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|Updated on October 24,2024|

Have you ever wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, but couldn’t because you had no company? I understand, but traveling to the Grand Canyon is super easy nowadays. Believe me!

 

I always have the same situation where I can’t go to some places by myself, but this time, I’ve decided to look for affordable tours and give them a try, as it was the best way to see the Grand Canyon in one day solo. I chose the Grand Canyon West Rim.

 

There are several tour companies you can find on Google that offer various tours and to find the best you just need to compare the prices and other details. I like to use either “Viator” or, in most cases, “GetYourGuide” tour company as they have so many options to choose from and discounted prices most of the time. Both companies are very good. Also, if you have a cashback app such as Rakuten, you can get 4% money back to your account if you book tours with one of these companies.

How to Plan the Trip to Grand Canyon West Rim Solo

Grand Canyon  Tip #1

1. Check the Availability and Business Hours

Make sure the park is open and you can book the tour on the days of your travel first if you happen to buy tickets before you booked it.

Check Grand Canyon West Rim hours here.

Grand Canyon  Tip #2

2. Get a Confirmation of Your Trip/Tour

Also very important to make sure that you get a confirmation message after you book a tour confirming it is happening.

 

After a few bad attempts to book a tour with an unresponsive company, I had to cancel it at the last minute, and I was lucky enough to find a tour that met my needs and was available on the days of my travel.

 

I found my tour on Viator and was very surprised by the prices. If you want to pick the same tour, feel free to check their link here.

 

The tour I bought was the “Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour & Hoover Dam Photo Stop with optional Skywalk“.

 

The price was decent and included a pretty good tour package with lunch, so I am glad I selected that tour.

Grand Canyon  Tip #3

3. Decide Where to Fly

How can you get to the Grand Canyon in the first place?

 

The most popular way to get to the Grand Canyon is to fly to Las Vegas. The ticket prices depend on what time of the year you are traveling. During peak seasons, prices are often higher, while traveling during off-peak times may save you money. At the time I traveled, the tickets were very cheap. I only paid around $54 round-trip to Las Vegas from Chicago (Thursday night to Saturday afternoon) with Spirit. Las Vegas is also the ideal place for a Grand Canyon weekend trip as it is not too far from the park.

Grand Canyon Tip #4

4. Decide What Part of Grand Canyon to Visit: West, North, or South

All Grand Canyon parts are amazing and each needs its special attention. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see more than one on the same day as they are located apart from each other. So, decide right away where you will be going.

Grand Canyon Tip #5

5. Choose Where to Stay for Your Grand Canyon Vacation

There are many accommodation places you can choose from. It all depends on where you are flying to and what your budget is. If you go on a tour and fly to Las Vegas, try to stay closer to pickup locations. In that case, you can just walk everywhere.

Grand Canyon Tip #6

6. Consider Spending the Whole Day at the Grand Canyon

Do not plan any other activities on the day of the tour, as it will take the whole day.

Packing List for Grand Canyon

Planning a solo trip to the Grand Canyon is exciting, but it’s important to make sure you’re well-prepared for the adventure ahead. From unpredictable weather to the rugged terrain, packing the right essentials can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here is a list of essential items for your Grand Canyon trip.

1. Comfortable covered shoes (no flip-flops or sandals). Sneakers are the best.
2. Sunscreen
3. A Hat and sunglasses
4. Yoga pants/leggings or light pants
5. T-shirt/shirt or whatever type of top you are comfortable wearing, just make sure it is good for outdoors.
6. Plenty of water (it is very hot there)
7. Camera or phone to take pictures
8. Some cash (to tip)
9. Snacks

Where to Stay for Cheap in Las Vegas?

If you decide to fly to Las Vegas to get to the Grand Canyon, read further on how to get cheap accommodation. If you are not familiar with hotel extra charges in Las Vegas, I should tell you that even if you find cheap hotel deals, in the end, you will see the extra resort fees added to the price.

 

This is insane, especially in the case when you are not going to use any of the facilities included in the resort fees (such as pool, gym, etc.) or if you would like to use them, but they are closed for some reason.  For example, when I was there, the pools were closed, and I still had to pay the resort fees. It can’t be voided.

 

So, my point is why do you need to spend so much money on the hotel if you just going to sleep there and take a shower?!

 

I’ve decided to use my Chase travel credit card miles, to pay for the hotel.

 

Related article:

|How to travel for free with travel credit cards

 

The cheapest hotel I could find on the site of travel partners via my bank was Ellis Island Hotel Las Vegas. The fee price per night was decent (around $30) and based on the reviews, the hotel seemed very nice. I’ve actually chosen this hotel because I could just walk to my tour pickup point and I didn’t have to pay for Uber in that case. So that was good.

 

I should say that I liked the hotel. The rooms were modern and clean, and the receptionists were responsive to my needs. There is nothing fancy about this hotel, but it is close to the Strip (only a 20-30min walk) and the main hotels. Recommend it if you look for cheap accommodation in Las Vegas.

 

Do you want to make your trip to the Grand Canyon more fun? Then try an entertaining train ride to Grand Canyon, which departs daily from Williams, Arizona.

Las Vegas Hotels on a budget (under $80 per night)

• Ellis Island Hotel Las Vegas
  This hotel is within walking distance from Strip Avenue and near the airport. 

• Downtown Grand Las Vegas
  This hotel is close to the airport, Fremont street and lots of shopping stores

• Strat Hotel Las Vegas
  This hotel is located in the Strip area and the perfect for exploring around on foot

If you are interested in Grand Canyon Lodging, check out this article about the nearest hotels to the Grand Canyon West Rim

What to Know Before Visiting the Grand Canyon

 

1. The South Rim and the West Rim have completely different views. Before going to either side, make sure you pick the right one so you can fully enjoy it. I heard that both sides are worth visiting, so South Rim will be next for me. There is also a North Rim.
2. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You will have to walk a lot and there can be snakes on your way, so your body should be covered.
3. You will have to pay for the entrance if you go on your own, but if you go on a tour, the admission price is most likely to be included in the tour ticket price.
4. West Rim is closer to Las Vegas than South Rim. Also, they stop selling tickets after 4:30 pm from November to March.
5. If you do not want to walk in the Grand Canyon, you can take a helicopter tour. The price is expensive, but if you are not afraid of heights and flying between rocks, the views from the top should be amazing.
6. The Skywalk is located on the West Rim and is available for a fee. Keep in mind that taking personal pictures is not allowed there. There are professional photographers who will be taking pictures for you. Not for free, of course. Check Skywalk tickets here.
7. While you will be in the Grand Canyon, be very careful and do not walk close to the edge, as there are no protective borders at all. There are many people who died by losing control and stepping over the edge while taking selfies. BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
8. If you want to explore the Grand Canyon from the bottom, rafting is the best choice for you.
9. Another alternative way to explore the canyon is hiking.
10. As most likely it will be super hot on your visit, make sure you have plenty of water and stay hydrated.
11. Before you get to the Canyon, you will be stopped on your way to check your temperature. After that, you will be able to continue your journey. If you travel on your own or as a part of the group, you will need to leave your vehicle at the terminal station and use their shuttle.
12. If you want to spend a few days in the canyon, there is also an option to go camping.
13. Most likely there won’t be a signal for your phone (unless you have a Verizon).

Final Thoughts

Grand Canyon is beautiful at any time of the year. Keep in mind, that in the summer it is usually crowded, so if you like more quiet vacation make sure you go there off-season.

 

If you are going solo, but joining the tour, keep in mind that once you get to the Canyon, you will have your time alone. Everyone from the tour goes separately and you just leave and meet basically at a certain time by your bus.

 

Was your Grand Canyon trip planning easy? Do you have more Grand Canyon tips to add? Feel free to comment below.

 

I hope you found my How to Plan the Trip to Grand Canyon West Rim Solo post helpful. Happy Grand Canyon getaway :).

 

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