I recently made the trek from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in a very long day trip to see this incredible national park. Check out everything I did to make the most of seeing the Grand Canyon in one day.

First Stop: Visitor’s Center

Whenever I visit a national park for the first time, I first stop at the Visitor’s Center to get maps, plan out my hikes, and ask a ranger for recommendations. Unfortunately when I went, the Grand Canyon Visitor’s Center was closed due to COVID, so we just did our best on our own.

Second Stop: Mather Point

This is a beautiful and accessible lookout, right by the Visitor’s Center. I recommend checking out this scenic overlook, then walking along the Rim Trail to take in more of the beautiful vista.

Third Stop: South Kaibab Trail

This is a popular trail to take you down into the canyon with some stunning views along the way. Remember that you go down first, so don’t get overly confident in your hiking ability because you’ll have to climb all the way back out. It can also get really hot, so make sure you have a hat, sunscreen, and A LOT of water. We made this a short hike and just went down to Ooh Ah point, but you can go further to Cedar Ridge or Skeleton Point.

Fourth Stop: Bright Angel Lodge and Trail

After this tough hike, you’ll want to take a break and grab a snack at the Bright Angel Lodge canteen. An ice cream sure hits the spot on a warm day and you can enjoy a cup with the spectacular canyon view. You can also check out the gift shop if you’re interested in any souvenirs. Then head down the Bright Angel trail. When we visited in early March, there was still ice and snow on the trail so we didn’t make it very far, but this is a great hiking option where you can go as far or short as you want!

Fifth Stop: Hermit Road

This was our absolute favorite part of our visit to the Grand Canyon. This road is only accessible by the shuttle, so hop on and head out to some of the most spectacular views in the entire park. Save some energy to hike between a few of the shuttle stops. This is where you can escape some of the crowds for a more secluded experience! Our favorite stop was Hopi point, but we didn’t have time to make it all the way to Hermits Rest. This is part of the park where you can get a glimpse of the sparkling Colorado River running through the canyon. Definitely make time to explore this road and the beautiful views it offers!

Sixth Stop: We Cook Pizza and Pasta

We stopped here on our way out for some much needed pizza and a quick dinner before heading back to Las Vegas. The pizza was solid and they had multiple crust options, including gluten free! Would recommend stopping here for a quick bite.