Grand Canyon South Rim: 45-Minute Airplane Tour

About this tour

Get above the Grand Canyon's South Rim on a 45-minute airplane flight for the kind of wide, open view you just can't get from the ground. You'll pass over the Kaibab National Forest, the Kaibab Plateau, Imperial Point, and the Zuni Corridor, following the path the Colorado River carved over millions of years. Multilingual audio commentary plays as you fly, so you'll know what you're looking at the whole way. It's a fast, easy way to take in the sheer scale of the canyon.

Highlights

• Wide panoramic views over Mather Point, one of the canyon's most recognizable overlooks
• Walk a stretch of the Bright Angel Trail to feel the canyon's scale from inside it
• Catch the canyon changing color at sunset from Hopi Point, a top spot for dramatic light
• Visit the Yavapai Geology Museum to see how millions of years shaped the canyon's rock layers
• Stand on the West Rim Skywalk's glass floor high above the canyon (select tours only)
• See the Colorado River from rim overlooks, inner-canyon trails, or the water itself
• Take in the canyon from the air by helicopter or airplane for a whole new angle

Included / Excluded

Getting There, Hours, and What to Expect

Your flight departs from the airport near the Grand Canyon's South Rim, the most accessible part of the park and the easiest to reach year-round. If you're driving in, plan on about 4.5 to 5 hours from Las Vegas or roughly 3.5 hours from Phoenix; the West Rim is closer to Las Vegas at around 2 hours, but it sits outside the national park. Many visitors skip the driving entirely and reach the canyon by air from Las Vegas or nearby regional airports, which is the fastest way to get here on limited time. The Grand Canyon Railway also runs from Williams, Arizona, to the South Rim for a relaxed, scenic ride. Once inside the park, free shuttle buses connect the visitor centers, overlooks, and lodges, so you don't have to drive.

The national park itself is open 24 hours a day, year-round, though facilities keep their own seasonal hours. The South Rim Visitor Center runs 08:00 to 16:00 from May 23 to August 31 and 08:00 to 17:00 from September 1 to May 22. The North Rim Visitor Center is open 08:00 to 17:00, usually mid-May through mid-October and weather permitting, while the West Rim Visitor Center runs 08:00 to 19:15 with last tickets around 17:00. Most tours and activities operate between 08:00 and 18:00.

From the air you'll take in the sweep of the South Rim, with its classic overlooks like Mather Point and Yavapai Point and the historic Grand Canyon Village below. The North Rim sits higher, quieter, and more remote; the West Rim near Las Vegas is known for the Skywalk glass bridge; and the East Rim is home to the Desert View Watchtower. Far below the rim, the Colorado River winds along the canyon floor, exposing rock layers that record millions of years of geology.

Available Days / Times

• Monday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Tuesday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Wednesday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Thursday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Friday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Saturday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00
• Sunday : 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00

Last updated: Oct 22, 2026