Grand Canyon, car??

[Huggyd]

I was wondering if someone could give me an idea of cost for renting a car in vegas for the day to go see the grand canyon?
I know in 2009 when I was there with a group of friends we rented a van and split the cost, I also know when my friend check his master card after we got home, there were some added costs that were charged.
The wife would like to see the grand canyon and I told her that even for the closest rim was still like a 4hour drive with nothing around, but she is ok with that, and I'm wondering about the cost.

[artedm]

On the grand canyon
The South Rim is the classic Grand Caynon views.
You can take a bus tour to the South Rim for $80 a person flat including all taxes/fees and you get a free sit down buffet lunch.
It takes all day you leave early in the morning and get back to vegas around 9pm.

On driving- you can rent a car without insurance for around $25 a day.
The admission fee for the car is $25
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisi...servations.htm
Gas 500 miles/30 mpg=17 gallons x $3.5 per gallon= $60+ for gas
around $110+ some food

The West Rim is way more expensive around $45 a person up to $88 a person if you want to do the skywalk.

You can do helicopter rides and plane flyovers but they run like $250 a person and I have heard most of they are very quick- in that you look and see it and then start heading back.

[Huggyd]

Really, good post artedm... thanks
Its the west rim that is the closest right?
But the drive time was less then half, is there a bus tour for the west rim that leaves from the strip?
Its going to be a toss up for me, drive or take a tour.
From the sounds of it the tour makes for a long day. When I went to the grand canyon (west rim, I think) with the group of frinends in the van we left at at ~6:00am and we were back at ~8:00pm we were able to stop at the Dam for about 1hour for pictures and wonder around then back on the road. It made for a long day but enjoyable, ALOT of time on the road!!

[artedm]

West Rim Bus tour $100 each
Leave 6:30 AM and return to Las Vegas at about 5:00 PM.
http://www.grandcanyontours.com/indian.htm

West Rim Bus tour with Skywalk $139.99 each
Leave 6:30 AM and return to Las Vegas at about 5:00 PM.
http://www.grandcanyontours.com/skywalkbus.html

South Rim Bus Tour $80 each
Leave 6:30 AM and return to Las Vegas at about 9:30 PM.
http://www.grandcanyontours.com/bussouth.html

I would do South Rim.

[Huggyd]

Thanks I shall take a look at that web address and talk to the little lady see what she says.
Have any of you done this South Rim tour?
Even better, done the car rental and can compair that to doing the tour.

[artedm]

I have done this south rim tour.
When I was deciding between South vs West
The reviews I read said the South is the main grand canyon views- Mather Point.
Also the South is run by the government/park service and the West is Indian.
The Indian's running the west rim- the reviews said are really greedy charging for everything- parking, admission fee and they don't let you take pictures from the skywalk.

I thought about the car but if your one or two people the tour might cheaper if you are over three then drive might be cheaper.
Plus I wanted to rest on the drive not have to worry about the drive.

[danmac]

Has anyone visited the grand canyon via both car and helicopter? If so, what's your preference on the best method of travel?

[madstu]

Last year a group of 4 of us wanted to see the Grand Canyon whilst we were in Vegas. 3 of us drove and the other took a helicopter tour. The guy who took the helicopter had to be up really early, whilst the rest of us had a few extra hours sleep. He was back during the middle of the day, whilst it was dark by the time we got back to the strip. He got a much better view of the canyon from the air and got to see it from the rim as well, but he paid more for it.

Overall, if I was to do it again I personally would take the helicopter. He seemed to enjoy it that much more than we did.