Grand Canyon Flights

The weather was perfect for flying from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The morning was crisp. Not a cloud in the sky. We even had a decent tail wind. Our pilot welcomed us through our headsets.

"Welcome aboard," he bellowed. "Estimated flight time to Grand Canyon Airport is less than an hour. By the time we touch down, you'll have seen nearly 50 percent of the National Park!"

Really? I pulled out my guidebook. Indeed, it was true. Our flight, which also flew over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, used the Colorado River as a guide to the rim. I thought to myself, "Now that's a bonus I didn't expect!"

Lots of travelers are under the impression that you can take a helicopter direct to the National Park. Sorry, folks, but it's impossible. The rim is 270-plus miles from Vegas and out of a helicopter's range.

Your options? Bus and airplane. Deciding between them boils down to:

1. Money


2. Time

South Rim Tours

Bus is the cheapest option with prices starting at $80 per person. It's an incredible deal IF you are prepared to drive 5.5 hours (total tour duration is 15 hours). I used to relish the bus ride. Now I have a family and my time is a premium. Nowadays, I prefer the 45-minute airplane flight over.

There's another myth that the airplanes that fly this route are dinky. Truth is they hold up to 19 passengers and are incredibly robust in the air. Cabins are big and feature over-sized viewing windows, recliner-like seats, and powerful A/C. Two FAA-approved pilots fly these aircraft. Tour narration is provided over your own personal headset.

The pilot announced we'd be landing in 10 minutes. That was quick. I was just getting comfortable. I finished off my Snickers, shot off a few more pictures and admired the vastness of the Kaibab Plateau, home to the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world. We banked left. There, carved out of the forest, was the runway.

The South Rim airport is minutes from the front entrance of the Park. Landed, we began a guided tour aboard a luxury motor coach. Time at the rim ranges from two to three hours, and includes stops at the most famous viewpoints as well as time at Grand Canyon Village, a commercial hub populated with gift shops, restaurants, snack bards and museums.

Return flights to Vegas start mid-afternoon. If you booked a late morning flight, chances are you MIGHT catch a Grand Canyon sunset. It's hard to promise because as daytime gets longer during summer. As I tell my readers, expect to be back on The Strip in time for your evening reservations.

Have a GRAND day,

P.S. Seriously, when it's all said and done, the Grand Canyon South Rim flight from Vegas is the only way to go. It's cheap, fast, and you'll see way more compared to a ground-only trip. If this sounds like the flight for you, go here for this fabulous airplane tour.