Get to the Grand Canyon Skywalk at opening time, and you can beat the crowds on the tour buses from Las Vegas. So set your alarm early
- To skip the explanation and just book your Grand Canyon Skywalk tickets, head here.
What is the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
Since opening in 2007, the Grand Canyon Skywalk has become a hugely popular way to see the Grand Canyon. This semi-circular, glass-bottomed, cantilevered platforms juts out above the canyon, 4,000ft above the Colorado River, although it is less scary than you might imagine.
Where is the Grand Canyon Skywalk?
The Grand Canyon Skywalk is at Eagle Point in Grand Canyon West. Note that this is not part of Grand Canyon National Park, and is a 239 mile drive from the most popular section of the canyon at Grand Canyon South.
Distance from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West
Perhaps more importantly, Grand Canyon West is much closer to Las Vegas than Grand Canyon South. The distance from Las Vegas to Grand Canyon West is 125 miles, with a driving time of just over two hours.
This makes Grand Canyon West immensely popular with day-trippers from Las Vegas. And if you want to get photos at the Grand Canyon Skywalk without having to avoid dozens of other people, you need to know how the day tours work.
When do Grand Canyon West tours start?
Pick-ups from Las Vegas hotels on these Grand Canyon West tours start at around 6.20am. There are often several pick-ups involved, and some of the tours stop for breakfast and a photo stop at the Hoover Dam before reaching Grand Canyon West.
The tour buses, therefore, start arriving in earnest at Grand Canyon West from about 10am onwards.
When does the Grand Canyon Skywalk open?
Grand Canyon West – and the Grand Canyon Skywalk – opens at 8am every day. Therefore the best time to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk is between 8am and 10am every day. Getting there early means you beat both the crowds and the worst of the heat.
When to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk
If you have your own car, therefore, the best plan is to leave Las Vegas at about 6am. Prebook your Grand Canyon West admission and Skywalk entry, and you can avoid queuing for tickets once there.
Even better, you can stay in the Cabins at Grand Canyon West, and just saunter over for the 8am opening time.
More Las Vegas articles
Other articles about Las Vegas on Planet Whitley include:
- Which is the best Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show for children?
- My number one Las Vegas tip.
- Which hotels are on the Las Vegas Monorail?
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you book using them, I will receive a small commission, which doesn’t cost you any extra.
