If you are visiting Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a must-see attraction. Tickets to the Glass Bridge average about $25 per person. However, depending on how you get to the Bridge, there are additional costs that you need to be aware. Here are the most common:
Parking Fee
Grand Canyon West is located 120 miles east of Las Vegas. The last 15 miles are over a rough, dirt road. High-clearance vehicles are recommended. There’s a car park at the end of the road. Cost to park: $20
Park Entrance Fee
The Skywalk is on Hualapai Indian tribal land. To access it, you will be required to buy a permit, known as the Legacy Pass:
- Adults: $43.05
- Kids (3-11 years): $35.03
- Senior/Military: $39.85
The Pass includes unlimited shuttle bus use, which stops at the Skywalk, Eagle Point, Guano Point, and Hualapai Ranch.
Grand Canyon Skywalk Tickets
Currently, tickets to the Skywalk are:
- Adults: $29.95
- Kids (3-11 years): $22.46
- Senior/Military: $26.96
This entitles you to unlimited one-day access to the Bridge.
Photos
You are not allowed to bring any personal electronics onto the Skywalk, including digital cameras, cell phones, and digital video recorders. Professional photographers are on the scene to snap photos of you. Cost per photo is $30. Quality? Professional.
Lockers
Secure lockers for your personal belongings are $3.
Fuel Surcharges
This fee was added to bus and helicopter tours during the spike in gas prices in 2008. Most companies have waived it. Make sure to read the fine print.
The Real Cost
No matter how you slice it, your base cost to visit Grand Canyon Skywalk as an adult is:
Park Entrance Fee: $43.05 Skywalk Ticket: $29.95 Total: $73
If you rent a car, add the following costs:
Rental Car (one day, Sport Utility Vehicle): $60 Gas (full tank): $50 Parking: $20 Total: $130
Many people opt to take a bus or helicopter tour from Las Vegas to the Skywalk. Bus tours start at $95 (includes lunch, park entrance fee) and require you to only pay for your Skywalk ticket. Helicopter tours begin at $350 and include VIP admission to the Bridge and park entrance fee. Bus tours take a full day; helicopters require half a day. Most of these tours can be upgraded to include, among other things, a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon or a pontoon boat cruise on the Colorado River.
Skywalk Quick Facts
More than a million people have experienced the Glass Bridge since it opened in 2007. The structure extends 70 feet beyond the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, suspending the visitor some 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. The Bridge can support more than 800 people at one time, but maximum occupancy is 120 people. Drive time from Las Vegas takes about 2.5 hours; helicopter flight time is 45 minutes. No digital cameras are allowed in order to prevent chipping of the structure’s glass panels.
Wrap UP
Purchasing a ticket to see the Grand Canyon Skywalk is a straightforward affair. It’s how you choose to get to the Glass Bridge where you have to do your homework. Using a rental car has its own set of unique costs (car rental, gas, parking, etc.). Same goes for taking a bus or helicopter tour from Las Vegas. Pick the one that fits your travel budget the best. Then make your way to the Skywalk, one of Las Vegas’ most popular day trips and attractions.