The short answer: the shortest and cheapest tour is a half day to Red Rock Canyon or Hoover Dam, 4 to 4.5 hours. A full day is Grand Canyon West with the Skywalk, 10 to 11 hours. The splurge is the helicopter flight with a landing, 2.5 hours.
Book the South Rim only for the national park itself, and only with 12.5 hours to give. The helicopter leaves from Maverick's Las Vegas terminal; most of the rest include hotel pickup.
Prices are on each Viator page and change daily, so this page leaves them out. The fees you pay at the gate are below, with a link to each day-trip guide.
Grand Canyon West or the South Rim
The West Rim and South Rim tours go to different places. Grand Canyon West belongs to the Hualapai Tribe and is not part of the national park, which its FAQ puts 5 hours away. The drive is about 130 miles, and the $99 All-Access Pass in October 2026 included the Skywalk. Phones are fine on the glass; a camera goes in a locker.
The South Rim is the park itself, about 275 miles by road and 4.5 hours or more each way. That is why the Pink Jeep day runs 12.5 hours. Entry was $35 per car in 2026. New this year, visitors from outside the US who are 16 or over add $100 each.
From Nov. 2, 2026 to March 13, 2027, Arizona's clocks run 1 hour ahead of Las Vegas. The rims compared for drivers are on Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.
Hoover Dam
The dam is about 32 miles from the Strip. Reclamation's guided Dam Tour was $40 a person in 2026, sold only on site, first come, first served. The Power Plant Tour was $25 for adults and can be bought online; the Visitor Center alone was $15.
Tours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the last one leaves at 4:10 p.m. Reclamation says tours may be cancelled without notice, with refunds. More on Hoover Dam from Las Vegas.
Valley of Fire and Red Rock
Valley of Fire is about 57 miles out, $10 a car or $15 for a car without Nevada plates. From May 15 to Sept. 30 its best trails close for heat, among them White Domes and Fire Wave. The whole park closes Dec. 1 to 14, 2026 for maintenance.
The park also warns that Uber and Lyft riders may be stranded with no ride back; a tour solves that. See Valley of Fire.
Red Rock Canyon is 17 miles west, BLM says. The Scenic Drive is $20 a car, and from Oct. 1 to May 31 it needs a timed-entry reservation for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. entry. See Red Rock Canyon.
Antelope Canyon and Death Valley
Antelope Canyon is in Arizona, near Page, and far: the Empire Vacations listing runs 13 to 14 hours with Horseshoe Bend. It is the longest day on this list.
Death Valley is about 119 miles to Furnace Creek via Pahrump, and entry is $30 a car. The park takes no cash, and phones do not work in most areas. Summer highs can reach 130°F. MaxTour's small-group day is 10 hours. See Death Valley.
Who should not book a tour
With a rental car, Red Rock, Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire are each under 60 miles. Driving yourself costs fuel plus a $20 or $15 park fee, or the $10 garage at the dam. A tour earns its fee on the long days to the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon.
Skip a West Rim tour if the national park is what you came for. Skip Valley of Fire between Dec. 1 and 14. And skip Antelope Canyon if 14 hours on the road sounds like too much: it is. The Las Vegas guide has the rest.
The eight day trips on this page, from Red Rock Canyon next to the city to Antelope Canyon in northern Arizona.