around 2:30 and drove back towards Vegas, stopping at the Hacienda Casino on the way back to get a drink and gamble a little. Dropped our car back off at the Hotel, put the keys in the night box and we were done. It was very easy and a great way to see the Grand Canyon.
Review by: Timothy R, March 2013
The trip was great. Had a nice car. Made sure when you go to eat at the ranch! VERY GOOD and Friendly . I would NOT recommend the other two places on the list. When you get there you will see why.
Review by: Amanda D, January 2013
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.
Review by: Maria C B, November 2012
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.
Review by: Sandra J, November 2012
AMAZING The booking process was easy, the vehicle was a crossover,the tour was excellent! The only disappointment was we couldn't take the camera on the skywalk.
Review by: Lorraine25, August 2012
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.
Review by: Linda C, June 2012
We booked this trip so that we did not have the hassel of time watching as with the coaches tours. The vehicle was lovey a big 4 x 4 but if you are doing a self-drive it might be an idea to ask the following questions - Can you please run through the controls on the car it will save you time trying out all the knobs to find out what they operate (they also all seem to be automatic) also the map included with the trip did not guide you out of Las Vegas (this was also a problem getting back due to one way streets) but was fine once you found the 93 road, also double check your lift back to your hotel (if you get back out of work hours then there is no-one there at the desk, keys can be dropped off in a safe box) Our trip inclubed the Skywalk tour - you leave your vehicle at the small airport near the Skywalk then coaches take you between the 3 points in the area, they work really well here and do pick ups every 10 mins so you can stay for as long as you want at each stop (the views were breath taking and must be seen) I would use them again but would ask the extra questions and be taken to the car
Review by: Alison E, April 2012
Fantastic trip, great price, everything ran smoothly from booking on line, to dropping the car back. Couldn't have asked for a better value for money day out
Review by: Jim M, October 2011
The trip was wonderful and the view spectacular. I enjoyed the opportunity to spend as much time at one location as we wanted and not being rushed along on a pre-planned schedule. The people were great and the food at Guano Point was excellent. There was more food than I expected and it was delicious.
Review by: US Holiday, September 2011
This is the best way to go. The SUV drive yourself from Vegas allows you to be in total comfort and to get there in your own time. We did the Helicopter, Sky Walk and Boat ride as well which was great. Lunch at the ranch was also great qualtity. All booked through Viator.
Review by: MIGUEL S, June 2011
Everything was as announced, definitely will use viator again.
Review by: LYNNE E, May 2011
A good alternative to flying if you have a set budget. You can stay as long as you like and get to see a bit more of the area. The Skywalk is great so don't miss it.
Review by: Denice W, April 2011
The trip was excellent. It would have been nice to know that the road went from pavement to rough road with buffalo scattered about. The directions provided by the neverlost system were incorrect and the written directions were not much better. All-in-all, we would do it again and recommend the trip to everyone.
Review by: Pat B, February 2011
Fantastic day out. The 'off-road' experience was brilliant driving along a 14 mile stretch of unmade road. The Hertz never-lost system did exactly what it says on the tin! Would recommend to anyone who likes to drive. Huge 7-seater SUV
Review by: Stephen B, January 2011
what a great family trip, everything was made so easy the car was excellent and staff very helpful would deffinatly do again!!
Review by: Colin M, November 2010
Everything worked well. We were upgraded with the car, the gps worked great. A great day out, it even snowed for us!
Review by: LAURA T, September 2010
Excellent and very enjoyable
Review by: Anonymous, September 2009
This is was one of the best parts of the trip!
Review by: Anonymous, September 2009
Brilliant tour bit scary driving for the first time but soon got used to it, there is some amazing scenery to see on the way! The car wasn't as good as I thought, but was ok! I would highly recommend this trip but take the coach if your not confident in the drive. Top marks.
Review by: Anonymous, August 2009
Pros: Incredibly nice staff at the rental car agency. No lines at any of the Grand Canyon attractions. Skywalk was a great experience. Guano Point was good. Cons: Additional charges for gas and insurance. Buffet food at the Grand Canyon sites was not good. No pictures on the Skywalk. No GPS in vehicle. The Hummer that everyone writes about on here was not even an option.
Review by: Matt B, August 2009
Pros: Incredibly nice staff at the rental car agency. No lines at any of the Grand Canyon attractions. Skywalk was a great experience. Guano Point was good. Cons: Additional charges for gas and insurance. Buffet food at the Grand Canyon sites was not good. No pictures on the Skywalk. No GPS in vehicle. The Hummer that everyone writes about on here was not even an option.
Review by: Anonymous, July 2009
The drive to the Canyon was closer to Vegas than I thought -- only 2 1/2 hours. It was breathtaking. The helicopter ride was a blast, and the Escalade was very comfortable. Being able to schedule our own time at the stops was priceless to us! We all enjoyed the Skywalk and got some excellent photos.
Review by: Anonymous, June 2009
_strong_Note from Viator:_/strong_ Please note: Hummers are no longer offered on this tour package.
Review by: Norene G, October 2008
We are 4 girlfriends who decided to take a self-drive tour...what fun...we all shared the wheel separately I might add to drive there and back. People were friendly, canyon was easy to find. We even had the hummer over night in Vegas - how cool is that, so we decided to drive to the old Vegas Fremont experience. Would definitely recommend. I would definitely do this again, and maybe go off route and explore more. We did not see too much wild life, and would have loved more, but maybe it was the time of year Weather was coolish, so we all ended up buying the same sweatshirts....check out our pics.
Review by: Anonymous, September 2008
Everyone should book this trip! It's well worth it! My fiance and I had such a great time, with no worries since every detail was already planned. Also, having the Hummer for 24 hours allows for much more traveling and exploring.
Review by: Anonymous, July 2008
Perfect day out! This trip has lots of brilliant aspects. Firstly you have the great Hummer H2 to drive around in (at your leisure, one of my favourite points). Secondly, you get to see the amazing route of Nevada / Arizona pictured just like in the films and you get to see the Hoover Dam en-route! Thirdly, the Grand Canyon is amazing once you get there. You get three fun trips in one! The food at the Canyon ranch was like homemade and plentiful. The route is very easy too. At the Grand Canyon Ranch we got to ride horses. The morning pickup was prompt and a very nice car. The representative was also very helpful. Finally, not only do you get to do all of this, you keep the car for the entire 24 hours, so good fun driving the Strip at night. Having booked via Viator, this allows you to skip some waiting lines at the Canyon. This trip is as good as it sounds!
Review by: Anonymous, April 2008
_strong_Note from Viator:_/strong_ Thanks for your feedback. It can be tricky, but all the cars have GPS which is set for you and you can switch it to reverse direction for the trip back to Las Vegas. We will follow up with our operator and make sure that all customers are notified so that they can find their way back to Las Vegas more quickly.
Review by: Lori G, July 2007
The whole trip was wonderful! We actually skipped the buffet and did the helicopter pontoon boat ride. The staff was so warm and friendly! I'm going to recommend this to everyone!
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