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Day Trip - The Grand Canyon from Las Vegas

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The Grand Canyon:

The Grand Canyon is visited by approximately 5 million people each year. The park consists of 277 miles of the Colorado River and its massive erosional effects on the surrounding landscape. The Grand Canyon can be enjoyed from either the south or the north rims.

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The Southwest of the US is a vast and beautiful place to explore and Las Vegas is the perfect place to use as your base of adventure. Check out more National Parks less than a day ride from Las Vegas

Getting to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas:

The Grand Canyon is located about 250 miles from Las Vegas. Taking highway 93 south from Las Vegas to Interstate 40 east to highway 64. The trip takes about 4 1/2 hours and takes you right over Hoover Dam.

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What to do at the Grand Canyon?:

Visit Grand Canyon Village to get oriented with the National Park. The visitors center is located in the village and offers lectures, videos and rangers to assist you. From the Village you can get on the Bright Angel Trail which will take you to the bottom of the canyon. You should realize that it is a good 9 miles to the bottom. Looking for a deal on tours and activities, compare prices on Viator.com

East Rim of the Grand Canyon Drive:

The drive along the East Rim takes you past Yaki point, Grandview Point and gets you to the Tusayan Ruin Museum. It is a 25 mile drive that will give you a good look at some ruins of a population of pueblo Indians that lived in this location around the 13th century. You can witness the widest point in the canyon as well as buy Native American artifacts on the drive.

Tours:

There are numerous tour groups out of Las Vegas that lead trips to the Grand Canyon. Take a look at the "off the strip" page to get an idea of what is offered.

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Rent a car to the Grand Canyon:

See a map of the Grand Canyon:

Need a Las Vegas vacation? Check room prices before you book. A little research could save you a lot of money. If you are looking for a package deal to Las Vegas make sure to check more than one place for the best deal.

Why go to the Grand Canyon?:

I have talked to people who have said that the drive was well worth it. In a few hours drive you can see a very large hole in the ground. You drive directly over the Hoover Dam and take a very scenic route through the desert. While I do not advise getting there and then attempting to hike to the bottom of the canyon, you can take a brisk walk about a quarter of the way down and take in the great views of the expansive canyon.

If you have an extra day and you want to see a national landmark this is a good trip. The summer time will bring the crowds and pleasant temperatures. Peak season is May through November.

The Grand Canyon is a geologist dream, where rock that is a billion years old is exposed through weathering and erosion.

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