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Home / Tours / Grand Canyon helicopter flight

Scenic helicopter flight · Tusayan, Arizona

Grand Canyon by helicopter from the South Rim

A scenic helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon from Tusayan, just outside the South Rim entrance. It is far from Vermilion Cliffs and needs its own day, but it is the fastest way to grasp the canyon that begins where the cliffs end.

Grand Canyon South Rim Scenic Helicopter Tour

About this experience

The Vermilion Cliffs end above Marble Canyon, and Marble Canyon is the start of the Grand Canyon. Seeing the big canyon properly from the air means going to the South Rim, a long drive from the monument. Plan it as its own day, or a stop on the way south.

The National Park Service notes that all scenic air tours are based outside the park, and the Grand Canyon Airport sits in Tusayan, about 10 miles south of the park. This listing is a South Rim helicopter tour from Tusayan. It runs 45 minutes, the listing calls it a small group, with a long record of guest reviews.

From $359 in 2026, it's the most expensive hour on this site. For many people it is the only way to see how deep and wide the canyon really is in one go, which the rim views can't quite show.

  • 45 minutes, per the listing
  • A big view in under an hour
  • Departs from Tusayan, outside the South Rim entrance
  • Small group, per the listing
  • No park entry needed for the flight itself

How the day runs

  1. BeforeGet to Tusayan

    Drive to Tusayan, the town just south of the Grand Canyon's South Rim entrance. Check where to check in when you book.

  2. Check-inCheck in

    Check in at the departure point in Tusayan before boarding.

  3. In the airOver the Grand Canyon

    The flight heads out over the canyon from the South Rim side.

  4. 45 minutesBack on the ground

    Land in Tusayan with the rest of the day free for the rim.

What's included

Included

  • A scenic helicopter flight from the South Rim side (in the listing title)
  • About 45 minutes, per the listing
  • A small group, per the listing

Not included

  • Grand Canyon National Park entry, if you also drive to the rim afterward
  • Anything in Vermilion Cliffs National Monument
  • The drive to Tusayan

Who it suits

Book it if

  • You want the scale of the Grand Canyon in under an hour
  • You're driving south from Page or the cliffs anyway
  • You can't hike into the canyon but want more than the rim view

Skip it if

  • You're nervous about flying in small aircraft
  • Your budget is tight: it's the priciest tour on this site per hour
  • You won't be anywhere near the South Rim on this trip

Tips before you book

  • Book it for a morning with a buffer after. Flights can shift with weather and wind.
  • Wear dark clothing if you plan to take photos through the window: it cuts reflections.
  • Don't try to do White Pocket and this on the same day. They are hours apart.
  • If you also want the rim, the park entrance is a short drive north of Tusayan.

Read next:

Frequently asked questions

Is the Grand Canyon close to Vermilion Cliffs National Monument?

The Grand Canyon begins at Marble Canyon below the cliffs, but the South Rim, where this flight leaves, is a long drive south. Plan it as a separate day.

Where do Grand Canyon helicopter tours leave from?

The NPS says all scenic air tours are based outside the park. The Grand Canyon Airport is in Tusayan, about 10 miles south of the park, and this listing departs from Tusayan.

How long is the South Rim helicopter tour?

The listing gives 45 minutes.

Do I need a park pass for the helicopter flight?

The flight starts outside the park, in Tusayan. If you drive into Grand Canyon National Park afterward, the park's entrance fee applies.

Ready to book

Book Grand Canyon helicopter flight

Forty-five minutes over the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

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Compare with

Lake Powell Antelope Canyon Photo BoatTwo hours on a small boat between sandstone walls in Antelope Canyon, made for photos, from $199.★ 4.9 · 2 hours · from $199Lower Antelope Canyon with a Navajo GuideThe famous slot near Page: entry and Navajo guide in the title, 1 hour, from $75, no lottery.★ 4.7 · 1 hour · from $75White Pocket Small-Group Tour from KanabThe proven White Pocket day: small group, 8 hours from Kanab, the longest track record and the lowest price of the three.★ 5.0 · 8 hours · from $183

Plan your date before you go

Forty-five minutes over the Grand Canyon from the South Rim.

Check dates for the Grand Canyon helicopter flight