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Question

We are going middle of April, with my kids (17 &14) and parents (both 80). Driving from Vegas, we plan on leaving early, driving past Hoover dam and Lake Meade to GC West for the skywalk and possibly zipline or helicopter/pontoon trip. Then continue to South Rim.

This where it gets tricky as we have an 11pm redeye back home, so we really only have until 5pm to sight see.

My mom will be 80 and hiking will be difficult for her. I think she can handle the trail of time (if worth it) and any short easy hikes.

South Rim, thinking of starting early with Bright Angel Trail - short hike.

Hermits Rest Route - will work well with the option to hike or ride the bus

Trail of Time

Desert View Drive

My questions are if I am missing anything or if I should remove anything. Since this is the only opportunity I will have with all 3 generations I want to make it as memorable as possible.

Thanks

Answer

Short summary: you can make a very memorable multi-generational stop at the South Rim in one long day, but you should pick priorities and simplify the plan. Visiting Grand Canyon West (Skywalk/zipline) and the South Rim on the same day adds several hours of driving and will seriously compress your time at the South Rim. If the point of the trip is the South Rim experience with easy access for an 80-year-old (short walks, great viewpoints, interpretive stops), I’d recommend skipping Grand Canyon West and spending the day at the South Rim. (If the Skywalk is a “must,” treat it as a separate day trip.)

Why I say that: drive times and logistics to factor in

Las Vegas → Grand Canyon West (Hualapai/Skywalk area) is roughly ~2–2½ hours one way; the West Rim is operated separately from Grand Canyon National Park. If you do West Rim first and then continue to the South Rim you’ll add several hours (many reports show GC West → South Rim is a long drive and can be 3–4+ hours). That makes the day very rushed.
Las Vegas → Grand Canyon South Rim is roughly ~4–4½ hours one way by car. Plan that into arrival/departure times if you’re driving from Vegas.

Given you have until about 5:00 pm to sightsee that day, here are two clean options depending on your priorities:

Option A — Prioritize South Rim (recommended for multi-generation visit): Skip the West Rim. Arrive at the South Rim early (first light if possible) and do the activities below — this gives you the least walking-intensive, most scenic and interpretive experience for your mom and dad.
Option B — Prioritize Grand Canyon West (Skywalk) and shorten South Rim time: Do Hoover Dam/Lake Mead → West Rim Skywalk/zipline/helicopter, then drive to the South Rim later in the day for a single viewpoint or quick stop. This is feasible only if you accept a very short South Rim visit because of the driving time between rims.

If you choose Option A (South Rim focus), here’s a practical, time-efficient plan you can follow between sunrise and 5:00 pm — it’s tailored for three generations (easy walking, a short gentle hike, scenic drives and shuttle use):

Early (sunrise–9:00 AM): Arrive at Grand Canyon Village / Mather Point for sunrise photos and short rim stroll (Mather Point and the Rim Trail are flat and wheelchair/elderly-friendly). Visit the Visitor Center and Yavapai Geology Museum for context and indoor exhibits. The Trail of Time (an interpretive, mostly paved route along the rim) is fully accessible and is a great short educational walk that everyone can enjoy.
9:00–11:00 AM: Short Bright Angel outing: do a short, controlled Bright Angel down-and-back to the 1.5-mile resthouse (this is the common “short hike” turnaround). The 1.5-mile resthouse is ~1.5 miles one-way and is a good turnaround for casual hikers — excellent views with defined footing and safety features; make sure your mom takes it slowly and bring plenty of water. (NPS recommends the 1.5 and 3.0 mile resthouses as typical turnaround points for day hikers.)
11:00 AM–1:00 PM: Lunch back in the village (pack a picnic or use village services) and a sit-down break for your parents. Consider a short walk along the paved Rim Trail near Kolb Studio and Lookout Studio (flat, great views).
1:00–3:00 PM: Hermit Road / Hermits Rest route — if the Hermit Road shuttle (Red Route) is in service that day you can ride the shuttle for a relaxed series of viewpoint stops (shuttle lets you hop on/off at overlooks so you don’t have to walk long distances). If the shuttle is not running, Hermit Road may be open to private cars only seasonally — check the NPS shuttle/Hermit Road page before you go. The Red Route covers many of the dramatic west rim viewpoints while minimizing walking.
3:00–4:30 PM: Desert View Drive (drive east from Grand Canyon Village): it’s a 23-mile scenic drive with many pullouts; stop at Grandview/Na’bah and end at Desert View Watchtower. Desert View has panoramic views and a park store; the Watchtower upper floors open when staffed (ground level view room is accessible). Allow ~45–90 minutes for a few stops and the Watchtower visit.
4:30–5:00 PM: Head back to the Village or your transport point. If you must leave the park at 5:00 PM, plan your final stop accordingly. (If you have a late-night flight from a different city, triple-check drive time to the airport — the South Rim is many hours from major airports.)

Checklist & safety tips for a multi-generation day

Keep hikes short: Bright Angel to the 1.5-mile resthouse is a popular, family-friendly option; do not plan long descents that require climbing back out for older family members. The NPS breakpoints and water availability are documented—fill bottles where water is available.
Use shuttles for viewpoints: Hermit Road shuttle eliminates a lot of walking and parking hassle during peak season. Check the NPS shuttle pages for current operation days/times.
Trail of Time is a great stop for the elders — interpretive signs, paved surface and short distance for big impact.
Watch the weather and park alerts: inner-canyon trail closures or waterline work have affected some trails in recent seasons — always check current NPS alerts shortly before travel. (There were extended trail/bridge/inner-canyon issues reported in recent years.)
Plan restroom and food breaks frequently — seniors appreciate these small comforts and they help keep everyone energized for photo stops and short walks.
If any family member uses a mobility aid, check specific viewpoint accessibility (many rim viewpoints and the Trail of Time are accessible, but some Watchtower stairs are limited).

What you might remove or compress (to save time)

If pressed for time, skip Grand Canyon West (Skywalk/zipline/helicopter) the same day — it splits your day and reduces quality time at the South Rim.
If parking or mobility is a hassle, skip long stretches of the Rim Trail and favor shuttle/hop-on viewpoint stops and the Trail of Time instead.
If your parents find even the 1.5-mile downhill challenging, substitute it with the short, paved Rim Trail sections and extra time at Yavapai Museum or Mather Point (great views without the effort).

Final recommendations — to make the day memorable

Prioritize 2–3 “wow” experiences (example: sunrise at Mather Point, a short Bright Angel outing to the 1.5-mile resthouse, and Desert View Watchtower) rather than trying to do everything. That keeps the pace gentle for your parents and still gives spectacular moments for the teens.
Bring layered clothing (April can be cool on the rim and warmer in the inner canyon), sun protection, and water. Have seats/blanket available for parents at viewpoints so they can rest in comfort while others wander short distances.
Check the NPS site for up-to-date shuttle info, trail closures and Desert View Watchtower hours the morning of your visit — that will shape exactly what you can do between arrival and 5:00 pm.

If you want, I can now:

Draft a minute-by-minute timed plan for the day assuming a specific arrival time at the South Rim (for example “arrive 7:00 AM, depart 5:00 PM”), or
Give a pared-down “senior friendly” version that eliminates all hiking and replaces it with viewpoints, museum stops and a scenic drive,
Or suggest specific photo stops and wheelchair-accessible viewpoints for maximum comfort and scenic impact.

Enjoy your trip — with the three generations together, focusing on a few great viewpoints, the Trail of Time, an easy Bright Angel turn-around and Desert View will create powerful memories without overtaxing your parents.

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