Hermit Road
Hermit Road
4.5
About
This 8-mile stretch of road boasts a number of stunning views of the Canyon. Do it by car, foot or during peak season, May to September, by bus: shuttles run by the Park Service that stop at key points and allow you to hop on and off at your leisure.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience Hermit Road and nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
16 within 5 kms
Attractions
44 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
181 reviews
Excellent
130
Very good
33
Average
6
Poor
6
Terrible
6
Lisamarie L
Madison, WI926 contributions
Aug 2021
This was a great way for us to see a decent amount of the Grand Canyon (South Rim, specifically) with our kids and parents - there are several really great lookouts that don't require a lot of walking/hiking (although there are also trails and you can even walk the Rim trail if you want) and the shuttles were really convenient and we never felt like we had to wait too long for one.
In terms of COVID precautions they never felt too crowded, masking was well enforced and we also brought N95s to be extra cautious for the sake of our kids.
We stopped at all the lookouts, although favorites were Mojave Point and the Abyss. Monument Creek Vista and Pima Point were nice too! There's a nice gift shop/snack bar at Hermits Rest at the end, and then from there it's a quick shuttle ride back to the central transfer area.
A few of the stops have bathrooms, but not all. Also make sure to bring plenty of water. You will probably spend 3 hours accounting for stops (maybe less if you do it really quickly but we spent longer than we thought on it)
In terms of COVID precautions they never felt too crowded, masking was well enforced and we also brought N95s to be extra cautious for the sake of our kids.
We stopped at all the lookouts, although favorites were Mojave Point and the Abyss. Monument Creek Vista and Pima Point were nice too! There's a nice gift shop/snack bar at Hermits Rest at the end, and then from there it's a quick shuttle ride back to the central transfer area.
A few of the stops have bathrooms, but not all. Also make sure to bring plenty of water. You will probably spend 3 hours accounting for stops (maybe less if you do it really quickly but we spent longer than we thought on it)
Written 26 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BKC
86 contributions
May 2023 • Family
This was a great experience. The views were stunning. It was easy to hop on and off the shuttle buses. It was about 10-15 minutes between buses: enough time to take in the views, get some pictures, and be ready to go on to the next stop. I would suggest riding all the way to the end, and then stopping at some sites on the way back because the buses are not as full near the end of the route. The only bad part was trying to find a place to park at the village.
Written 15 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MAB
23 contributions
Nov 2022
We were at the south rim the end of November while the shuttle busses were still in operation. Vehicles aren't allowed on Hermit Road other than the free buses, so its a great place for walking or biking. There are several wonderful vistas for pictures and hiking for the adventuresome. Its about an 80 minute ride which allows for about 10 minutes at 2 or 3 of the stops. The buses come every 10 minutes so you came jump on and off and stay as long as you like. There are washroom facilities at 2 of the stops but bring your own snacks.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
OnTheRoadAgain8180
Gardiner, ME408 contributions
June 2022
We loved every part of the Hermit Road, even the easy on/easy off shuttle that comes around every 10 minutes. We went to most of the stops on the road, walking between several of the closer ones early on and then jumping back on when we wanted to. Maricopa and Pima were a couple of our favorites, but they were all beautiful. A couple of the shuttle drivers we had didn't offer much in the way of personality, and one was downright rude. However, our ride back from Hermit's Rest was the best with Kelli - very personable and offering up a lot of local insight.
Written 26 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa S
Indianapolis, IN118 contributions
Feb 2021 • Couples
Visiting the Grand Canyon south rim, but not wanting to hike any trails? Then Hermit Road is a good choice. There are many stops along the way each giving you a slightly different view of the canyon each time. Take the road all the way ending at Hermit’s Rest. There are restrooms and a nice little gift shop there.
Written 23 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
404HappyTraveller
Saskatchewan, Canada481 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Outstanding view, no matter where you look from. It’s the Grand Canyon, so not much point going on about the incredible views, as what more can you say. The park shuttle bus system works very very well. It took a few buses to clear up the crowd at the terminal point , but it was flawless after that - the ultimate hop off hop on. Spend as much time as you like at each viewpoint, then catch the next bus to the next viewpoint. Congratulations to whoever came up with that system.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CinColo
Denver, CO134 contributions
Aug 2020
The road was blocked off when we were there August 21st. I didn't notice it on the website, but the lodge employee nearby confirmed it was, and the only way to access it was on foot or bicycle. I'm still giving it 5 because I'm certain it would have been as nice as everyone else says.
Written 31 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcus L
4 contributions
This review is not specifically about the West Rim Drive, but rather about how you can make a day trip to the West Rim from Las Vegas. The West Rim is the most feasible way to see the Grand Canyon in a day (about 3hrs’ drive one-way) if you are staying at Las Vegas since the drive to the South Rim is a daunting 5+ hrs one-way.
Although I’ve never been to the South Rim, I must say that the views at the West Rim are truly spectacular (see attached photos). Anyhow, for those of you who are interested, here is how to get there from Las Vegas:
Go Southeast on US 93 heading to Kingman, Arizona. Take the Dolan Springs exit (near mile post 42) on to Pearce Ferry Road (29 miles) then turn right at a Grand Canyon West sign onto Diamond Bar Road (21 miles but is unpaved for the first 14 miles) before reaching the airport at Hualapai reservation.
At the airport office, you can purchase a variety of packages that include all forms of transportation from bus to plane to helicopter. I went on the bus tour which cost around $29. There are 2 stops on the bus route and you get to stay for as long as you want at each stop as buses come by every 15 minutes. There is a package with lunch included at one stop for $12, but looking at the food, you’d probably be better off packing a picnic.
I really enjoyed the West Rim and it was well worth the effort trying to figure out how to get there. It is arguably less crowded than the more well-known South Rim and allows the traveler on a tight schedule to experience the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon. The 14 miles of unpaved road may seem treacherous on paper, but so long as the weather is dry (and it often is), a regular car would easily be able to make it through that stretch (no need for any 4WD vehicles).
Note: From now till 2008, there is some construction going on near Hoover Dam so there may be some delays on the return trip.
Although I’ve never been to the South Rim, I must say that the views at the West Rim are truly spectacular (see attached photos). Anyhow, for those of you who are interested, here is how to get there from Las Vegas:
Go Southeast on US 93 heading to Kingman, Arizona. Take the Dolan Springs exit (near mile post 42) on to Pearce Ferry Road (29 miles) then turn right at a Grand Canyon West sign onto Diamond Bar Road (21 miles but is unpaved for the first 14 miles) before reaching the airport at Hualapai reservation.
At the airport office, you can purchase a variety of packages that include all forms of transportation from bus to plane to helicopter. I went on the bus tour which cost around $29. There are 2 stops on the bus route and you get to stay for as long as you want at each stop as buses come by every 15 minutes. There is a package with lunch included at one stop for $12, but looking at the food, you’d probably be better off packing a picnic.
I really enjoyed the West Rim and it was well worth the effort trying to figure out how to get there. It is arguably less crowded than the more well-known South Rim and allows the traveler on a tight schedule to experience the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon. The 14 miles of unpaved road may seem treacherous on paper, but so long as the weather is dry (and it often is), a regular car would easily be able to make it through that stretch (no need for any 4WD vehicles).
Note: From now till 2008, there is some construction going on near Hoover Dam so there may be some delays on the return trip.
Written 18 April 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hawaii001
hawaii1 contribution
We're from Hawaii so we drove the shortest distance we could on our recent trip (7/3/06) to Las Vegas to get to the Grand Canyon. The choice was the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, approximately 2 1/2 hours. We're not used to long road trips. This was an adventure and I'm glad we did it. Packed with snacks, sandwiches, a cooler with soft drinks and water we were off. There were nine of us in two vehicles following maps from AAA and instructions from other web sites. The instructions were clear and we found our way easily, even the graded unpaved road (a bit dusty). At the end of the unpaved road, the road is once again paved. This road takes you to a visitor center which is also a small airport. We didn't know, along with other people there, that you cannot drive your own vehicle to the rim. You'll need to park and enter the small visitor center (gift shop, concession stand, lounge, ticket counter). At the ticket counter you'll need to purchase a tour package (ex. bus, helicopter or plane) to get to the rim of the canyon. We took the bus tour which let you get off and on at 2 lookouts and you can stay as long as you want. The scenery was beautiful and awesome. It was a wonderful site to see. One of the lookouts is Eagle Point, this is where they are currently building the Skywalk. The Skywalk will be a glass walkway which will suspend 4000 feet above the canyon floor. It's supposed to be completed by the end of this year 2006. Search Hualapai Indian Reservation and it will give you a lot of info and the prices of their tour packages.
Be careful on the unpaved road it has a few "S" turns and on our way out a couple guys going in with an SUV made a sharp turn and they were in the embankment, looked like their axle broke. We stopped to see if they were ok and they were. They said they didn't help 'cause they had their cell phones but we told them there is no cell service in that area. So, we drove to the nearest town and found the sheriff to let them know someone was off the road but not hurt. I hope they didn't have to wait too long
Be careful on the unpaved road it has a few "S" turns and on our way out a couple guys going in with an SUV made a sharp turn and they were in the embankment, looked like their axle broke. We stopped to see if they were ok and they were. They said they didn't help 'cause they had their cell phones but we told them there is no cell service in that area. So, we drove to the nearest town and found the sheriff to let them know someone was off the road but not hurt. I hope they didn't have to wait too long
Written 12 August 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kimpete8
winnipeg261 contributions
A great shttle bus system allows you to stop at any or all of the 7 view points, and spend as much time as you like at each one. A path (some sections paved) allows you to walk between views if you prefer.
We saw two California Condors soaring above Hermit's Rest!
We saw two California Condors soaring above Hermit's Rest!
Written 14 April 2004
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much time does it take to do Hermit Road using the shuttle bus if you get off at each stop along the way to take photos?
Written 26 January 2023
If you hit the bus each time it swings thru about 45 mins to an hour.
Written 21 February 2023
Is it possible to ride a bike with a trailer on this road or is it too dangerous/not wide enough? Planning for July. Thanks!
Written 26 June 2017
The road is closed to cars. Just park vehicles and busses. You will have tons of room.
Written 28 June 2017
Is it a really bad idea to do a road trip with kids age 4, 10, and 12 in December? Will the cold weather make this trip undoable?
Written 17 November 2016
Is the 45 dollar entrance fee per vehicle or per person? What does that include and should i expect any other charges?
Written 24 December 2015
It's $30 per vehicle, good for all occupants and for one week from date of issue. That's until until you hit the gift shops! All the views are free.
Written 24 June 2016
Showing results 1-5 of 5
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing