Las Vegas to The Grand Canyon: Things To See on Your Road Trip
Mother nature’s diverse handiwork appears throughout the United States. One great destination to marvel one of the finest and unique creations is The Grand Canyon. On the other side of the spectrum are the man made wonders of Las Vegas.
If you are visiting Las Vegas you can easily go on a road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, or vice versa. Did you know that it takes only
four hours 24 minutes to drive from Vegas? It is a total of
275 miles and the fastest way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon is through
US 93, Interstate 40 and Arizona State Highway 64 to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Here are three major attractions you can stop by on your road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon:
One: Hoover Dam
Located 33 miles southeast of Las Vegas, Hoover Dam is a historic landmark, the world largest dam and is filled with 3.25 million cubic yards of concrete, enough to a pave a strip from New York City to San Francisco (16 feet wide and 8 inches thick).
The dam was named after the nation’s 31st president, Herbert Hoover. In the 1930s, the president saw a need to supply water to the dry land of the Southwest and also to provide power to that area.
Tourists get to see the immense hydroelectric generators, elegant Art Deco designs in the dam’s four towers, spillways and power plant. Lake Mead created after damming part of the Colorado River offers fishing, boating, houseboating, waterskiing, swimming and camping. The dam also launched a paddle craft trip that takes visitors on the Colorado River.
For more information, prices and hours of operation, please visit Travel Nevada
website.
Two: Kingman Arizona
Kingman is also known as The Heart of Historic Route 66 because it is the launching point for Route 66. Located on Interstate 40, Kingman is
103 miles from Las Vegas and
174 miles from the Grand Canyon. It is about halfway to the Grand Canyon and a great place for a meal.
Family members of all ages can visit a full operating alpaca ranch in Kingman. Please check their
website for operating hours and availability.
Three: Williams, Arizona
Williams is also known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon” and is located
59 miles from the Grand Canyon. William was the last town on the Historic Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40 (Source:
City of Williams). The town was founded in 1881 by the famous trapper, scout and mountain man named “Old Bill Williams.” Let the town of Williams take you back to the heyday years of the 50s and 60s.
If you are a train enthusiast, you may want to park your car at Williams
train station and travel the rest of the way by train to the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon Railway’s first journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon was taken in 1901. You will be learning a piece of history, taking a trip back in time and learn the path taken by your parents or grandparents to America’s most recognized landmark, the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon
According to
The National Park Service, the Grand Canyon attracts about five million visitors per year. It is divided into the South Rim and North Rim. The South Rim is the most accessible and is open all year. When you take your road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, you will easily get to the South Rim.
The South Rim averages about 7,000 feet above sea level. The North Rim, which is about 10 miles away, is smaller and is directly across from the South Rim. It is closed from late October to mid May and is less accessible.
Whether you plan to take a road trip in winter, spring, summer or fall, your road trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon awaits you in every month of the year. Planning your trip has never been easier. Use Travelmath’s calculators to help you with driving time, cost of driving and driving distance.
