This article compares the best Grand Canyon bus tours from Las Vegas to help you find the perfect tour for you. There are so many to choose from, so I’ve made it easier to understand the differences to save you time when deciding which tour to choose.
After taking a bus tour myself, I created a list of the best West Rim and South Rim tours, starting with my top pick, followed by other favorites listed by price from lowest to highest.
My list is also divided into group tours (for up to 60 people) and private or small group tours (for up to 15 people).
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West Rim or South Rim?
The West Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon are both reachable on a day trip from Las Vegas. However, there are several important differences you must consider when choosing which one to visit.
Distance from Las Vegas
- West Rim is 130 miles (210 km) away
- South Rim is 280 miles (450 km) away
Bus tour duration
- West Rim bus tours last from 7 to 12 hours
- South Rim bus tours last from 14 to 16 hours
On-site activities
- West Rim has the Skywalk, ziplining and more helicopter tour options
- South Rim has more viewpoints and hiking trails
Jurisdictions
- The Hualapai Tribe operates the West Rim’s attractions and services, which are not part of the Grand Canyon National Park system
- The National Park Service runs all the attractions and services on the South Rim, which is part of the U.S. National Park system
Neither rim will disappoint you. I suggest going to the South Rim if you want the most iconic views of the Grand Canyon and an authentic national park experience.
Visit the West Rim if you’re craving more of an adrenaline rush—whether by traversing the Skywalk, zooming across a ravine on a zipline, or landing on the canyon floor during a helicopter ride.
Read also Grand Canyon Tours from Las Vegas: a FULL Comparison guide 2024.
Best Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tours
GROUP TOURS
TourScanner Top Pick: Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour & Hoover Dam with Comedy on Deck Tours
This bus tour from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim not only provides a separate driver and guide but also makes sure to keep you laughing while you’re learning about the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. No wonder it has received an overwhelming number of 5-star reviews from travelers and the Viator Experience Award in 2023.
Why I recommend this tour: Highest rated by travelers, Best value for money
Operator: Comedy On Deck Tours
Highlights: Hot breakfast and BBQ lunch at the Canyon, Hoover Dam stop
Price: $165 from mid-March to mid-September
Discounts: $99 on Sundays or $155 Monday to Saturday from mid-September to mid-March
Add-ons: Skywalk (+$30), 45-minute helicopter ride (+$282.50)
Duration: 10.5 hours
Route: Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West Rim
See also Grand Canyon Skywalk Tickets Price.
Grand Canyon National Park West Rim Tour with National Park Express
National Park Express offers stiff competition to the next tour on the list. With four hours at the Grand Canyon at about the same price, the main difference comes down to the available add-on features.
Why I recommend this tour: Low price
Operator: National Park Express
Highlights: Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch included, Hoover Dam stop
Price: $139
Add-ons: Helicopter & boat tour (+$400), helicopter, boat tour & Skywalk (+$435)
Duration: 10 hours
Route: Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West Rim, Hoover Dam, Boulder City
Grand Canyon West Bus Tour with Hoover Dam by Gray Line
If you plan to travel from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, this bus tour is most often your most affordable option. On select Fridays and most Saturdays and Sundays, you can enjoy a substantial discount on the tour price. See below for more details.
Why I recommend this tour: Cheapest option on certain dates, Most add-on experiences
Operator: Gray Line Las Vegas
Highlights: Breakfast and lunch included, Hoover Dam stop
Price: From $163
Discounts: From $89 on select Fridays, From $129 on most Saturdays and Sundays
Add-ons: Walking tour guide (+$20), Skywalk (+$30), a helicopter ride with 20-minute landing at Grand Canyon base (+$330), Skywalk + helicopter ride (+$365)
Duration: 12 hours
Route: Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West Rim
Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon West Rim by Canyon Tours
Besides the low price and multi-lingual audio guide, a key feature that sets this tour apart is that you’ll have a total of four hours at the Grand Canyon West Rim, instead of only three hours like most of the bus tours.
Why I recommend this tour: Low price, Multi-lingual narration available on helicopter tours
Operator: Canyon Tours
Highlights: Hotel pickup and drop-off, four hours at the Grand Canyon, lunch included, dinner stop on Route 66 (meal not included)
Price: $140
Discounts: $114 (if booked early in advance)
Add-ons: Skywalk and lunch (+$55), helicopter tour (+$220)
Duration: 11 hours
Route: Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge (photo stop), Joshua Tree Forest, Grand Canyon West Rim
SMALL GROUP AND PRIVATE TOURS
TourScanner Top Pick: Grand Canyon West Rim in a Tour Trekker by Pink Jeep Tours
Get ready to settle in for a comfy ride with Pink Jeep Tours. Their custom-built SUVs, or Tour Trekkers, are decked out with plush leather seats and extra-large viewing windows to ensure you don’t miss any of the gorgeous views on your road trip to the Grand Canyon.
Why I recommend this tour: Ultimate comfort, Only tour with a Hoover Dam guided visit
Operator: Pink Jeep Tours
Highlights: Maximum 10 people, luxury SUV transport, lunch included
Price: $340
Discounts: $315 for children 3-12 years old
Add-ons: Hoover Dam guided tour (+$40)
Duration: 9 hours
Route: Grand Canyon West Rim, Hoover Dam
Small Group Tour of Grand Canyon West and Hoover Dam with iTravel USA
If you’re pressed for time and want to be back in Las Vegas before nightfall, this tour is for you. You’ll stop at the Hoover Dam on the way there and Joshua Tree Forest on the way back, all while your driver-guide snaps plenty of photos of your group to be later shared with you digitally.
Why I recommend this tour: Shorter roundtrip, Only tour with photo service
Operator: iTravel USA
Highlights: Maximum 15 people, free photo service, hop-on hop-off shuttle bus at the canyon, boxed lunch
Price: $199 per person (group of 6 or less), $195 per person (group of 7 or more)
Add-ons: Skywalk, helicopter trip, or boat ride (must be booked separately)
Duration: 9 hours
Route: Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West Rim, Joshua Tree Forest
Small Group Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Grand Canyon Destinations
This tour is perfect for you if you appreciate the full attention of a tour guide. Unlike most tours that provide one person to be your driver and guide, here you’ll have the luxury of a guide who can focus completely on your group.
Why I recommend this tour: Separate tour guide and driver, Only tour with a dinner stop
Operator: Grand Canyon Destinations
Highlights: Maximum 13 people, a light breakfast snack, boxed lunch and 30-minute dinner stop
Price: $214
Add-ons: Skywalk (+$33), hot breakfast (+$20), City Lights helicopter tour (book directly with the tour operator)
Duration: 11 hours
Route: Grand Canyon West Rim, pass by the Hoover Dam (no stop)
Grand Canyon West Rim Small-Group or Private Tour with Adventure Photo Tours
This option from Adventure Photo Tours allows you to choose to join a small group tour limited to 14 people or upgrade to a private tour for up to 10 people. For the ultimate experience, add on a helicopter ride to the base of the canyon, available for small group and private tours.
Why I recommend this tour: Highly rated by travelers, SUV or luxury van transport
Operator: Adventure Photo Tours
Highlights: Maximum 14 people, breakfast and lunch included
Price: $278 per person to join a small group tour. Private tours range from $360 per person (10 people) to $840 per person (2 people).
Add-ons: Small group helicopter ride (+$232). Private helicopter tour ranges from $320 per person (10 people) to $805 per person (2 people). Skywalk can be booked separately.
Duration: 11 hours
Route: Hoover Dam, Joshua Tree National Forest, Grand Canyon West Rim
Grand Canyon West Rim All-Inclusive Private SUV Tour From Las Vegas
If you’re looking for exclusivity and efficiency, this private tour promises to have you back in Las Vegas by 2 PM while still giving you plenty of time to relax at Lake Mead and take in the sights of the Grand Canyon. Please note that this tour does not include a stop at the Hoover Dam.
Why I recommend this tour: Fastest roundtrip, Only tour with a stop at Lake Mead
Operator: Vegas to Hollywood Tourz
Highlights: Private group, continental breakfast and full lunch included, stop at Lake Mead
Price: $499
Duration: 7-8 hours
Route: Lake Mead, Grand Canyon West Rim
Private Grand Canyon West Rim & Hoover Dam Tour with Comedy on Deck Tours
If you know what you want and when you want it, this is the option for you. This private tour is fully customizable, which means you can add or remove stops and choose to spend more or less time on any of the activities.
Why I recommend this tour: Fully-customizable tour, Best value for money for larger groups
Operator: Comedy on Deck Tours
Highlights: Private group, breakfast and lunch included, stop at Hoover Dam, route flexibility
Price: Depends on group size and ranges from $225 per person (15 people) to $1,265 per person (2 people)
Duration: 9.5 hours
Route: Las Vegas sign, Grand Canyon West Rim, Hoover Dam
Best Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tours
GROUP TOURS
TourScanner Top Pick: Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour with Grand Canyon Destinations
Besides its high rating and affordable price, this group tour by Grand Canyon Destinations also stops in Seligman, known as the home of Route 66. Another excellent perk of this Grand Canyon bus tour is that you’ll have a separate guide and driver, so you can rest assured that you’ll be safe and well-informed throughout the journey.
Why I recommend this tour: Highest rated by travelers, Best value for money
Operator: Grand Canyon Destinations
Highlights: Time for free exploration, separate guide and driver, boxed lunch included, dinner stop (meal not included)
Price: $114
Discounts: $99 on Saturdays year-round
Add-ons: Hot breakfast (+$20)
Duration: 15 to 16 hours
Route: Boulder City, Kingman, Seligman, Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park South Rim Tour with National Park Express
If you’re looking for a bare-bones tour without any add-ons or extra amenities, the National Park Express tour is the way to go. It’ll get you to the South Rim and back, but the traveler ratings reveal that not everyone was completely satisfied with their experience.
Why I recommend this tour: Lowest price
Operator: National Park Express
Highlights: Drop-off only at Excalibur, Horseshoe and Treasure Island, lunch included, dinner stop at Kingman on Route 66 (meal not included)
Price: $99
Discounts: $79 from mid-September to mid-May
Duration: 14 hours
Route: Hoover Dam (pass by), Kingman, Grand Canyon South Rim, Kingman
Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour from Las Vegas with Gray Line
With the only group tour stopping at the National Geographic Visitor Center, this is your chance to preview your visit to the Grand Canyon with a movie on the grandest of screens — IMAX. With 12,000 watts of sound and a screen six stories high, you’ll feel like an eagle soaring through the sky as you immerse yourself in the award-winning Grand Canyon: Rivers of Time.
Why I recommend this tour: Most add-ons, Only tour that stops at the National Geographic Visitor Center
Operator: Gray Line Las Vegas
Highlights: hotel pickup and drop-off, stop at the National Geographic Visitor Center, hot or boxed lunch included (depending on add-ons), dinner stop (meal not included)
Price: $121
Add-ons: IMAX film (+$19), 2-hour Hummer tour (+$139), 25-minute helicopter ride (+$305)
Duration: 14 hours
Route: National Geographic Visitor Center, Grand Canyon South Rim, Kingman
Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon South Rim by Canyon Tours
If you book this tour early enough in advance, you can secure one of the lowest prices available for a Grand Canyon South Rim bus tour. This is also one of the few tours that offers an audio guide in different languages.
Why I recommend this tour: Low price, Multi-lingual narration available on helicopter tours
Operator: Canyon Tours
Highlights: Hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch included, dinner stop on Route 66 (meal not included)
Price: $100 (if booked early in advance)
Add-ons: IMAX film (+$15), 2-hour Hummer tour (+$135), helicopter tour (+$250)
Duration: 14 hours
Route: Hoover Dam (pass by), Grand Canyon South Rim, Kingman
SMALL GROUP AND PRIVATE TOURS
TourScanner Top Pick: Grand Canyon South Rim, Hoover Dam and Route 66 with Top Canyon Tours
You’ll find nothing but rave reviews about this small group tour by Top Canyon Tours to the three must-see attractions — the South Rim, Hoover Dam and Route 66. If you’re traveling with children, you’ll even save a few bucks as this is one of the only tours offering a discount for younger travelers.
Why I recommend this tour: Highest rated small group tour, Child discount
Operator: Top Canyon Tours
Highlights: Maximum 12 people, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch included, Hoover Dam stop
Price: $209
Discounts: $199 for children 5-17 years old
Duration: 14 hours
Route: Grand Canyon South Rim, Seligman, Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon South Rim Small Group Tour with Grand Canyon Destinations
If you’re looking for the lowest-priced small group tour to the South Rim, this is your tour. Grand Canyon Destinations may not have as high reviews as my top pick, but travelers are overwhelmingly satisfied with this experience, which includes breakfast and dinner stops in Boulder City.
Why I recommend this tour: Best value for money, Hot breakfast option
Operator: Grand Canyon Destinations
Highlights: Maximum 14 people, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch included, dinner stop (at own expense)
Price: $185
Add-ons: Hot breakfast (+$20)
Duration: 15 hours
Route: Boulder City (breakfast), Seligman (pass by), Grand Canyon South Rim, Boulder City (dinner)
Private Grand Canyon South Rim Sunset Tour from Las Vegas with Fun Group
If you prefer sleeping in a little more while on vacation, this is the tour for you. Depending on the season, pickup times are at 7 AM, 8:15 AM, or as late as 10:30 AM in the summer. This is possible because instead of returning to Las Vegas around sunset like most tours, you get to experience that golden hour at the Grand Canyon instead. A truly remarkable and exclusive experience.
Why I recommend this tour: Best South Rim private tour, Only Sunset Tour
Operator: Fun Group
Highlights: Private group, Grand Canyon sunset tour, hotel pickup and drop-off
Price: Depends on group size and ranges from $103 per person (12 people) to $475 per person (2 people)
Duration: 14 hours
Route: Kingman, Seligman, Hoover Dam (if requested), Grand Canyon South Rim
Travel Tips
- Most bus tours are stroller and wheelchair friendly. However, the South Rim has more paved paths, which makes it more suitable for those with mobility issues.
- Most tours allow children of all ages. However, some tours have age restrictions of up to six years old, so be sure to confirm this before booking.
- Most bus tours have restrooms onboard and/or stop for bathroom breaks every hour.
- Only small backpacks are allowed due to safety concerns and limited storage space.
- Pets are forbidden. Only service animals are allowed on Grand Canyon bus tours.
Visiting the West Rim
No Selfies Allowed on the Skywalk
All personal items must be stored in a locker beforehand, so you won’t be able to sneak your phone out for a selfie. However, after your Skywalk experience, you’ll receive a card with all the photos taken of your group available for purchase, in print or digital.
Buy Attraction Tickets in Advance
Although it’s possible to buy on-site tickets for the Skywalk and other West Rim attractions, most have limited availability and will sell out during the high season. I recommend booking online in advance with the tour provider to avoid the disappointment of sold-out tickets.
Check Zipline Height & Weight Limits
There is no minimum age for the zipline, but you must be at least 4 feet tall (1.22 meters) and weigh from 90 lbs to 265 lbs (40 kg to 120 kg).
Watch What You Wear
The West Rim has a dress code policy to maintain a family-friendly environment. Be aware that shirt and shoes are required at all times. Also, you can’t wear clothes that are too revealing or with offensive language or images.
Visiting the South Rim
Take Advantage of the Free Shuttle Bus
The South Rim has a free shuttle bus service. I recommend using it if you want to travel more quickly to the next viewpoint. The routes and times change throughout the year, so make sure to check the official National Park Service website for updated information.
Walk the Trail of Time
Between the Yavapai Geology Museum and the Grand Canyon Village, you can walk the paved Trail of Time, on which each meter represents a million years of history.
I found this trail both beautiful and insightful. It was fun to learn about how the Grand Canyon was created over billions of years while stopping at viewpoints to appreciate the result.
Cool Down at the Visitor Center
If you need a break from the heat, you can catch the 20-minute film, Grand Canyon: A Journey of Wonder, which plays every 30 minutes at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center.
Download the Free National Park Service App
The NPS App is a great tool to create your own self-guided tour of the South Rim. I used it while on the bus to the Grand Canyon to start planning the perfect route around the rim.
Read also How to Get From Las Vegas to Grand Canyon.